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About Me

Hi there! My name is Kayla Kim and I am a pediatric ​occupational therapist specializing in infant and toddler ​feeding. I received my Master's in Occupational Therapy in ​2019 and have been working in pediatrics ever since. I’ve ​always had a passion for working with kids and now that I have ​my own little one, I’m excited to continue my journey in ​pediatrics with the additional lens of being a mom!

Cade (my son) and I experienced many challenges with feeding ​including difficulty with breast and bottle feeding due to ​tongue and lip ties. This inspired me to focus my efforts on ​infant and toddler feeding to help others who may be ​struggling in similar ways. I am now grateful to have had both ​professional and personal experiences to add to my toolbox to ​help other families and babies eat, play, and grow!

When I am not working as an OT, you can find me playing ​soccer, snuggling with my cats, or enjoying the outdoors with ​my husband, son, and daughter!

Types of Services Offered

At this time, we are able to accept self-pay or the following insurances: Aetna, Anthem, MaineCare

What is Feeding Therapy?

Feeding therapy is for infants and children who have difficulty with sucking, chewing, feeding, or swallowing. As a parent or caregiver, you may notice your child being very selective or particular with foods, coughing or sputtering more than typical when eating or drinking, having difficulty holding their utensils to feed themselves, having difficulty tolerating/consuming new textured foods or transitioning to solid foods, or having reduced food or liquid intake. In these cases, feeding therapy may be recommended to support the child's growth, nutrition, feeding skill, and future mealtime experiences.

Feeding therapy is typically provided by an occupational therapist (OT) (like me!) or a speech language pathologist (SLP). Therapy sessions involve the family as active participants to support carryover of skills and promote positive mealtime experiences. Sessions can take place in the home, hospital, or private clinic.

What Can Feeding Therapy Address?

Oral Motor Skills

Transition to solids

Specific Feeding Skills (cup drinking, utensil use, etc.)

Tethered Oral Tissues (Before AND after release)

Fine Motor Skills

Postural Stability and Core Strength

Picky Eating

Sensory Processing Difficulties

Additional Private Pay Services:

• 1:1 Tummy Time Support: Does your little one hate tummy time? Let me help you troubleshoot and provide you with strategies tailored to your little one’s specific needs. 1 hour; $125.

• 1:1 Transition to Solids Support: Is your little one ready to start solids, but you’re not sure where to start? Let me help! I will provide tailored suggestions to support your little one’s skills and development to make the transition to solid foods easier on the whole family. 1 hour; $125.
  

Products and Resources

Email eatplaygrowot@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @eatplaygrowot to purchase!

Professional Development

-Tummy Time! Method: The TummyTime! Method was developed by Michelle Emanuel, OTR/L to support pre-crawling babies and their families through positive tummy time experiences. Participants learned the 8 phases of this method and how to implement them with individuals and groups both virtually and in-person. (March 2023)

-Chrysalis Orofacial Tots Training: In this cutting edge continuing education course, participants will learn the E3 Model of Care® for tethered oral tissues. This includes relevant background information on how tethered oral tissues affect oral function from birth to maturity. This course is a specialty training that is targeted for the oral function professional including Speech-Language Pathologists and Assistants, Occupational Therapists and Assistants, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists, and Lactation Consultants and Counselors. (Feb 2023)

-Feed The Peds®: A comprehensive 12-week course to becoming a pediatric feeding therapist that focuses on early development. Content taught includes: Normal Prenatal Development & Birth to 6 Months, 6 Months to 1 Year, 1-2 Years and Beyond, Assessment, Treatment, Tethered Oral Tissues, Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders, & Various Medical Complications (NICU, craniofacial disorders, neurological, cardiac and/or gastrointestinal issues, airway considerations), instrumental assessments and the IDDSI framework. (May - Aug 2022)

-Responsive Feeding: Together At The Table (May 2022)

-Assessment and Intervention for Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs) in Feeding Therapy (Feb 2022)

-Foundations of Feeding Therapy for OTs: Anatomy, Physiology, Terms, and Tools (Feb 2022)

-Sensory Skills: Helping Parents to Support Sensory Development in their Children for Pediatric Feeding Success (Nov 2021)

-Understanding Primitive Reflexes: How They Impact Child Development and Intervention Strategies for Integration (March 2021)

-Mouth Moves: Helping Parents to Support Oral Motor Development in their Children for Pediatric Feeding Success (Jan 2021)