Northern Michigan's News LeadereFeed: Teaching Toddlers How to Eat

We do it every day- hundreds, sometimes thousands of times. The simple act of swallowing takes about 50 pairs of muscles and nerves -and for some children-it's something they just can't do. Now, these kids are getting the help they need- without even leaving their own high chairs. Robyn Haines has your Healthy Living.

For the first two years of Andrew Rynd's life-he never ate a single meal. Andrew was born with a rare condition - milk would go into his lung-and he couldn't cough it out. He didn't know how to chew or swallow.  That's where the one-of-a-kind E-feed program comes in.  It allows children like Andrew to get help-via the internet--from an entire team of specialists.

For thousands of children-eating does not come naturally.  For kids with cerebral palsy, autism, cleft palet and even behavioral problems, programs like e-feed can help. On this day, an occupational therapist, speech pathologist, nurse practitioner and physical therapist in New Jersey are joining Fin Nowell and his mom for lunch in Utah.

Fin was born at just 23 weeks-his ability to swallow never developed. Since starting the program last year-Fin no longer relies on his feeding tube completely. E-feed can be used for initial screenings for out of state families to see if their child is a candidate for an intense four week therapy program at the pediatric feeding and swallowing center.  E-feed is also used for follow-ups for out of state families who've completed that therapy.