Feeding Therapy & Early Interventions (Ages 0-4)

At Bloom Therapy Group, we specialize in feeding therapy and early oral development for babies and young children. Whether your child is struggling with bottle feeding, starting solids, or transitioning to more complex textures, our team of licensed speech-language pathologists is here to help.

We work closely with families to support:

Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding challenges
Tongue and lip tie recovery
Transitioning to solids (baby-led weaning or spoon-feeding)
Gagging, picky eating, or food aversions
Delayed chewing or weak oral muscles
Open-mouth posture and mouth breathing

Early Intervention: Ages 0–4

The earlier we start, the more we can support your child’s growth and development. Babies and toddlers are rapidly developing oral-motor skills - and small issues now can lead to bigger challenges later with speech, sleep, or dental development.

We offer support for:

Premature or medically complex infants
Babies with reflux or feeding aversion
Toddlers who are delayed in self-feeding
Children with suspected oral-motor dysfunction or sensory sensitivities

Individualized Feeding Therapy

Feeding therapy helps children develop the strength, coordination, and confidence to eat safely and successfully. It's not just about what your child eats, but how they eat.

We use play-based, family-centered strategies to:

Encourage safe swallowing
Improve chewing and tongue movement
Introduce new textures and tastes
Make mealtimes less stressful and more successful

EarlySteps: Ages 0–3

Bloom Therapy Group is a proud provider for Louisiana’s EarlySteps program, which offers therapy services for children from birth to age 3 who may be experiencing developmental delays.

If your baby or toddler is having trouble with feeding, swallowing, or early speech and language skills, EarlySteps can help cover the cost of therapy services - and we’ll guide you through the process every step of the way.

We’re experienced in supporting families through:

Early intervention evaluations
Coordinated care plans through EarlySteps
Therapy services in-home or in-clinic

Myo Munchee

What is Myo Munchee?

A MyoMunchee is a small, chewable oral appliance made of medical-grade silicone that helps support healthy oral and facial development in children (and adults).

It looks like a soft mouthguard, but it's actually a tool designed to exercise the jaw, tongue, and facial muscles - kind of like a workout for the mouth! Kids chew on it daily for short periods, usually under the guidance of a myofunctional therapist or speech-language pathologist.

Why would my child use a MyoMunchee?

The MyoMunchee can help with:

Strengthening oral muscles needed for speech, feeding, and swallowing
Promoting nasal breathing by encouraging proper lip seal
Improving tongue posture
Supporting better jaw growth and alignment
Reducing habits like thumb sucking or mouth breathing

It’s often used alongside other therapies as part of a plan to address things like:

Tongue ties
Open mouth posture
Picky eating or weak chewing
Speech sound difficulties

The Myo Munchee: Benefits

Oral Health Improvement: MyoMunchee supports a wide range of oral health benefits, including addressing gum disease, plaque buildup, and teeth and gum health.
Palate Stimulation: The prongs on MyoMunchee stimulate and desensitize the palate, enhancing oral functionality.

Saliva Production: Chewing with MyoMunchee increases saliva production, which is often referred to as "Nature's Elixir" and is crucial for maintaining oral health.
pH Balance Enhancement: MyoMunchee significantly raises saliva pH, creating an alkaline environment that combats acid production in plaque and positively influences oral microbiota.
Customized Sizing: The device is available in various pre-fabricated sizes to ensure a proper fit for different individuals.
Diverse Applications: MyoMunchee can help address various oral health concerns, including swallowing patterns, mouth breathing, speech issues, TMD/TMJ, Otitis Media, occlusion, and posture.
Alignment of Occlusion: It aids in aligning occlusion to class I and disrupting grinding patterns.
Breathing Exercises: MyoMunchee includes breathing exercises to assist with issues related to Sleep Disordered Breathing.
Muscle Toning: The device tones the muscles of the tongue and mouth, leading to improved oral posture.
Snoring Reduction: Improved oral posture with MyoMunchee can help reduce snoring.
Special Needs Patients: It is suitable for individuals with conditions like Autism/Sensory Processing Disorder and offers sensory stimulus.
Oro-motor Function: Chewing with MyoMunchee improves oro-motor function, neuromuscular control, coordination of chewing muscles, aids in swallow mechanics, and benefits from the calming effect of sensory afferent nerve pathways.
Introduction: When introducing MyoMunchee, it's advisable to start slowly and begin with a smaller size.
Minimum Usage Duration: For optimal results, it's recommended to use MyoMunchee for a minimum of 6 months.

How long does my child need to use it?

Most kids start with a few minutes a day, and gradually build up time depending on their age and goals. It’s always customized to your child’s needs and guided by a professional.