Fluid and Food Thickeners
IDDSI guidelines for thickening fluids and foods, paediatric dysphagia support, and guidance on managing thickeners for children with swallowing difficulties
IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) Guidelines
The resources are freely available to download or print on the IDDSI Resources page under consumer resources paediatrics) with a helpful information sheet of suitable foods for each "stage" and foods to avoid.
If a parent appears unsure or confused in any way about the food their child should be eating or the thickness of drinks, please contact us to arrange a face-to-face review. Often, around weaning, parents will need more intensive support, and it may be a slower process, with thickeners for clear fluids, for example or bottled milk, and also with medications. This can be less convenient and may need additional support.
It may be that the child has been discharged by the paediatric dysphagia team but remains on thickeners for their fluids - it is always worth reviewing the long-term need for these at the annual reviews and referring back for a review by the team, after discussion with parents and the school.
It is important that schools understand what the thickeners are achieving and the reasons behind their recommendation, how to make up the feeds and have it documented in the child's school health plan.
Contacting Children's Integrated Therapies
- Address: Edgware Community Hospital, 3rd Floor, Westgate House, Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware HA8 0AD.
- Tel: 0300 300 1821.
Letter Template
Download our letter template providing information about the new IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) guidelines and how this relates to thickening fluids.