Podcast Transcript: When Feeding Takes a Back Seat
Aired February 3, 2025
Christine Miroddi Yoder:
Hi, and welcome to another episode. Today we’re going to talk about something that feels tough for parents—times when it’s actually not in your best interest to focus on feeding, or when you may not see progress at all.
If you’re new to my work, check out foodologyfeeding.com. You’ll find resources for parents there—books, recipes, blog posts, our quiz, and details about our programs and evaluations.
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When Feeding Progress Stalls
Most parents want to hear about making more progress, not what feels like going backwards. But the reality is, there are seasons in life when you just won’t see much progress with feeding.
That might be because of:
* A major life change (moving, new baby, death in the family)
* Illnesses, especially respiratory ones
* Medical needs or therapies that demand priority
Illness is a good example. If your child is sick, maybe it’s a few days or a week—usually they bounce back. But if breathing is compromised, progress with feeding will almost always pause. Breathing is the body’s #1 priority.
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A Real-Life Example
One child I worked with had been making great progress with feeding, but she also had a trach and a vent to help her breathe. As she started the process of weaning off, suddenly she had three ways to breathe—nose, mouth, and throat—and her body was working hard to figure it all out.
Feeding, speech, and PT all took a back seat. And that was okay. Right then, the most important progress she could make was breathing on her own. The other areas would catch up once that stabilized.
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Competing Priorities in Therapy
You might see this in other ways, too. If your child is in multiple therapies and suddenly making big strides in one area—say, physical therapy—you might notice feeding slows down or even backslides.
That doesn’t mean things are going wrong. It means their body is focused elsewhere. Even maintaining skills during this time is progress. If your child can hold steady while working harder in another area, that’s a win.
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What to Do in Survival Mode
During these seasons, give yourself and your child grace. You don’t need to be perfect in every area every day.
Here are some tips:
* Focus on comfort foods. Even if it’s the same thing over and over, that’s okay.
* Zero expectations. Taking the pressure off can actually help progress return faster later.
* Stick with easy wins. Familiar, easy-to-eat foods. This isn’t the time to introduce new foods or push food play.
* Maintain rituals. Sitting together at the table, even if the meal isn’t ideal, is still valuable.
* Indirect food exposure. Food-themed games or books can keep food present in a low-pressure way.
Sometimes progress is just survival—and that’s enough.
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Regaining Progress Later
Once life settles, your child can return to where they were. What matters most is safety, connection, and comfort. These are the prerequisites for eating.
So if you want them to bounce back faster, spend intentional, one-on-one time together without food pressure. That connection and trust will help feeding progress return more than anything else.
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Closing
Life happens—kids get sick, emergencies come up, transitions happen. Something will always take a back seat at some point. Expect it, and it won’t feel like a setback.
If you want more guidance and direction, check out our Unlocking Mealtimes program. We’ll evaluate your child, give you a personalized roadmap, and support you every month so you know exactly what to do, what to say, and how to keep moving forward.
Next week, we’ll be talking about the order we work on things and why that matters. Be sure to tune in.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time.
