Pediatric Feeding Therapy & Occupational Therapy

Amy Cresswell, MOT, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist specializing in feeding, eating, and oral-motor development.

Currently unable to accept new clients. Please contact Grow Forward Occupational Therapy for updates.

Pediatric Feeding Therapy

A Responsive, Child-Centered Approach with Family Collaboration

  • Feeding and Eating Therapy

    We address feeding and eating challenges including significant food selectivity, Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD), Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), oral aversion, sensory-based feeding difficulties, and oral-motor delays.

  • Sensory Processing

    We address underlying sensory processing and modulation challenges that can impact regulation, focus, and participation in eating and daily routines.

  • Interoception

    Supporting children in recognizing and responding to internal body signals related to hunger, fullness, thirst, and other sensations that can influence eating and mealtime participation.

  • Motor Skills

    From gross motor to fine motor and everything in between. Postural stability, midline orientation, hand skills, and visual-motor skills support participation in play, self-care, and feeding—including the development of oral-motor skills.

  • Adaptive Equipment

    Seating and adaptive equipment consultation to support positioning, comfort, independence, and successful participation during mealtimes and daily activities.

  • Consultations and Collaboration

    Supporting families through parent coaching and caregiver collaboration to coordination with your child's team, including pediatrician, gastroenterologist, dietitian, speech-language pathologist, and other members of the healthcare team.

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About Amy Cresswell MOT, OTR/L

I have been a pediatric occupational therapist since 2003. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Child Development from Fresno State and my Master of Occupational Therapy from Samuel Merritt College.

My career began in a children’s hospital and continued through pediatric occupational therapy and sensory integration practice in Southern California, where I developed a strong foundation in sensory processing and pediatric development and eventually served as a supervising therapist.

Since 2009, I have had the privilege of serving children and families on California’s Central Coast. My experience includes California Children’s Services and the Sierra Vista High Risk Infant Follow-Up Clinic from 2009 to 2020. Through Grow Forward Occupational Therapy, I provide pediatric feeding therapy and collaborate with Marlena Tanner of The Yellow House Project and other members of a child’s care team.

These experiences have shaped my approach to pediatric feeding: looking beyond the food itself to understand the sensory, motor, developmental, medical, environmental, and relational factors that can influence a child’s ability to eat and participate comfortably in daily life.

Grow Forward Occupational Therapy is a project of love and care—built on a commitment to growth, optimism, respect, compassion, and the belief that children and families do best when we work together.