Pediatric Feeding Essentials:
2-Day Pediatric Feeding Intensive

October 9–10, 2026 | Friday & Saturday
12-Hour (1.2 CE) AOTA approved continuing education 

Investment: $370 Early Bird 
$400 Full Price

Foundational Training (Introductory Level)

Build practical clinical reasoning skills you can use immediately in pediatric feeding therapy.

Pediatric Feeding Essentials connects foundational feeding knowledge with real-world clinical decision-making, practical strategies, case examples, and family-centered care—giving you a framework for understanding feeding challenges and determining what to do next.

COURSE SNAPSHOT

Live, instructor-led 2-day intensive

Friday (Oct 9): 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (MST)
Saturday (Oct 10): 8:00 AM–1:30 PM (MST)

Attend all 12 hours, participate in activities/case application, and complete the course evaluation.

12 Contact Hour (1.2 CEUs) AOTA 

Target Audience

Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA's), Speech-Language Pathologists, and Allied Health Professionals who want to strengthen their understanding of Pediatric Feeding Disorder and feel more confident supporting children and families with complex feeding challenges.

A few words about this course

Feeding is more than food — it’s connection, regulation, and relationship.

Pediatric Feeding Essentials is a practical, 2-day intensive designed to help therapists better understand the why behind feeding challenges and feel more confident knowing what to do next.

Across 12 hours of focused learning, participants explore pediatric feeding disorder, assessment and red flags, feeding development, oral-motor and sensory foundations, responsive and trauma-informed care, early ARFID patterns, tube-feeding considerations, neurodiversity-affirming practice, and caregiver coaching. Case discussions, guided clinical reasoning, and practical application help transform foundational knowledge into strategies therapists can use immediately.

Pediatric Feeding Essentials provides a clear, compassionate, and practical framework for understanding feeding challenges, supporting families, and making thoughtful clinical decisions.

You will learn:

  • Foundations of PFD 
  • Medical Considerations 
  • Feeding Skill Development
  • Feeding Readiness
  • Sensory Processing and Interoception
  • Oral-Motor Skills
  • Responsive Feeding & Behavior
  • Trauma-Informed Care & ARFID
  • Tube Feeding & Transitions
  • Neurodiversity
  • Goal Writing 
  • Clinical Reasoning and Collaboration

Course Schedule

Friday, October 9 | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM

8:00 – 8:30 Module 1: PFD Foundations, Domains & Course Roadmap
8:30 – 9:50 Module 2: Medical Considerations & Red Flags
9:50 – 10:05 Break
10:05 – 11:05 Module 3: Feeding Development & Readiness
11:05 – 12:35 Module 4: Sensory Processing & Interoception
12:35 – 1:05 Lunch
1:05 – 2:20 Module 5: Oral Motor Foundations
2:20 – 2:35 Break
2:35 – 3:30 Module 6: Tube Feeding & Transition Planning
3:30 – 4:00 Case Integration & Q&A

Saturday, October 10 | 8:00 AM–1:30 PM

8:00 – 9:00 Module 7: Responsive Feeding & Caregiver Coaching
9:00 – 9:10 Break
9:10 – 10:10 Module 8: Trauma-Informed Care & Early ARFID
10:10 – 10:20 Break
10:20 – 11:05 Module 9: Neurodiversity-Affirming Feeding Care
11:05 – 11:50 Module 10: Goal Writing & Documentation
11:50 – 12:00 Break
12:00 – 1:30 Module 11: Capstone — Clinical Reasoning, Collaboration & Discharge Planning

Course Completion Requirements

Participants must:

  • Attend all 12 hours of live instruction.
  • Participate in course activities, case discussions, and clinical application exercises.
  • Achieve a minimum score of 70% on the course exam.
  • Complete the course evaluation at the conclusion of the intensive.

Participants who meet all course completion requirements will receive a certificate of completion for 12 hours of AOTA continuing education credits.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the current consensus definition and four-domain model of Pediatric Feeding Disorders (PFD).

2. Identify medical, sensory, and oral-motor factors that influence feeding challenges in infants and young children.

3. Explain responsive and trauma-informed strategies that can be applied to the assessment and treatment of pediatric feeding disorders.

4. Discuss functional, family-centered goals and intervention plans for children with feeding difficulties.

5. Describe effective collaboration with interdisciplinary teaming approaches to support comprehensive feeding care.

CANCELLATION POLICY


• You may cancel your registration up to 7 days before the workshop start date to receive a refund less $35 administrative fee. No-shows or cancellations received less than 7 days prior to the course are non-refundable but can be rescheduled for a future course date.

Please contact Pediatric Feeding Essentials for any special needs or accommodations requests: wendy@pediatricfeedingessentials.com

Instructor: Wendy Alexander, OTD, OTR/L

Wendy is an occupational therapist with over 26 years of experience.  She has worked across early intervention, home health, and school-based settings and founded Pediatric Feeding Essentials to address the growing need for practical, evidence-based feeding training. Wendy is passionate about responsive feeding, trauma-informed care, and strengthening clinical reasoning in complex feeding cases. She is dedicated to mentoring therapists and helping them build confidence, clarity, and competence in pediatric feeding assessment and intervention.

Financial Disclosure: Wendy is the founder of Pediatric Feeding Essentials™ and receives financial compensation related to the development and delivery of this continuing education course.

Non-Financial Disclosure: Wendy has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
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Testimonials & Course reviews

"Such a practical and useful course!" ~Robyn


"This has been my favorite course I've ever taken, and I've learned sooo much about a topic I knew barely anything about." ~Katherine

"I loved the case studies at the end to put into practice what we learned that week". ~ Dominique

"Unbelievable course, thank you so much for this." ~Haley

This professional development activity is being provided as a co-sponsored event: HOST: Pediatric Feeding Essentials, LLC

Aspire OT is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development and an AOTA APP Approved Sponsor. Co-sponsor PD activity approval ID# 13645. This Hybrid activity is offered at 1.2 CEUs, Introductory Level, Occupational Therapy Service Delivery, Professional Issues, Foundational Knowledge. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

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