My CPFT™ Journey: Unlocking Confidence in All Things Pediatric Feeding
Hey families and fellow clinicians! Tricia here, your Abilene SLP. 🎉 Big news: I just earned my Certified Pediatric Feeding Therapist credential through Hallie Bulkin's Feed The Peds®!
If you've followed me, you know feeding therapy is my passion. From picky eaters to complex swallows, I've seen it all. But getting my CPFT™? Game-changer. Here's why every SLP/OT needs "all things feeding" in their toolkit.
What Even Is Pediatric Feeding Therapy?
Up to 45% of typical kids and 80% with developmental needs hit feeding bumps (think gagging, texture aversions, poor coordination). It's not just "picky eating." We're talking:
Oral motor skills: suck-swallow-breathe sync from day 1
Sensory processing: Why that new puree triggers a meltdown
Positioning and posture: Torticollis linking to messy feeds
Tethers & airway: Beyond tongue ties, spotting root issues
Grad school skipped most of this. Feed The Peds® filled the gaps with real eval tools, milestones (0-12 months nailed!), and treatment roadmaps.
My Top 5 "Aha" Wins from CPFT™ Training
Milestones Matter: babies gag on purpose! That forward gag reflex matures. Teach parents: it’s practice, not choking.
Assess the Full Picture: Muscle strength, saliva control, sensory cues, parent stress. No more “just a tie” tunnel vision.
Sensory + Autism Overlap: Compassionate strategies for neurodiverse kiddos. Early exposure = adventurous eaters.
Medical Collab: Reflux, premies, cardiac? Know your team’s role.
Home Wins: Mealtime routines = joyful feeds. Predictable structure cuts battles.
Real Talk: A Client Win
Take Jacob (5yo, myo/airway combo) Snake tongue, lateralization & water traps. Parents saw less drool, better nasal breathing in weeks. CPFT™ gave me the sequencing confidence.
Parents: Spot red flags early. Chat with a CPFT™-trained pro like me!