Over-Stimulation Can Hinder Feeding Skills

My son had a runny nose today and was grumpy for the most part. Guess what...he wasn't that hungry! This boy LOVES to eat, so that is how I know when he is sick, because his appetite is less than usual. My two year old son is no exception from other kids...the appetite is the first to go and last to return.

Kids and babies with special needs especially tend to be less hungry when they are sick or when they aren't feeling well. "Not feeling well" could be a temporary state such as being upset, having indegestion, breathing fast, being tired, and the list goes on. I think for babies with sensory processing problems, especially those with medical needs or prematurity, it doesn't take much to make them feel "not well". It could be something as simple as gas, reflux, or over-stimulation. The following link includes signs of over-stimulation that a baby may display. This is important to know, because until a baby is calmer, he probably will not have a good sucking pattern, especially if respiratory problems exist.

Alertness & Crying

Also included in this link are the arousal levels of a baby. Studies show that babies are more coordinated with their sucking patterns when in a quiet alert state or even a bit drowsy, but not as well in the other arousal states (deep sleep, light sleep, active alert).

Vision Development - Children - Milestones in Vision Development

Everything about vision intrigues me. The color of eyes, how they work, how kids develop vision, and the list goes on. Vision is so important; it impacts not only fine-motor skills, but balance, communication, social-emotional, sensory processing, and cognitive skills. I'm posting this link, because I think it is important to consider these main visual milestones:


Vision Development - Children - Milestones in Vision Development

If you are concerned of your children's visual skills, discuss it with their pediatrician and ask for a referral to an eye doctor; depending upon your insurance, you may not need a referral. Be aware that an optometrist and an opthalmologist are not the same thing. An optometrist goes to optometry school (OD) and mostly deals with testing of near/far vision to identify the need for glasses/contacts; some do other things such as looking at the general health of they eye such as for glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc. An opthalmologist is a physcian (MD) who specializes in "eyes". Even though they can fit a person for glasses, they are looking for diseases/health of the eye and perform surgery if needed (e.g. for strabismus). Other eye professionals: 1. Optician is the professional who makes and fits the eyeglasses. 2. Developmental Optometrist: helps kids with learning problems or other disabilities to learn to use their eyes functionally, such as to not ignore an eye or to have fluid eye motions while reading. 3. Visually impaired (VI) teacher: works for school systems and early intervention programs with kids with a diagnosed visual impairment. 4. Orientation & Mobility (O&M) specialist: similar to VI teacher but emphasis is moving in environment around obstacles. 5. Dyslexia or reading specialists: private centers or school system professionals who have special training in these problems. Dyslexia is considered a learning problem (the brain) not a problem with the structure of the eye.

The Most Common Infant Disablities and How to Recognize Them

Here is an article I wrote a while back. It provides a list, statistics, and description of the most common disabilities seen in babies/ children.

The Most Common Infant Disablities and How to Recognize Them

It also provides links to books on some of those particular disabilities.

Dogs And 2-Year-Olds Limited In Ability To Understand Unfamiliar Pointing

My "baby" boy will be two years old this weekend...sob, sob, sob! I remember his birth so clearly, yet when I really think about it, it does seem like two years have went by. So, in honor of his birthday, I went searching for interesting articles on 2 year olds. I beleive that the following link qualifies as interesting. The topic is how dogs and two year olds respond to gestural communication from adults in a similar way:


Dogs And 2-Year-Olds Limited In Ability To Understand Unfamiliar Pointing

Before my children were born, my dog was my "baby". I definately think that my adorable cocker-spaniel acted similar to a toddler!

Do colicky babies have sensory processing problems? | Family Anatomy

"Colic" is just a description of a babies behavior...lots of crying for a certain amount of time. This term is not a clinical diagnosis. So often I see that babies with reflux or other digestive problems get labeled as colicky until they get treatment (e.g. formula change, medication, positioning, etc). But sometimes, especially with the babies born extrememly prematurely, there is still a fussiness about the baby including a poor ability to calm down once upset. Typically, we expect a baby to become organized when an adult attempts to calm them such as picking them up and/or rocking them, feeding them, repositioning, etc. The following link suggests that many babies with colic later become diagnosed with sensory processing problems. I tend to agree. I see this pattern often since I work with children under the ages of 3 years old.


Do colicky babies have sensory processing problems? | Family Anatomy

My personal experience with my son's fussiness was resolved with multiple reflux medications as well as eliminating from my diet the foods he was found to be allergic to that he was consuming through my breastmilk. So, by no means do I think every child with fussy behavior will one day have sensory processing problems. Yet, I do think fussiness that can't be explained by other things may lead to a later diagnosis of SPD. For more information on sensory processing in infants, visit:

http://www.sense-ablebaby.com

This link provides strategies on calming a baby. It also gives descriptions of why a baby could be crying which better helps a parent to read the infant's signals allowing the parent to have more accurate attempts in calming the baby. Sometimes for a baby who over-responds to sensory input it might be taking away toys, whereas sometimes our instinct is to shake a rattle to give the baby a distraction. But this can make it worse, which in turn causes the baby to become more upset.

Melatonin and Sleep | National Sleep Foundation - Information on Sleep Health and Safety

I get asked very often for suggestions on children's sleep problems. We go down the basic suggestions such as keeping a consistent bedtime routine, not too much gross-motor activity 30-60 minutes before bedtime, keeping the noise down in the home, eliminating caffeine from the diet, putting away electronic devices 30 minutes before bedtime, and staying away from anxiety-inducing activities (e.g. if the child hates his hairwashed then do it earlier in the day not prior to bedtime). And then we start to analyze that particular child's possible problems related to sleep. For example, a child with cerebral palsy may need to be stretched and massaged so that his muscles can relax, whereas a child with an autism spectrum disorder may need lots of pillows confining the child in the bed along with a heavy quilt and "white noise" playing in the background for that additional calming sensory input. Sometimes those ideas work, and other times they don't. Although I have not ever personally used melatonin as a supplement for sleep, many of the families I work with have used it. Most of them have success and the child sleeps better. Some do not have success. Check out this article at the link below to to see if it might be of assistance to you or your child.

Melatonin and Sleep | National Sleep Foundation - Information on Sleep Health and Safety

As I type this half of my family is still asleep and it is 9 a.m. But I'm letting them sleep in since it is a holiday- Memorial Day! Thank you to all of the veterans who have fought for freedom for all of us in the USA!

Assistive Technology for Children Who Have Cerebral Palsy: Augmentation Communication Devices

Lately I have helped quite a few families with purchasing different types of assistive technology (AT) devices. AT is technology that aids people with disabilities in performing functional activities that are difficult or impossible unless adapted. This might include adapted eating supplies, special computer keyboards, adapted toys, or equipment for blind or deaf persons. The following link discusses augementative communication (AAC) devices, which is a computerized output system that helps the person talk. I have seen children as young as 2 years old use an AAC device. Depending upon the child's level of cognition and motion in hands, the pre-AAC devices (e.g. Big Mac or Jelly Bean switch) that control battery-operated toys can be used beginning at around 12-18 months of age.

Assistive Technology for Children Who Have Cerebral Palsy: Augmentation Communication Devices