Pacifier Use and Speech Development

What you may not know about a pacifier

by Karina Gonzalez, MS CCC-SLP

What is my biggest pet peeve? Seeing a toddler with a pacifier! There have even been times that I have seen 4 year olds with a paci in their mouths. Parents if this is your child, please don’t be offended, instead keep reading, I’m here to help. I’m sure every speech-language pathologist feels the same about the dreaded binky, tete, boopy, chupi, mimi, paci, sucky, etc. This innocent looking device is a speech development’s worst nightmare. Well I might be exaggerating a little, but I’m trying to prove a point. Don’t get me wrong, a pacifier serves a purpose in an infant’s life. It helps with soothing, calming and comforting babies, as well as quenching the instinctive desire to suck. This is a behavior that develops in utero, prenatal imaging has shown babies sucking their thumb or fingers before birth, so it’s only natural for your baby to want to suck. Another advantage of a pacifier is that it helps promote the sucking reflex in premature infants. Pacifiers have also been linked reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

However, these benefits apply only to early infancy, as your baby grows the benefits decrease and they begin to wreak havoc in your baby’s mouth including…

Bilateral Coordination Skills

Doesyour child have poor bilateral coordination skills?

By Jackie Gurdian, MS OTR/L
 

A bilateral skill is the child’s ability to utilize bothsides of the body for activities. A child with poor bilateral skills wouldprefer to use one hand than use both hands together for activities that requiretwo hands. Some children with hemiparesis have significant weakness in one sideof the body. It’s important to incorporate affected side to increase functionaluse of hand.

Below you will find some fun activities to incorporate inthe home to promote bilateral skills. Remember to have fun!

Bilateral Activities

Everyday household activities

• Carry container
• Help clear table after lunch, dinner, etc.
• Open packages (candy for increased motivation)
• Push large object on floor such as laundry basket or garbage
• Help with mixing food (ex: cake mix)
• Twist to ring water out of towel
• Hold cup

 

 

 

 

• Spread butter/peanut butter on bread/crackers or frosting on cookies
• Place empty containers inside each other (yogurt, butter)
• Bath time: fill up containers with water and pour them out

School and fine motoractivities

• Cut paper
• Tear paper

 

 

 

• Hold paper down with affected hand and draw/color with the unaffected hand

Sports

• Play catch
• Monkey bars

 

 

• Jump rope
• Swim
• Hold on to swing with both hands

 

 

 

• Hold baseball bat
• Ride bicycle

 

Games and toys

• Blow bubbles and have child pop by clapping

 

 

 

• Play finger games (Itsy Bitsy Spider)
• Sew or string beads
• Snap/Pop beads
• Lego’s
• Playing 2 handed musical instrument (drums, recorder, piano, guitar)
• Push a cart (play stroller, shopping cart, lawn mower, etc.)
• Play videogame with controller
• Remote control car, plane or boat
• Fly a kite
• Create “jungle”- clear cushions off couch and chairs and have child crawl and climb through “jungle”
• Make sand castles at the beach
• Crawl through a maze

 

• Scooter board game

 

• Wheelbarrow walk
• Play Simon Says

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contactme at speakeatplay@gmail.com. As always please consult your child’s physician before any activity.

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Source: Case-Smith, Jane. Occupational Therapy for Children,6^th edition.

Meal Time Tips for Picky Eaters

Making Meal Time with your Picky Eater Easier

by Karina Gonzalez, MS CCC-SLP

Having a picky eater can be very stressful at times, but there some simple changes you can make that may help. Here are a couple of tips I have learned about that will make meal times easier.  

·        Focus on making meal times enjoyable andrelaxing: play games, lay out food in the shape of a happy face, have a contest. Make it fun, fun, fun!

·        Reward your child for every bite he takes, youcan praise him or high five.

·        Battles and forcing your child will only make apicky eater pickier. Keep it positive and fun!

·        Do not bribe your child, this will only make himmore aversive to food, just simply let him try the food on his own terms. Youmay need to present the new food 10 times before he will try it.

·        Offer new foods when your child is hungry andrested.

·        Give only 1 new food at a time.

·        Give the new food with favorite foods toencourage acceptance.

·        Show him you like the new food. Take a bite, andsay “delicious”.

·        Encourage your child to play with the new foodand allow him to get messy. (Have you read my post about playing with food? read it HERE.

·        Use dips or sauces. Read my post on how much fun ice cube trays can be,HERE. 

·        Limit the amount of liquid your child eats,often times they get full on liquids and will not be hungry enough to eat.

·        Have a feeding schedule of 3 meals, limitsnacking to 2 times per day and try to eat at the same times every day.  Having this schedule will allow your child toget hungry between meals.

·        Feed your child at the same time as the rest ofthe family. Also, at the dinner table for every meal. Avoid eating on thecouch, or in the play room.

·        Allow your child to help you cook and servefood.

·        Have “lunch dates” with your child and otherchildren. Children copy from each other!

·        Change something about his favorite foods, like:shape, color, brand, or size, so that your child does not get tired of eatingthe little bit of foods he enjoys.

• If you have a picky infant you can try a mesh feeder, read HERE.
• Be sure to also read my post on pacifier use and how it can affect your child's feeding, HERE. As well as when to stop the bottle, HERE.

I hope these tips can help make meal times a little easier for you, if you need individualized help pleasecontact me speakeatplay@gmail.com . And remember, having a picky eater is very common and is normalpart of childhood development.

Do you think your child's picky eating is a cause for concern?, please read HERE.
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Developmental Milestones

Is your child meeting all milestones on time?

by Jackie Gurdian, MS, OTR/L

You and your pediatrician should be checking thesemilestones regularly to assure that your child is meeting their milestones ontime. Early intervention is key to success for your child’s life.   

Here are some basic milestones from birth to three years ofage that the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests to look out for. Don’tforget to consult with your doctor.

Birth-3 months

·        Able to track toys

·        Reacts to sounds

·        Smiling 

·        Raises head and chest when lying on stomach

·        When placed on firm surface push down on legs

·        Grasps and shakes toy

·        Swipes at toys

·        Brings hands to mouth

      ·        Recognizes familiar people and objects

·        Able to track moving objects

4-7 months

·        Rolls both directions

·        Raking grasp

·        Transfer objects from one hand to the other

·        Sit independently

·        Enjoys social play and play with mirror images

·        Able to find partially hidden images

·        Attempts to get objects that are out of reach

8-12 months

·        Sits independently and get in positionindependently

·        Crawls

·        Pulls up to stand

·        Cruises furniture

·        Separation anxiety begins

·        Finger feeds independently

·        Imitates people and toys

12-36 months

·        Walks independently

·        Run

·        Kick a ball

·        Stand on tiptoe

·        Pulls toys when walking

·        Imitates behaviors

·        Enjoys playing with children

·        Sorts by shape and color

·        Enjoys playing imaginary play

Thanks for reading, and be sure to read my other posts for more information. Feel free to contact me with anyquestions! speakeatplay@gmail.com

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, www.HealthyChildren.org