Feeding Therapy for Babies Struggling to Transition to Solid Foods

Introducing solids is an exciting milestone—but for some babies, the shift from breast or bottle to table foods doesn’t go as smoothly as expected. If your little one is resisting solids, gagging, or only wanting to nurse or take a bottle past 12 months of age, feeding therapy can help bridge the gap.

At Wisco Integrative Therapies, we specialize in supporting babies and toddlers through feeding transitions with compassionate, evidence-based care in both our Milwaukee and Mequon offices.

The Transition to Solids: What’s Typical?

Most babies are developmentally ready to begin exploring solid foods around 6 months of age, with signs of readiness including good head control, sitting upright with support, and showing interest in food.

By 12 months, breast milk or formula is still an important part of nutrition—but solid foods should start to become the primary source of calories and nutrients. A toddler who continues to rely heavily on milk or refuses most solids may need additional support to get back on track.

When to Be Concerned About Delays in Solid Food Acceptance

It’s common for babies to take some time adjusting to new textures and tastes. But ongoing difficulty with solids may point to an underlying issue that feeding therapy can address.

You may want to seek support if your baby:

• Gags, coughs, or vomits frequently when trying solids

• Refuses to let food into their mouth or turns their head away

• Only accepts purées and resists textured or chewable foods

• Has difficulty moving food around in their mouth

• Shows distress or frustration during mealtimes

• Relies almost entirely on milk after 12 months

• Has a history of reflux, oral ties, or feeding aversion

• Misses key feeding milestones, such as learning to self-feed

  
  

Early intervention can make a big difference—waiting too long can lead to ongoing picky eating or nutritional gaps into toddlerhood.

How Feeding Therapy Helps with the Solid Food Transition

Feeding therapy is more than just practice with eating—it’s a holistic, child-centered approach that looks at all the factors that may be making solids hard for your baby. These may include oral motor delays, sensory sensitivities, postural instability, or even unresolved stress around feeding.

At Wisco Integrative Therapies, our trained occupational therapists use gentle, developmentally appropriate strategies to support:

✅ Oral Motor Skills

We help babies learn how to chew, move food side to side, and safely swallow. These foundational skills are often overlooked but essential for solid food success.

✅ Sensory Processing

Some babies are overwhelmed by the new textures, temperatures, and sensations of solids. Feeding therapy gradually builds tolerance through fun, low-pressure exposure.

✅ Safe, Supportive Positioning

Proper posture and support at the table can make a big difference in your baby’s ability to focus on food and use their muscles effectively.

✅ Parent Education & Confidence

You’ll learn how to read your baby’s cues, structure successful mealtimes, and offer the right kinds of foods at the right time—without power struggles or pressure.

Why Nutrition from Solids Matters After 12 Months

After a baby’s first birthday, breast milk or formula becomes supplemental rather than the main source of nutrition. Solid foods provide the protein, iron, fats, and other essential nutrients that support growth, brain development, and energy needs.

If a toddler is drinking large volumes of milk and eating very few solids, they may be at risk for:

• Iron-deficiency anemia

• Poor weight gain or growth plateaus

• Delays in oral motor development

• Increased feeding aversion or picky eating habits

  
  

Feeding therapy helps ensure your baby transitions smoothly and confidently into the next phase of development.

Wisco Integrative Therapies Can Help

If your baby is struggling to move beyond the bottle or breast and embrace solid foods, you’re not alone—and we’re here to help.

At Wisco Integrative Therapies, our experienced feeding therapists provide compassionate, personalized care to help your baby build skills, reduce anxiety, and enjoy a healthy relationship with food. We support both parents and little ones on this important journey.

👉 Book an appointment today at our Milwaukee or Mequon offices and give your baby the tools they need to thrive at the table.

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