You packed it carefully. The sandwich cut the way they like it. The crackers in the separate container so they don't get soggy. The fruit on the side. You knew exactly what was in that bag when you zipped it shut at seven-thirty. And then the lunchbox comes home. Same sandwich. Same crackers. Same fruit. All of it. And when you ask how lunch was, they shrug and say the cafeteria was loud.

In this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, explains what a school cafeteria actually asks of a child's nervous system and gives you five specific things you can change about what you're packing before Monday morning.

Why the same food your child eats at your kitchen table comes home untouched from school, and why it has nothing to do with the food itself. The cafeteria is a sensory environment that looks nothing like the place where your child learned to eat that food in the first place.

What a "regulation budget" is and why school spends most of it before your child ever sits down with their lunch. By the time the tray hits the table, eating something unfamiliar may simply be out of reach.

Five lunchbox changes you can make this week, including why cutting portions in half works better than packing more variety, and the one thing you can do on a Saturday that fixes more lunches than anything else Jean recommends.

The one question to stop asking in the pickup line and what to ask instead. Parents who make this switch say they learn more in a week than they had in the previous month.

How to tell the difference between normal back-to-school adjustment and a sign that your child's eating needs a real evaluation, including when you can self-refer without waiting for a pediatrician.

Whether your child has always been a selective eater and school just makes it harder, whether you noticed the food list shrinking a few weeks into the school year and assumed something went wrong, whether you've been told to just keep trying different foods and it hasn't worked, or whether your gut is telling you this is more than the cafeteria, this episode gives you a clear framework for what you're actually looking at and what to do next.

Resources Mentioned:

• Courses: thelittleeaters.com/Courses
• Free Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads
• Book an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.janeapp.com
• Follow Jean on Instagram: @littleeaters_talkers

If this episode helped, share it with a parent who is packing that first lunchbox this week and wondering why it keeps coming home full.

If you've ever been told to "wait and see" while your gut said something more was going on, this episode is for you.

Jaime became a mom in about three hours — one phone call, one flight, and an infant adoption. What followed was a month in the NICU, an NG tube, a tongue-tie nobody caught early, a bottle aversion, and a daughter who kept falling off the growth chart while everyone told her to add more calories. It took a hospital admission and a geneticist before anyone said the words Russell-Silver syndrome.

Jaime joins Jean Hawney, M.A., CCC-SLP, to walk through all of it — the appointments that went nowhere, the moment she stopped accepting "she'll grow out of it," and the risk she took that finally changed things.

No judgment. No "wait and see." Just an honest account of what it takes to advocate for a child who isn't eating.

🎙️ What We Cover

• Becoming parents in three hours, and a month in the NICU

• Tongue-tie, lip-tie and cheek-tie — and what gets missed

• Bottle aversion: what it looks like and how it starts

• Starting solids when feeding has already been hard

• Why "just add more calories" doesn't fix growth

• Failure to thrive, the hospital, and when a feeding tube is and isn't the answer

• Getting a Russell-Silver diagnosis — and why a standard genetic panel comes back normal

• Why waiting is never neutral

📚 Free Resources

📄 Free feeding downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads

📝 Browse the blog: thelittleeaters.com/blog

🛒 20% off EZPZ feeding gear: partners.ezpzfun.com/LITTLEEATERS

🤝 Connect with Jean

🌐 Website: thelittleeaters.com

📸 Instagram: @littleeaters_talkers

🔗 Everything: linktr.ee/thelittleeaters

Little Eaters & Talkers is hosted by Jean Hawney, M.A., CCC-SLP, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist in Houston, Texas.

Disclaimer: This episode is one family's personal experience and is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for individualized medical or therapeutic advice. If you're concerned about your child's eating or growth, speak with your pediatrician or a qualified feeding specialist.

You sat in that office for eleven minutes. You waited three weeks for that appointment. And when you finally said the words out loud, "I'm worried about how my child is eating," they looked up from the clipboard and said, "That's pretty normal. Just keep offering different foods. They'll grow out of it." You walked out to the parking lot wondering if you had imagined the whole thing.

In this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, explains why feeding concerns get missed at well-child visits and gives you the exact words to use so they don't get missed again.

• Why pediatricians often miss feeding issues and why it has nothing to do with them not caring. Most medical programs include only two to four hours of total nutrition training, which means feeding disorders fall completely outside the standard screening checklist.
• The five specific sentences that get a feeding referral faster than anything else and why being vague gets a vague response, while specific clinical language gets clinical action.
• What to say word for word when you hear, "Just wait and see." This script removes the pressure from your pediatrician and makes saying yes to a referral much easier.
• Why you don't need a referral at all, including Early Intervention for children under three, free school district evaluations for children over three, and the option to self-refer directly to a private feeding clinic.
• What actually happens at a feeding evaluation so the fear of the unknown stops being the reason families don't go.

Whether your child has been eating fewer than twenty foods for over a year, whether you've been told to wait and see at two or three appointments already, whether you've never heard of Early Intervention and your child is already two and a half, or whether you just need someone to confirm that pushing back on your pediatrician is allowed, this episode gives you everything you need to walk into that office differently.

Resources Mentioned:

Courses:⁠ thelittleeaters.com/Courses⁠

Free Downloads: ⁠thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads⁠

Book an Evaluation: ⁠thelittleeaters.janeapp.com⁠

Follow Jean on Instagram: ⁠@littleeaters_talkers⁠

If this episode gave you that "aha" moment — share it with a parent who's been putting the same food on the plate for months and wondering why nothing is changing.

If you've ever been told your child is "just a picky eater" but your gut says it's more than that, this episode is for you.

ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is so much more than having a short list of "safe foods." Feeding specialist Kelly Komisaruk joins Jean Hawney, M.A., CCC-SLP, to explain what ARFID really is, why traditional feeding therapy often isn't enough on its own, and what meaningful progress actually looks like for families navigating it every day.

No judgment. No "wait and see." Just practical, evidence-based guidance to help your child build a safer, healthier relationship with food.

🎙️ What We Cover

• What ARFID really is and how it's different from typical picky eating

• Why feeding therapy alone often isn't enough

• The role anxiety and mental health play at the table

• How to get the whole family on the same page

• Accommodations that quietly make things worse

• The red flags that mean it's time to seek help

• What "progress" actually looks like

📚 Free Resources

📄 Free feeding downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads

📝 Browse the blog: thelittleeaters.com/blog

🛒 20% off EZPZ feeding gear: partners.ezpzfun.com/LITTLEEATERS

🤝 Connect with Jean

🌐 Website: thelittleeaters.com

📸 Instagram: @littleeaters_talkers

🔗 Everything: linktr.ee/thelittleeaters

Little Eaters & Talkers is hosted by Jean Hawney, M.A., CCC-SLP, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist in Houston, Texas.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical or therapeutic advice. If you're concerned about your child's eating, speak with your pediatrician or a qualified feeding specialist.

You followed the advice. You kept offering the broccoli. You put it on the plate again and again for two years. Mealtime is now something everyone in your house dreads — and your child still won't touch it.

In this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, explains why the standard advice completely backfires for sensory-sensitive kids — and what to do instead.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why your child isn't choosing beige — their nervous system is, and understanding that one shift changes everything about how you respond at the table. The critical difference between a food preference and a sensory need — and why the approach for each one is completely different. Why "just keep offering it" doesn't just fail for sensory kids — it can actually make the aversion stronger with every exposure. The 7-step sensory ladder: why eating is the last rung, not the first, and how real progress looks long before a bite is ever taken. Food chaining — how to build bridges from your child's safe foods to new ones by changing only one tiny thing at a time.

Whether your child gags at the sight of something new, melts down when an unfamiliar food touches their plate, has been a beige-only eater for years, or you've tried everything and nothing is working — this episode gives you a completely different way forward.

Resources Mentioned:

Courses: thelittleeaters.com/Courses

Free Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads

Book an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.janeapp.com

Follow Jean on Instagram: @littleeaters_talkers

If this episode gave you that "aha" moment — share it with a parent who's been putting the same food on the plate for months and wondering why nothing is changing.

You took your child to speech therapy for the talking. You were told to just keep offering food for the eating. Two separate waitlists, two separate specialists, zero conversation about how they might actually be the same problem.

In this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, explains the connection between feeding and speech that most families never hear about — and why, if your child is a late talker and a picky eater, that combination is not a coincidence.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why the mouth is one shared system — and how the same muscles your child uses to chew and swallow are the exact muscles they need to make speech sounds. The five signs that your child's feeding challenges and speech delays are connected. Why your child's SLP should be asking about feeding at every appointment — and what to say if they never have. Simple oral motor activities you can start this week that support both eating and talking at the same time. When one specialist isn't enough — and how to build the right team for a child who needs support in both areas.

Whether your child gags on textures, drools past the age where most kids stop, is hard to understand even by people who know them well, or you've just felt like you're only getting half the picture from your current team — this episode gives you the full picture.

Resources Mentioned:

Courses: thelittleeaters.com/Courses

Free Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads

Book an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.janeapp.com

Follow Jean on Instagram: @littleeaters_talkers

If this episode gave you that "aha" moment — share it with a parent who's been chasing two separate answers for what might be one shared problem.

Your pediatrician said "they'll grow out of it." You kept offering new foods. You took the pressure off. And two years later, the list of foods your child will eat is shorter — not longer.

In this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, breaks down ARFID — Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder — in plain language. Not the clinical version. The real version. The one that sounds like your family's dinner table.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What ARFID actually is — and why it has nothing to do with body image or eating disorders in the traditional sense.
• The three subtypes of ARFID — and why knowing which one fits your child changes the entire approach.
• How to tell the difference between typical picky eating and something that needs real support.
• Why the "wait and see" approach doesn't work for ARFID — and what happens when families wait too long.
• What a feeding evaluation actually looks like — and exactly what to say to your pediatrician so you don't get brushed off.
• The significant overlap between ARFID and autism — and why you need to bring feeding into that conversation explicitly.

Whether your child eats fewer than 10 foods, has a complete meltdown when their safe brand changes, or you've just always known in your gut that this was more than pickiness — this episode gives you the language, the clarity, and the next step.

Resources Mentioned:
Courses: thelittleeaters.com/Courses
Free Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads
Book an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.janeapp.com

Follow Jean on Instagram: @littleeaters_talkers

If this episode felt like it was written for your family, share it with a parent who needs to hear it. You've been advocating for your child all along — keep going.

"You might want to look into OT." Your pediatrician said it. You nodded. You took the paper. And then you Googled it and got a bunch of results about adults recovering from strokes.

April is Occupational Therapy Month, and in this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, finally gives you the clear, honest answer that nobody seems to hand parents in the doctor's office: what OT actually is, who it helps, and why — as a feeding therapist — she works alongside OTs more than almost any other specialist.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What "occupation" actually means for a toddler — and why it has nothing to do with a job.

How sensory processing differences show up at mealtimes — and why that's OT's territory.

The difference between OT and feeding therapy — and why they're not competing, they're overlapping.

What an OT session actually looks like (hint: it looks like play, and that's on purpose).

How to get OT in Houston — including free options through ECI and your school district that most families don't know about.

When to ask your feeding therapist whether adding OT makes sense — and what to say when you call.

Whether your child is gagging at textures, melting down over haircuts, or you've been in feeding therapy and progress has slowed — this episode gives you the clarity to know what step to take next.

Resources Mentioned:

Courses: thelittleeaters.com/Courses

Free Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads

Book an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.janeapp.com

Texas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI): Look up your local ECI office for children under 3

Follow Jean on Instagram: @littleeaters_talkers

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with another parent who needs to hear it. You're doing a better job than you think!

"They’ll grow out of it." "Just keep offering it." "It’s just a phase."

If you’re a parent of a toddler who only eats five foods, you’ve probably heard these phrases a dozen times. But what if your gut is telling you it’s something more?

In this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, dives deep into the single most-searched question in the feeding space: Is my child just picky, or is there a bigger problem? Jean breaks down the differences between typical toddler pickiness—which is annoying but developmentally normal—and "Problem Feeding," a pattern that requires targeted support.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What "Normal" Looks Like: Why a range of 20-30 foods and mealtime flexibility is actually a good sign.

• Sign #1: The Shrinking Menu: Why "food drop-off" is a major clinical red flag.

• Sign #2: Mealtime Battles: How to tell if your mealtime stress is a data point you shouldn't ignore.

• Sign #3: Sensory vs. Preference: The difference between "I don't like it" and "My body feels wrong touching this."

• Sign #4: Growth and Nutrition: When to move past "wait and see" and look at the medical data.

• Sign #5: The Parental Instinct: Why your gut is the most reliable tool in your parenting kit.

Whether you’re dealing with a toddler who gagged at the sight of broccoli or a child whose food list is actively shrinking, this episode provides the clarity and permission you need to trust your instincts and take the next step.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloads

• Book an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.com

• Follow Jean on Instagram: @thelittleeatersandtalkers

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with another parent who needs to hear it. You’re doing a better job than you think!

Is feeding time ending in tears for both you and your baby? You aren't failing, and you aren't alone. In this episode, Jean Hawney, SLP and founder of The Little Eaters & Talkers, breaks down the emotional cycle of bottle aversion and how to rebuild trust at the table.

What’s inside:

• Aversion vs. Refusal: Learn to spot the difference between a lack of skill and a learned fear response.

• The Pressure Trap: Why "making" them eat often leads to more rejection.

• The 4 Golden Rules: Practical steps to eliminate pressure, remove distractions, and honor your baby’s autonomy.

• The 72-Hour Survival Kit: How to handle the first few days of recovery without losing your mind.

Peaceful feedings are possible. Recovery typically takes 3 to 7 days—this is just a tiny blip in your journey.

Connect with Us:

• Book a Consult: thelittleeaters.com

• Instagram: @thelittleeaters_talkers

• Resources: Free Downloads & Guides

  
  

#BottleAversion #InfantFeeding #TheLittleEaters #FeedingTherapy #ResponsiveFeeding #ParentingSupport