Feeding Therapy

Feeding therapy is specialized support for infants and young children who are experiencing difficulty with any part of the feeding process, whether that's latching, sucking, swallowing, transitioning to solids, or working through a feeding aversion. 

At Looking Ahead, our feeding therapy is hands-on, collaborative, and always centered around your child's unique needs and your experience as a parent. Our feeding therapist is expertly trained in infant development, including oral motor skills, and has completed extensive training in breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and varied bodywork techniques including the Vaughn Approach, which is a specialized treatment intervention that incorporates Craniosacral Therapy (CST) and myofascial techniques with a light, intentional touch.

We want to be the trusted partner in your corner, helping your family find a path forward that feels manageable and hopeful.

For infants, if feeding sessions feel stressful, painful, or inconsistent (for you or your baby), it's worth reaching out. Signs like prolonged feeding times, frequent gagging or choking, poor weight gain, excessive fussiness at the breast or bottle, or difficulty latching can all be indicators that a little extra support could help.

For toddlers, common signs are consistent picky or selective eating (eating fewer than 3 items per food category or eliminating certain categories or textures all together), significant food aversions, trouble managing or accepting different food textures, or experiencing frequent stress during mealtimes.

If you’re not sure if your child needs feeding therapy, you can always reach out to us and we’d be happy to talk through what you’re experiencing.

At Looking Ahead, we work with infants through toddlers, so there's no need to wait and see if things improve on their own. The earlier we can step in and support, the better — for your child and for you.

Tethered oral tissues (sometimes referred to as a tongue tie, lip tie, or cheek tie, depending on the specific place it’s located) occur when the tissue connecting the tongue or lip to the mouth is shorter or tighter than it should be. 

The presence of oral ties can result in inefficient or prolonged feeds, negative impact to weight gain, painful latch for mom while breastfeeding, observations of “clicking,” or an inability to maintain a comfortable, deep latched position.

If you’re experiencing feeding issues, there may be more at play than just oral ties. We take time to understand your baby holistically—looking at the full picture, not just one piece—so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

No! You can reach out to us directly.

Tennessee is a direct access state, which means you do not need a referral for feeding therapy. We'll walk you through everything you need to get started and let you know if there are any additional steps specific to your situation.

Sessions are hands-on, relaxed, and always centered around you and your baby. We'll observe how your baby is feeding, ask questions about your experience at home, and work together to figure out what kind of support you need. 

Every baby is different, so there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Some families see meaningful progress in just a few sessions, while others benefit from longer-term support. We'll work with you to set realistic goals and celebrate every step forward along the way.

Yes, and that's intentional. You know your baby better than anyone, and we believe the best outcomes happen when parents are an active part of the process. You'll always know what we're working on and why.

Yes, in most cases at least a percentage of feeding therapy can be covered by insurance, depending on the specifics of your situation. 

We are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), and if you're covered by a different plan, we can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. We are not in network with TennCare or TEIS. 

We also accept self-pay. 

We intentionally keep our insurance network small because it means fewer restrictions, more time with each patient, and more flexibility to provide focused and personalized care.

It’s important to us that there are no surprises in the cost of your therapy visits, so we will work with you and your insurance to make sure you know exactly what to expect. 

Payment rates vary depending on the specifics of your insurance plan. Please call our office and we will be happy to work with your family to find out exactly what your insurance covers so you know what to expect. 

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the No Surprises Act, healthcare providers are required to provide you with an explanation of how much your medical care will cost.

Looking Ahead Pediatric Therapies provides all patients (self-pay and insured) with a written copy of an estimate of expected charges for medical services by the time services are provided. This estimate, known as the Verfication of Benefits letter, is based solely on the information provided by the primary caregiver and the insurance provider at the time of the request to Looking Ahead P.T. For questions or to request a Good Faith Estimate, please contact Looking Ahead Pediatric Therapies at 615-784-8104 or info@lookingaheadpt.com.

For more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises

No! While you can always set up appointments at our office, our speech-language pathologist (SLP) also offers at-home care within a certain radius of our office. She has traveled to families in Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, Berry Hill, Thompson’s Station, College Grove, and other surrounding areas on a case-by-case basis. 

She brings the same expert, personalized care to a setting where your child feels most comfortable and at ease.

If you are interested in in-home sessions, our SLP will talk through those options with you when you set up your appointments. 

She can also offer care in other environments like daycares or pre-k programs.

That's completely okay, and honestly, a very normal place to be. Sometimes you have a gut sense that something is not working but you don’t know what to do next. 

Please know you can always reach out to us. Tell us what you’re experiencing and we’ll let you know what we think. We'd rather you ask the question and get help than struggle longer than you have to. Our team is here to support you in any way we can. 

A licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP), who is specifically trained in feeding therapy, focuses on the medical and developmental aspects of feeding and swallowing from infancy to childhood.

SLPs are trained to assess each patient through a “whole-child developmental lens,” evaluating and treating motor, sensory, behavioral, and medical concerns. SLPs who specialize in feeding therapy, are trained to assess oral motor skills/function, suck-swallow-breathe coordination, swallowing safety, transition to solids, texture progression, picky or selective eating, and sensory or motor-based feeding challenges across all stages of feeding.

Lactation consultants, particularly an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), specializes specifically in breastfeeding and human lactation. Their focus more closely relates to latch and positioning, milk supply concerns, pumping guidance, and early postpartum support related to lactation. 

While lactation consultants are experts in breastfeeding management, an SLP has expertise in oral motor function, swallowing safety, and long-term feeding skills and development. Ideally, a SLP and IBCLC  can collaborate to provide comprehensive support for infant feeding mechanics, maternal support, and overall feeding progression.