Using a chaser to decrease packing in children with feeding disorders.

Three kids with feeding disorders kept food in their mouths instead of swallowing. This is called packing.

The team gave each child a tiny sip of juice or a bite of yogurt right after every non-preferred bite. They called this bite or sip a “chaser.” They tried two timings: chaser right away or 15 seconds later.

Packing dropped to zero for every child no matter which timing was used. Kids swallowed faster and meals felt easier.

Chen et al. (2022) tested bite-by-bite versus “save-up” rewards and found kids often like the quick, one-bite style. The chaser is the quickest reward—one sip, one swallow.

Kirkwood et al. (2021) showed that if a child refuses food for both escape and attention, you must block both reasons. The chaser gives attention and a pleasant taste, so it may cover both reasons at once.

ALee et al. (2022) used simple praise and toys to help autistic kids accept new foods. Their study widens the map: the chaser idea can travel beyond classic feeding-disorder clinics to kids on the spectrum.

You can erase packing today. Keep a small cup of the child’s favorite drink or a spoon of yogurt beside the plate. After each target bite, immediately offer the chaser. Start with zero-second delay, then fade to 15 seconds if you need to slow calories. Record mouth-clean swallows and stop when packing stays at zero for three meals in a row.