Weaning and feeding development advice

Start for life – NHS website with lots of videos and tips for your child’s feeding development

Child feeding guide – strategies and tools for fussy eating and create happy mealtimes

First aid

Choking advice – a video by St John’s Ambulance, approved by the Resuscitation Council

The Child Accident Prevention Trust – helpful information on preventing child accident and injury. Includes advice around weaning and choking

Children born early (premature babies)

Bliss – Information about feeding premature babies including tube feeding, breast and bottle feeding, to weaning. Also includes information on reflux

Websites with advice for children with eating and drinking problems (dysphagia)

Feeding matters – an American website, which has lots of information and resources for children with paediatric feeding difficulties.

IDDSI International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative – The websites resource area, which contains information on different levels of food and drink texture and consistency, how to test levels accurately

Dysphagia – Podcasts

The food chain – why can’t my child swallow? – An informative podcast on BBC sounds about swallowing difficulties in children. With information from the perspective of parents and families.

Support if you need help financially for food and drink.

Barnsley council – This council website provides information on local foodbanks

Barnsley Foodbank – This is the Barnsley foodbank webpage.   You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.  Barnsley foodbank  is part of The Trussell Trust which provides emergency parcels.     A referral is required to gain a voucher which you will need to pick up a food parcel.  Your health visitor or children’s centre can help you with a referral.  This webpage also includes information on how to donate and locations of the sites in Barnsley.

Rising costs of living advice – This government backed website provides lots of suggestions for getting help and for managing your money.

Eating Disorders

The speech and language therapy team provide support and intervention for children and young people with physical eating and drinking difficulties (dysphagia).  We do not provide a service for children and young people with eating disorders.  An eating disorder is a mental illness relating to eating and drinking.  Types of eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and pica.

Your GP can support you to access the right services for eating disorders.  More information, support and a helpline are also available from the charity BEAT.  Types of Eating Disorder (beateatingdisorders.org.uk)