A Peas Operetta Video

May 11

Feeding therapists: some allergic reactions happen in the weirdest places - or in the “safety” of a therapy room…and many clinicians were never taught this…

May is National Allergy Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to revisit something every OT, SLP & feeding specialist needs to understand:
Food allergens can show up in playground mulch, sauces, oils, sensory materials, community outings & foods we may not immediately recognize as high risk.

And when kids are trying new foods in therapy, those details matter.
✨In this carousel, I’m covering:
👉🏻hidden peanut exposure in the ENVIRONMENT
👉🏻soy vs peanut allergy confusion
👉🏻wheat allergy vs celiac disease
👉🏻sesame as “the 9th” Top 9 allergen
👉🏻which children may be at higher risk for reactions

Because feeding therapy is never just about the bite. It’s also about safety, preparation & understanding the whole child.❤️

📍Please SHARE this with:
• feeding therapists
• OTs
• SLPs
• parents
• school staff
• early intervention providers
You never know who may learn something that helps keep a child safer.

💾 Save this for later, especially if you work with children introducing new foods.

💕Melanie
✨ Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents and therapists help kids find joy in food.

Food allergy awareness / National Allergy Awareness Month / feeding therapy / pediatric feeding disorder / ARFID / SLP / OT / occupational therapy / pediatric SLP / feeding specialist / sensory feeding / food allergies / picky eating / feeding development / early intervention / food allergy education / pediatric therapy ...

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May 8

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“Having kids-the responsibility of rearing good, kind, ethical,
responsible human beings - is the biggest job anyone can embark on.” ❤️Love that wisdom from @mariashriver

✨Gosh, no wonder we worry that we’re not enough…this is a huge responsibility and…the best thing that ever happened to me.🤍

👉🏼🩷I’m here to tell you that you are MORE than enough…and you’ve got this.🤍💕🤍💕🤍💕🤍💕🤍💕🤍

I’m taking the weekend away from social…so wanted to be sure tell you today…

✨Happy Mom’s Day✨

🥰Melanie

Melanie Potock / Mom’s Day / Mother’s Day / Picky Eaters / SLPFeeding / StartingSolids ...

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May 7

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Starting solids can feel exciting… until the internet makes it overwhelming. 😵‍💫

Here are 3 things I wish every parent knew before offering those first bites👇🏼
🍓 Food allergens:
Research now shows that delaying common allergens like peanut & egg may actually increase the risk of developing food allergies for many children. Early, safe introduction matters.
🪑 Positioning matters more than people realize: If baby’s feet are dangling, trunk is unstable, and eating becomes much harder. Good positioning supports safer swallowing, better motor control & more successful meals.
😬 Too much gagging isn’t always “normal”: Some gagging is expected while babies learn. But persistent gagging at most meals can create stress, hesitation around food & difficult mealtimes over time. We want babies challenged, not overwhelmed.

✨ Different babies need different approaches, and responsive feeding means paying attention to the whole child, not just the bites they swallow.
💾 Save this for later if you’re starting solids soon.
👩‍👩‍👧 Share with a new parent who needs calmer feeding advice.

❤️Melanie
✨ Thank you for following me for weekly feeding guidance grounded in 25+ years of feeding therapy, helping parents & therapists help kids find joy in food.
Starting solids / baby led weaning / responsive feeding / feeding therapy / baby feeding tips / infant feeding / picky eating prevention / food allergies / gagging vs choking / pediatric feeding therapist ...

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