PAEDIATRIC NUTRITION - BONDI BEACH & TELEHEALTH
Paediatric Feeding Therapy
Helping children develop a positive relationship with food.
Mealtimes shouldn't feel like a battle.
If your child only eats a handful of foods, refuses entire food groups, struggles with textures, gags, has anxiety around eating or mealtimes have become stressful for the whole family, you're not alone.
At Balanced Nutrition, we provide evidence-based paediatric feeding therapy to help children develop the skills, confidence and flexibility needed to eat well while reducing stress for parents and carers.
Every child is different. Feeding difficulties can arise for many reasons, including sensory processing differences, autism, ADHD, ARFID, medical conditions, anxiety, delayed feeding skills or previous negative experiences with food. Our role is to understand why your child is struggling and develop an individualised plan that works for your family.
APD Accredited Dietitian
NDIS Registered Provider
ANZ Eating Disorders Affiliated
★★★★★ 5-Star Google Reviews
In-person Bondi Beach + Telehealth Australia-wide
WHAT IS FEEDING THERAPY?
Eating is one of the most complex skills children learn.
Successful eating requires coordination between sensory processing, oral motor skills, appetite regulation, emotional regulation, behaviour, learning, family routines and nutrition.
When one or more of these areas becomes challenging, children may develop feeding difficulties that affect their nutrition, growth, development or participation in family life.
Feeding therapy focuses on helping children become more confident, comfortable and capable eaters through gradual, positive experiences rather than pressure or force.
Our approach is neurodiversity-affirming, responsive and child-led, recognising that meaningful progress occurs when children feel safe and supported.
WE CAN HELP WITH
We regularly support children experiencing
-
Fussy or selective eating
-
ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
-
Paediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD)
-
Autism-related feeding differences
-
ADHD and executive functioning difficulties affecting eating
-
Sensory sensitivities to textures, smells, tastes or appearance of food
-
Limited food variety
-
Food refusal
-
Mealtime anxiety
-
Gagging or difficulty progressing through food textures
-
Delayed transition to solids
-
Poor weight gain or faltering growth
-
Nutritional deficiencies
-
Tube feeding support and transition
-
Food aversions following illness or medical procedures
-
Mealtime behavioural challenges
OUR FEEDING THERAPY APPROACH
There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution.
Every assessment begins with understanding your child's feeding journey, medical history, sensory profile, nutritional intake, family routines and your goals.
From there we create an individualised therapy plan that may include:
-
Building trust and reducing mealtime anxiety
-
Expanding food variety through gradual food exploration
-
Sensory-based feeding strategies
-
Improving nutritional adequacy
-
Parent coaching and education
-
Establishing consistent mealtime routines
-
Responsive feeding strategies
-
Practical meal planning
-
Oral nutrition support where appropriate
-
Collaboration with your child's wider therapy team
Rather than focusing only on getting children to eat more foods, we aim to build lifelong confidence, flexibility and enjoyment around eating.
Gentle & Pressure-free
Neuro-affirming
Family-centred
Comprehensive assessmen
Full feeding, nutrition and growth history
What we work on together
Expanding food variety
Gradual, safe introduction of new foods and textures
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Reducing mealtime anxiety
Strategies to make mealtimes calmer for everyone
At-home strategies for parents
Practical tools you can use between sessions
Multidisciplinary coordination
Liaison with OT, speech pathology and paediatrics where needed
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
What happens at the first appointment?
Your initial assessment is typically 60 minutes in clinic and includes:
-
Comprehensive feeding assessment
-
Growth and nutrition assessment
-
Review of current eating patterns
-
Identification of underlying feeding challenges
-
Goal setting
-
Individualised therapy plan
-
Practical strategies you can begin using immediately
Where appropriate, recommendations may also include nutritional supplements, further investigations or referrals to other health professionals.
1
Initial Assessment (60 min)
We take a full history - feeding, growth, sensory profile and family mealtime dynamics.
2
Personalised Plan
We build a plan tailored specifically to your child's needs, pace and sensory world.
3
Ongoing Support
Regular review sessions to track progress, adjust strategies and support your family along the way.
What happens at follow-up appointments?
FOLLOW-UP CARE
Follow-up feeding therapy appointments are tailored to your child's individual goals and progress.
Sessions are highly interactive and may include SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding principles, food exploration and play-based activities designed to help children feel safe, curious and confident around food. Therapy progresses at your child's pace, without pressure or force.
Depending on your child's needs, follow-up sessions may include:
-
SOS-style food exposure therapy
-
Food play activities to encourage exploration through looking, touching, smelling, licking and tasting
-
Sensory-based feeding activities to increase comfort with new foods and textures
-
Building oral motor and self-feeding skills where appropriate
-
Mealtime routine coaching and responsive feeding strategies
-
Parent coaching and practical strategies to continue progress at home
-
Monitoring growth, nutritional intake and progress towards therapy goals
-
Collaboration with your child's paediatrician, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, psychologist or other members of their care team where required
Each session is designed to make eating a positive experience while building the skills needed for long-term success. Our focus isn't simply on getting children to eat more foods - it's on helping them develop confidence, flexibility and a positive relationship with food that lasts a lifetime.
_edited.jpg)
IS THIS RIGHT FOR US?
Who paediatric feeding support is for
This service is suitable for infants, toddlers, children and adolescents experiencing any kind of feeding difficulty - with or without a formal diagnosis.
-
Infants & toddlers
-
Fussy & selective eaters
-
Children with ASD
-
Children with ADHD
-
ARFID
You don't need a referral or a diagnosis to book. If you're concerned about your child's eating, that's reason enough to reach out.
-
Paediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD)
-
Sensory processing differences
-
Texture aversions
-
Mealtime anxiety
-
Children with no formal diagnosis
FEES & REBATES
Understanding your options
Private fees
Our appointments are privately billed. A gap fee applies to Medicare appointments. We process rebates at time of appointment.
Rebates available
-
Medicare - up to 5 allied health sessions per year. Speak to your GP about a Chronic Disease Management Plan.
-
NDIS - we are a registered NDIS provider. Dietetics can be claimed under Capacity Building or Core Supports.
-
Private health insurance - many Extras policies cover dietitian appointments. Check with your fund directly.
Not sure what you're eligible for? Get in touch and we'll help you work it out.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
No referral is needed. You can book directly through our online booking system. If you have a GP referral or care plan, bring it along as it may make you eligible for rebates.
This varies depending on your child's needs and goals. Some families see meaningful progress in 4-6 sessions; others benefit from longer-term support. We'll give you an honest guide after your first appointment.
Yes. We are a neurodiversity-affirming clinic with specific experience supporting children with ASD, ADHD, ARFID and PFD. We adapt our approach to your child's sensory profile and communication style throughout.
Yes. In-person appointments are available at our Bondi Beach clinic, and telehealth is available for families across Australia.
That's completely fine - and more common than you might think. We're experienced in working with children who are anxious, resistant or avoidant around food and clinical settings. Sessions are always child-led and low-pressure.
You might also be interested in
Ready to make mealtimes calmer?
If you're worried about your child's eating, the earlier feeding difficulties are addressed, the easier they are often to manage.
Whether your child is a toddler refusing vegetables, a school-aged child eating fewer than 20 foods, or has complex feeding needs related to autism, ARFID or disability, we're here to help.
Book an appointment today and let's work together to create calmer, more confident mealtimes.
📍 Bondi Beach, Eastern Suburbs Sydney + Telehealth Australia-wide