If you’ve ever had a parent panic because their baby gagged on mashed avocado, or watched a toddler refuse a new texture while the caregiver hovered with wide eyes and a rescue spoon, you already know this truth: Most parents don’t know what normal feeding development looks like. And who could blame them?
In a world of viral choking videos, outdated pediatric advice, and pressure to introduce solids “the right way,” it’s no wonder caregivers are confused.
As feeding therapists, we have a golden opportunity, maybe even a responsibility, to guide families through the gagging, the drooling, the mess, and the milestones with confidence.
Gagging Isn’t a Red Flag. It’s a Reflex.
One of the most common questions new feeding therapists get from families is this: “Is it normal for my baby to gag like that?” And the answer, of course, is yes, within reason.
The gag reflex starts out protective.
It’s triggered much farther forward on the tongue in infants and gradually moves back as oral motor skills develop.
This means early solids often come with exaggerated gagging, especially if babies are:
– New to texture
– Learning to lateralize food
– Exploring solids beyond purees
Gagging is not choking.
It is practice.
It is progress.
It is expected.
But to a nervous parent? It feels like failure. This Is Where You Come In.
You can be the calm in the storm of feeding anxiety. The one who explains:
- What gagging really is & why it’s not “choking”
- How oral motor skills develop
- When texture refusal is a sensory red flag versus a normal stage
- What’s safe, developmentally appropriate, and actually helpful for oral skill building
And you can do all of that more efficiently, with the right tools and teaching resources. That’s where the Feeding Therapy Hub comes in.
A Feeding Therapy Membership Built for Therapists Who Want to Educate and Empower.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel every time a parent asks, “Should I worry about that gagging?”
Inside the Feeding Therapy Hub you’ll be connected with pediatric feeding experts who can help mentor you along the way.
Because here’s the thing, when you have the language, the visuals, and the confidence to teach development, you don’t just treat feeding delays. You prevent them.
Helping Parents Shift from Panic to Trust
Most families come to us with fear.
– They’ve had a scary feeding experience.
– They’ve been told to wait longer.
– They’ve been told something’s wrong—or nothing’s wrong—when in fact, they just need support.
You can be the one who helps them understand:
- Gagging is a learning curve, not a danger zone
- Refusal might be a cue for readiness or a flag for function
- Texture exposure, oral motor readiness, and safety can go hand in hand
And you don’t have to do it alone.
Ready to Grow in Feeding and Get the Support You Deserve?
If you’ve ever wished you had a mentor you could call on
If you wish you had a simple, visual way to show parents what’s normal
If you want to grow your feeding therapy practice without burning out creating every resource from scratch…
The Feeding Therapy Hub was built for you.
We created it so you can:
- Spend less time piecing together resources
- Spend more time building your clinical confidence
- And most importantly, make a lasting difference in how families experience feeding
Feeding therapy doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right tools, it can be deeply rewarding. Join us inside the hub, today!
