Welcome to the Circles to Feeding™ Blog

Feeding isn’t only about oral skills, sensory experiences, or mealtime routines. Beneath all of that sits another crucial factor – the gastrointestinal (GI) system.

The GI system plays a central role in how children experience eating. In the Circles to Feeding™ Approach, Comfort is the foundation that allows curiosity and capability to grow. When children feel physiologically comfortable – including comfort within the gastrointestinal system – they are in their best state to explore, learn, and develop feeding skills. I often describe this as “learning mode.” When comfort is missing, children are more likely to shift into “protection mode,” where refusal, aversion, and stress dominate.

In this post, I’ll share why gastrointestinal and allergy issues are so important in feeding, what the research tells us, and how health professionals can support children and families without stepping outside their scope of practice.

Why Do We Need to Know About Gastrointestinal Issues?

The gastr...