Debra Alvarez Feeding Kids Sydney in Sydney, Australia | Speech pathologist

Debra Alvarez Feeding Kids Sydney

Locality: Sydney, Australia

Phone: +61 432 995 457

Address: Unit 2, 10 Gymea Bay Rd 2227 Sydney, NSW, Australia

Website: http://feedingkidssydney.com.au/

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• Speech pathologist

25.01.2022 Reducing stress at mealtimes. Where to start? Stress at mealtimes is one of the most common concerns that parents have when they come to see me about how to expand their child's variety of foods eaten. So how can we reduce this stress and start to have meals that are happy and relaxed?... Ask yourself, what is causing the stress? Is it the fight or struggle to "get" your child to try new foods? Research shows that putting pressure on a child or prompting them to eat, in fact, reduces the volume of food eaten and decreases their interest in trying new foods (Jansen, 2017) If we want children to try new foods, we first need to reduce stress and anxiety at mealtimes. So how do we reduce stress and anxiety at meals: Tip 1: Don't talk about who is eating what and how much they are eating. This includes using no obvious pressure ("just try one bite") or more subtle pressure ("this chicken is SO delicious, you are missing out!"). Tip 2: Make a mental list (or a written one if you need it) of topics you can talk about including funny stories from the day, jokes, plans for the weekend or holidays. Tip 3: Serve food in a way that does not cause anxiety. This will be different for every child. It might mean only putting foods that they eat on their plate or putting all foods in the centre of the table and allowing everyone to help themselves. If they are just starting to eat a new food, serve only tiny volumes of this food (and I mean tiny - one tiny floret of broccoli) as this leads to success. Remeber your response to them eating that tiny floret should be, "You ate all your broccoli!" and not "Did you like it?" or "Would you like some more?" Tip 4: Have the child take their plate to the kitchen when they are finished to signal the end of the meal. This is the beginning of them learning that it is their job to listen to their bodies and eat when hungry and stop when full. Remember the aim is less stress at meals, not variety or introducing new foods. Once stress and anxiety is reduced at meals, the process of introducing new foods can be started. More on this another day. Have a lovely weekend all.

24.01.2022 It's quick and easy for us to assume that when our children are hitting or throwing that they are being 'naughty' but that is not always the case. Especially ar...ound mealtimes, children present with a lot of these behaviours as a way to avoid or they are overwhelmed with the routine and what is on the table. Our therapists work through these behaviours surrounding mealtimes and help parents to understand these behaviours that may be influencing mealtimes. Raising Wildflower Kids

23.01.2022 Yellow ladybugs support girls and woman on the autism spectrum. Girls on the spectrum present differently to boys and as a result are often misdiagnosed.

22.01.2022 This is why we take tiny steps to eating, so that kids cant avoid the simplest task. When they stop avoiding, they dont experience the anticipatory anxiety th...at is the hardest part. Start small and keep moving forward in tiny, progressive steps. Learn more with my video courses at www.melaniepotock.com #anticipation #anxiety See more

21.01.2022 A great day spent in Newcastle with Val Gent writing the content for our two day feeding therapy workshop.

21.01.2022 I love this article. There is no quick fix for fussy eating. If a child eats only a small selection of neutral coloured food or no vegetables or no meat, making change in their diet is going to take time. Success at the start of therapy is often not the child eating a new food. It might be less meltdowns at mealtimes or less anxiety for both parent and child. A great read for anyone thinking of seeing a therapist about their childs fussy eating.

20.01.2022 Throwing food can be for a number of reasons - attention, feeling full, learning about gravity! What to do? Ignore the throwing or keep your comments short and simple. Give attention for the behaviours that you want to see at mealtimes. Children do not discriminate between positive and negative attention so getting angry or upset can increase the frequency of throwing or any other undesired behaviours at the dinner table.

20.01.2022 Why do children, especially those with a limited number of foods, find trying new foods so difficult? Many of the children I see eat the same food everyday. These foods are their "safe foods". Every time a child eats a "safe foods" their sense go through a process of checking off that the food looks, feels, smells and tastes like their safe food and this makes them feel calm and anxiety free.... When they are offered a new food, their senses start the checklist process and most commonly their eyes go "that is NOT your safe bread, nugget, hot chip, carrot." "That food is a danger!" This triggers stress and anxiety and results in the behaviour that we see at meals including, for example, becoming upset or having a tantrum (fight), constantly getting down from the table (flight) or sitting at the table but refusing to eat (freeze). The first step in reducing anxiety around trying new foods doesn't actually include new foods at all. It involves looking at the safe foods that your child already eats and looking for ways to avoid them eating exactly the same food everyday. This can be very challenging for some children and steps need to be small and taken slowly. This might include: - alternating two safe breakfast foods - consciously varying between their safe dinner options - varying the safe foods packed in the lunchbox Not eating exactly the same foods everyday helps their sense, over time, become less worried about changes to their food or new foods are offered in the future. Remember to start slowly and with very small changes and to only use the safe foods that they already eat.

20.01.2022 It is so important to have stability when feeding and dangling legs make it more difficult to sit still and focus on all the skills needed to learn to eat. This foot rest is a great idea for those using the Ikea high chair or one without a foot rest.

20.01.2022 More food messages following on from yesterdays message. It struck a cord with you- lets keep this conversation open. The more we can talk about it- the better it is for our kids! Happy Thursday!

20.01.2022 They will absolutely notice! Sneaking veggies into safe meals that a child eats can cause them to refuse that meal completely.

19.01.2022 Only three weeks until our feeding therapy workshop!

18.01.2022 I definitely find pea sized cubes work best when trying new foods.

17.01.2022 Tickets go on sale tomorrow for our three, 2 hour, online, feeding masterclasses. These are beginner level classes for therapists working or interested in feeding assessment and therapy. Spaces are limited to 20 per class to allow for discussion and questions. Classes can be booked individually or you can attend all three.

17.01.2022 Day two of our Feeding Therapy Workshop - Ready to go!!

16.01.2022 I am so lucky to work closely with Lauren. Her knowledge of the supermarket and products is amazing!

16.01.2022 I very excited to share this SAVE THE DATE with you! My colleague, Val from Lets Eat! Paediatric Speech Pathology, and I are hosting our own two day, practical feeding therapy workshop next year in Sydney. This workshop came about because we regularly hear from and mentor therapists who are struggling:... - to turn theoretical knowledge into successful clinical practice - to choose the best therapy approach for a familys individual needs - to set goals, plan and structure therapy sessions and measure success - to know what to do when things are not working What are we presenting? Two days jam packed with real paediatric feeding clinical case studies, strategies and top tips that can be implemented straight away. We will share and discuss feeding cases that we see everyday. Videos, interview and therapy sessions. We will share our experiences of putting all the knowledge we have gained over the years into clinical practice. Who are we? We are both Speech Pathologists who have busy paediatric feeding practices. Valerie Gent is based in Newcastle and I run my feeding practice in Southern Sydney. Between us we have 35 years experience in feeding difficulties! We have both worked in acute care, disability, community health and private practice. Stay tuned as we will also be running a parent workshop on Saturday 21st March 202. Please share this SAVE THE DATE with colleagues. See you in Sydney Debbie and Val

15.01.2022 Wondering where to start with adding fruit or vegetables into your smoothies, sauces or in baking? Start with very small amounts (tiny if needed) and make sure that your child knows that it is there. One little person I see, loved that fact that his brownies had bikinis (zucchini) in them.

15.01.2022 Tickets are now on sale for our two day feeding therapy workshop. This workshop is for therapists working in feeding. We hope to do a parent workshop later in 2020. Come and join us for two days of case studies and therapy tips.

15.01.2022 A year in the planning and a big set back in March when we had to reschedule our two day feeding therapy workshop due to COVID 19, but finally it is done. A huge thank you to my dear friend Val. I could never have done this without you. To our guest presenters Lauren, Callie and the Amanda. ... To everyone who attended face to face and to the over 100 people that attended via live stream. Thank you. You were engaging, supportive and patient

15.01.2022 For anyone wanting to learn key word sign

14.01.2022 This is a great way to teach toddlers to drink from an open cup. Thanks for sharing Melanie.

14.01.2022 Less that a week to go!! We have over 140 feeding therapists attending face to face or via live stream. We have two days jam packed with information, case studies and videos. We are super excited!!

13.01.2022 If you registered your interest in our two day feeding therapy workshop, please check your emails for registration info. The link will go out on social media this Wednesday. We are super excited!!

13.01.2022 Fear of trying new foods peaks at 20 months of age. The way parents respond and react to this fear will shape your childs ongoing response to food.

13.01.2022 Eating at other peoples houses or at a restaurant or even at home, when there is a family gathering, can be overwhelming for both the fussy eater and their parents. A couple of years ago I wrote this blog with top tips on how to make Christmas lunch fun for everyone. The tips can be used at birthdays or any family gathering where meals are served. https://feedingkidssydney.com.au/xmas-lunch/... I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I will be taking a much needed break from the 7th December until the 14th January. See you in 2020 #xmaslunch #feedingkidssydney #fussyeaters #kidsfussyeating

13.01.2022 Only two weeks until the early bird rate finishes for our two day feeding therapy workshop.

13.01.2022 I love this post - breast, bottle, or tube fed: Fed is Best!

12.01.2022 A very simple way to reduce the spread of germs.

12.01.2022 November 1st and less than 30 days before the early bird price closes for our feeding workshop next year. Why should you consider it? Simple- 3 top reasons 1. P...ractical strategies to start right now- we teach you to look holistically at the family and child to individualise your therapy strategies for THAT family. 2. We will show you how we incorporate all 12 feeding programs out there into real cases. SOS? ABA? DOR? And more- which one is a good match for which child and how to decide which one you should focus your money into getting further training. With experienced team of OT, Dietitian and Doctor presenting with us- you are going to get a jam packed theory and practical day with different perspectives and approaches 3. We have 35 years (together) experience in paediatric feeding. We both run successful feeding only private practices with waiting lists. What we do works and for the first time ever- we are sharing our feeding templates and strategies with you. See you in Sydney #feedingtherapyaustralia #feeding2020 Val and Debbie- Feeding Therapy Australia Lets Eat! Paediatric Speech Pathology Feeding Kids Sydney Booking link- https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/66148541067?aff=efbneb PDF of agenda and day in comments.

11.01.2022 A great day working with Val Gent on our presentation for March 2020.

11.01.2022 Lots of requests for todays Chewsday Review, so there must be loads of kids out there who love a good fish finger! Todays version is by the legendary Jamie Ol...iver. Im a huge fan, not only of his delicious food and recipes, but also of his commitment to improving childhood nutrition worldwide. Does this include his Brilliant Fish Fillet Fingers though? https://www.mealtimes.com.au//Chewsday-Review--Jamie-Olive

11.01.2022 Dont snip for speech FABULOUS podcast done by our Speech pathology Australia association with 2 speech pathologists Mary and Sharon from Curtin University res...earching tongue ties and the impact on speech. Definitely worth a listen if your baby has a tongue tie and you are worried about the impact of this tie on their speech. The title of the article sums up their research. Full study available in 6 months- cant wait!! Have a great weekend x Val- lets eat speech https://soundcloud.com/speech/speak-up-tongue-ties-s01-ep03

10.01.2022 The early bird rate for our workshop finishes today!

10.01.2022 So excited to be hosting Melanie Potock again in November 2020!! This time she is going to speak in both Sydney and Melbourne and the workshop is open to feeding professionals and parents.

10.01.2022 Throwing food at mealtimes can be for a number of different reasons - attention, feeling full, learning about gravity! This is a great, simple and effective way to reduce throwing. Ignore the throwing or keep comments short and simple. Give attention for behaviours that you want to reinforce.

09.01.2022 5 things you can do to #goyellow on April 2nd 1) Change your profile pic to #goyellow pic (see pic in comments) 2) Add our #goyellow frame in Facebook (search y...ellow ladybugs or #goyellow) http://www.facebook.com/fbcameraeffe/tryit/701436557064009/ 3) Send us a positive message from yourself or your ladybug about #girls #women and #autism to [email protected] 4) Make a tax deductible yellow coin donation to help us continue delivering our programs and advocate for systemic change - www.yellowladybugs.com.au/donate 5) Wear yellow and send us a pic! Go to yellowladybugs.com.au/goyellow for more information. #goyellow #girls #women #autism #waad2020 #yellowwiggle

09.01.2022 Its food allergy week. A great post from Lets Eat! Paediatric Speech Pathology about the impact of allergies on both the child and parent.

08.01.2022 Two very productive days in Newcastle working with Val. Only 8 weeks until our workshop.

08.01.2022 A fabulous post by Val from Lets Eat! Paediatric Speech Pathology. I too recommend not talking about food at the dinner table.

08.01.2022 Have you ever asked yourself why mealtime is a battle? Or why your child has to be dragged to the table? Moving past anxiety about food and ditching the pressur...e is what we are all about. A childs journey to a positive relationship with food can be a long one, and we have to respect and trust then to show us the way.

07.01.2022 Fussy Eating When does it become a problem? Most toddlers will go through a developmental stage of fussy eating. It is completely normal for a toddler to love a food one day and then behave like you are trying to poison them the next. It is also normal for them to eat a large volume at one meal and then nibble at others or to eat very little volume across one day and then eat larger volumes across another. Variations in volume, food preferences and mealtime behaviours are a...ll part of being a toddler. So, when does fussy eating become a problem? Below are some points that might help you decide if your childs fussy eating is becoming a problem. Does your child: - Eat exactly the same foods every day - Frequently become anxious or upset at mealtimes - Consistently refuse to try new foods - Avoid whole food groups like all vegetables - Eat only a very limited number of foods (less than 20) Are you: - Finding mealtimes stressful - Preparing a separate meal for your child every night - At a loss as to what to offer at mealtimes - Having arguments about meals and eating The main focus of a family meal is the family. It is a time to come together, connect, catch up and share. My top tips if mealtimes are becoming a battle ground are: Avoid talking about what food and how much anyone at the table is eating. Dont bribe, push, or force your child to eat. The more pressure a child feels to eat, the less likely they are to try a new food or to eat at all. Have as much variety in all of the foods that your child does already eat so that they are not eating exactly the same foods every day. As much as possible have one family meal that contains at least one safe food that your child does eat. Involve your child in the preparation and serving of then meals where possible. If your childs repertoire is very limited and one family meal is not yet possible, try and link the foods that your child is having to what the rest of the family is eating, e.g., corn chips and a cheese stick on taco night. Try self - serve meals where everyone helps themselves to foods from the centre of the table. Remember: suggesting your child choose a food or making a big fuss about just how DELICIOUS that food is, will make them less likely to try it. If mealtimes continue to be a battle group or you are concerned about the variety that your child eats, seek further help or advice.

07.01.2022 After its big success last year, the Tube Feeding Picnic will take place again on the 22nd March at Sydney Olympic Park. The aim is to raise awareness and bring families and clinicians together. All welcome. Please register attendance at https://childfeeding.org/picnic/

05.01.2022 Our feeding therapy workshop is sold out! Cant wait to see you all in only four weeks. Lets Eat! Paediatric Speech Pathology

05.01.2022 This week I received these photos and the message below: "I have to say a huge THANKKKKK YOU to you for making this happen. I feel like we owe you the world!" It brought tears to my eyes. This super cutie had his gastrostomy tube removed after a very successful tube wean last year. ... It is moments like these that make my job so incredibly rewarding.

03.01.2022 A single swallow requires the use of 26 muscles and 6 cranial nerves working in perfect harmony to move food and liquid through the body. When one or more pieces of the feeding puzzle are missing, out of order, or unclear, infants and children can have difficulty eating and drinking.

02.01.2022 A great blog on the introduction to solids. I too encourage a combination of parent and baby led weaning. Thank you Ash from Let’s Eat! Speech Pathology

01.01.2022 Sorry everyone, all 100 tickets sold out mid last week and I was too busy to announce it! If you would like to go on a waiting list for anyone who cant make it... on the day, please email [email protected] Last week, I spent time with our OT Amanda from @abilityfocusot who is presenting with me on self feeding and positioning. I also sat down with Emma Langham, clinical psychologist from The Jacaranda Centre to talk and video all things related to food and anxiety. And today, my wonderful friend Jana reviewed the controversial topic of tongue tie with me over lunch - 3 hours of talking and we could go on all afternoon! I know Debbie is busy at her end getting ready with Lauren Gladman Dieitian and Dr Callie - Doctor. We cant wait to showcase these talented women, our amazing clients who have agreed to be case studies and show you our feeding therapy strategies . Attendees- If you havent received an email from us last week, please email us. Hope youre having a wonderful weekend everyone! Val