Feeding Therapy for Young Children
We’re here for babies and children who need extra support with eating, whether due to picky eating, anxiety at meals, sensory needs, or medical reasons.
We may be a good fit if your child...
● Is not latching well or is uncomfortable with breast/bottle feeding
● Has difficulty transitioning to solids
● Avoids many food textures or entire food groups
● Gags frequently or struggles with chewing/swallowing
● Refuses to sit at the table or has intense mealtime tantrums
● Only eats a very limited range of foods (fewer than 20)
● Is transitioning from tube feedings to oral eating
Mother and father bottle feeding baby
Father feeding child in front of ipad
Feeding therapy session with parents and child
Mother and father bottle feeding baby
Build Trust First
We prioritize safety and trust by honoring your child’s cues, especially during moments of challenge or overwhelm, creating a secure foundation where learning can truly begin.
Growth Through Natural Experiences
Skills develop naturally through connection, exploration, and daily routines, guided by trusting relationships that support each child’s unique developmental path.
Integrated Coaching
We work alongside parents every step of the way, combining parent coaching with thoughtful strategies to help families carry support beyond the session wit confidence.
Our Trust-Based Approach
What to Expect
Step 01
Free Consultation
A 20-minute call to discuss your concerns and see if we're the right fit.
Step 02
Initial Evaluation
A 90-minute in-depth assessment of your child's feeding history, oral-motor skills, and current mealtime dynamics.
Step 03
Personalized Plan
Co-creating goals that focus on your family's specific needs and routines.
Step 04
Ongoing Sessions
Interactive therapy with active parent involvement and real-time coaching.
Step 05
Home Strategies
Simple, effective tools to practice at home to build confidence for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is feeding therapy right for my child?
Feeding therapy can be helpful if mealtimes feel stressful, limited, or confusing—whether your child is picky, anxious around food, transitioning from tube feeding, or navigating medical or sensory challenges. If you’re unsure, we’re happy to talk through your concerns during a free, no-commitment consultation call.
How long does feeding therapy take?
For most children, we offer therapy blocks of 20 sessions. Sessions are typically once per week (for 60 minutes), so a block usually lasts 4-5 months. Sometimes, (especially for newborns or infants), they may not require 20 sessions. Other times, some children with more medical challenges or complex needs might require additional blocks. We continuously reassess your child's skills and progress. Every child is different. We focus on sustainable change, not quick fixes.
Do parents attend the sessions?
Yes. Parent involvement is a key part of our approach. Sessions are designed to support parents in learning strategies they can confidently use at home to encourage natural progress with feeding.
Where do sessions take place?
At this time, we only offer sessions at The Airplane Spoon, located at 697 Menlo Ave, Menlo Park, CA.
When do you offer sessions?
The Airplane Spoon offers regular weekly sessions Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am - 6:40 pm. Availability is limited.
What does a feeding therapy session look like?
Feeding therapy sessions are guided by your child’s cues, comfort, and readiness. We focus on helping children reconnect with their internal cues of hunger and fullness while creating a calm, regulated environment where eating can feel safe and positive. Sessions are designed to reduce stress around food and build positive associations through sensory exploration, play, and hands-on experiences.
We also support the development of communication around eating by modeling language, encouraging requests and choices, and honoring all forms of communication. Parents are actively involved in sessions, learning how to model eating together, respond to their child’s cues, and carry these strategies into everyday meals at home.
Each session looks a little different, because every child is different—but the goal is always the same: to build trust, confidence, and a more enjoyable relationship with food.
Do you accept insurance?
No, we are an out-of-network provider. Many families choose to submit superbills to their insurance for possible reimbursement.
What experience or clinical approaches does my therapist have?
Sarina Murrell, our clinic director and feeding therapist, is a licensed and clinically certified speech-language pathologist with extensive experience supporting infants and children with feeding challenges.
She has worked across children’s hospitals in NICU, inpatient, and outpatient settings, as well as in home-based services, schools, and private practice. Her clinical training includes evidence-informed feeding approaches such as Beckman Oral Motor, the SOS Approach to Feeding, AEIOU Integrated Feeding Approach, Get Permission Institute, Fragile Infant Feeding Institute, and Feed the Peds. She is a registered member of the Feeding Matters directory.
In addition to her clinical training, Sarina is developing The Airplane Spoon’s own trust-based feeding framework, designed to integrate relationship, regulation, and skill development—and to train other clinicians in this unique approach.
Tell us about your child’s feeding challenges.
We're here to listen and help your family find feeding joy.