Paediatric Feeding and Nutrition Clinic

Our team, comprising paediatricians, dietitians, speech therapists and child psychologists, addresses the multifaceted challenges of feeding difficulties in children, which may stem from medical, developmental, sensory or behavioural issues. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we deliver effective diagnosis and management for these conditions.

Common Feeding Difficulties

Some common feeding difficulties include:

Poor weight gain
Limited or poor oral intake
Coughing, choking and gagging when eating or drinking
Frequent vomiting with feeding
Oral motor or chewing difficulties
Food/milk refusal
Limited acceptance of variety of foods
Feeding-related fears and anxieties
Disruptive mealtime behaviours

Our team provides support in:

Promoting positive meal-time habits
Providing adequate nutrition specific to your child’s growing needs
Establishing appropriate oral motor skills for feeding
Increasing the variety of foods accepted
Becoming confident and skilled in feeding your child

Our Team

Our multidisciplinary team comprises:

Paediatricians

Oversee your child’s overall clinical care
Assess for any medical conditions impacting growth and feeding, as well as co-existing conditions affecting appetite (e.g. constipation, poor sleep)
Diagnose and treat nutritional deficiencies

Dietitians

Assess and monitor your child’s growth
Evaluate nutrient intake and potential deficiencies
Recommend nutritionally beneficial food options

Speech Therapists

Assess your child's swallowing and oral motor skills
Evaluate feeding during mealtimes
Recommend safe food textures and strategies to improve your feeding skills and interest

Psychologists

Assess and manage routines and behaviour; this is not limited to mealtimes as a child's environment and overall function often affects the child's mealtime behaviours
Provide strategies to improve mealtime routines
Provide emotional support to caregivers

 Programme Lead and Senior Consultant

A/Prof Marion Aw

Deputy Programme Lead and Senior Speech Therapist

Jocelyn Tan

Senior Consultants

Consultant

Dr Tammy Lim

Principal Dietitians

Charlotte Lin
Wong Chui Ying

Principal Psychologist

Ng Siau Hwei

Senior Psychologist

Alison Cheng

Senior Speech Therapists

Phua Quan Quan
Ada Tok

Our Services

Feeding Clinic 1 Feeding Clinic 2

Comprehensive Feeding Evaluation

Medical assessment
Diet and nutrition assessment
Feeding and swallowing assessment, which involves observing how your child eats and they are fed

Feeding Therapy

1-to-1 or group sessions may be offered to improve your child's mealtime behaviours and skills
Teaching of strategies for caregivers to apply at home
Assignment to a therapist/clinician tailored to your child's needs

Parent/Caregiver Training and Education

Supporting parents and caregivers is an important part of the overall programme. We currently offer the following workshops:

Weaning Workshop
Weaning Workshop for Premature Children
Toddler Feeding Workshop (coming soon)

Assessment and Management of Children On Tube-Feeding

This includes children who;

Are currently being tube-fed
Require tube-weaning advice and management or
Have difficulties with oral feeding and may require assessment for tube-feeding

Teleconsultation Services

This option is available for existing patients, where appropriate.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

First visit

Food play example 1 Food play example 2

In our assessment, you will engage with our paediatrician, dietitian, speech and swallowing therapist, along with a psychologist when suitable. Our team will inquire about your child’s medical history, dietary habits, mealtime routines and any concerns around feeding. This includes observing your child’s eating habits to evaluate feeding skills, nutritional intake and growth.

The initial appointment will take about two hours. During this time, our team will work alongside you to identify primary concerns related to your child’s nutrition and feeding, establish key therapeutic goals and craft a tailored management plan.

Follow-up visits will be arranged according to your child’s specific needs and may involve the full team or select members, all focused on supporting both your child and you as the caregiver.

Health Resources

Video Resources

Mealtime Strategies for Toddlers (1-3 Years)

Introducing a young toddler to new foods and keeping them engaged during mealtimes can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Beyond encouraging participation during mealtimes, caregivers also play the role of guides - supporting your child's food learning journey as they move from exploring to eventually tasting new foods.

Join us in the video as we explain:

Why children may need 10-20 different occasions to explore foods.
How and why children progress through the stages of tolerating, interacting, smelling, touching and tasting before choosing to accept new foods.
How you can engage your child at mealtimes and guide them through these stages through play and while having fun.

Mealtime Strategies for Children (4-6 Years)

As your child learns more about the different foods available at home, in school and across various mealtime settings, they may start expressing their preferences by choosing what they do and do not want to eat.

This can sometimes turn mealtimes into a battle between encouraging them to try new foods and respecting their food choices.

Join us in the video as we explain:

Why children may need 10-20 different occasions to explore foods.
How and why children progress through the stages of tolerating, interacting, smelling, touching and tasting before choosing to accept new foods.
How you can engage your child at mealtimes and guide them through these stages through play and while having fun.

Upcoming Events

Stay tuned for upcoming events!

Media Highlights

Check out the links below to hear from our doctors on the latest topics.

Contact Details

Multidisciplinary Feeding and Nutrition Clinic

Location:	5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, Level 8
Email:	[email protected]