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  1. Helping your toddler with sensory issues learn to chew.

    September 9, 2011 by Julie

    Every once in a while someone emails me a good question. Recently someone asked me about how to teach their 2.5 year old adopted child how to chew. She said that she is able to get him to bite on an animal cracker, but he just works it with his tongue to the roof of his mouth until her can swallow it. He frequently gags.

    Here are the tips that I gave her. Hope some of you find them helpful too.

    Hi,

    Sounds like he needs a sensory based approach to oral stimulation and feeding. You may want to try these things:

    1. Try to have a meal or snack time after a gross motor activity like jumping on a trampoline or swinging, the proprioceptive or vestibular stimulation may be organizing for him and help him to be less sensitive.
    2. 2.5 year olds with sensory issues often do better with meals and snacks when they are confined in a high chair. The boundaries of the chair and the tray may help increase his body awareness.
    3. Try to spice up his foods! It is a way to increase input to the gustatory system. Use cinnamon, and other spices to increase the flavors of his foods, or baby food. Children, even very young ones, with sensory issues need to “wake up” their taste buds, which will help them accept foods. Sour is also a well accepted flavor; try spraying lemon juice on foods like fish. My husband forwarded me this cool link, which I want to try.
    4. Try crunchy foods like this:


      Snacks like these are salty and savory which is a taste that children with sensory issues often enjoy. The crunchy also provides good sensory input and it becomes soft so it is easy to swallow.
    5. Placing food directly in the middle of the tongue often elicits a gag reflex. Try placing foods in the sides of the mouth. Placing foods in the sides of the mouth will help to develop lateral more mature chewing skills.
    6. Animal crackers can be a difficult texture for kids with immature chewing and sensory issues. Try breaking off a small piece of animal cracker and dip it in apple sauce to moisten it, which may help with the gagging.
    7. Try to develop oral musculature by offering containers with straws like these:





      I have had good luck using these cups with young children with food aversions.

    Hope these ideas help. As always, if your child is failing to thrive (losing weight, or failing to gain weight), take him to the pediatrician. If your child has serious sensory based feeding issues, you should also seek the help of an outpatient occupational therapist or speech therapist specializing in sensory based feeding dysfunction.

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments

  2. Sensory Tip of the Day. Rock Climbing: A great activity for a child who has motor planning problems.

    May 11, 2011 by Julie

    My husband has recently started indoor rock climbing, which has reminded me of what a great activity it is for children with sensory processing problems.

    A lot of parents will ask me what they can do for their child who is “really bad at sports… but he can climb anything and everything.” There is usually more than one reason a child with sensory processing dysfunction is not adept at typical team sports like soccer or basketball, but one of the most common reasons is poor motor planning. Motor planning refers to the ability to plan and execute tasks. It is an essential part of PRAXIS which refers to the ability to interact with the environment to plan, organize and execute a sequence of unfamiliar actions.

    Most larger Pediatric OT clinics will have a little rock wall for kids to “motor plan” their way up. OTs like to put little bells or something else at the top that will motivate them to climb. It will also give them a visual target, which helps. Rock climbing for children also has the following benefits: strengthens, provides vestibular input, provides proprioceptive input, improves postural stability, improves visual perceptual skills, improves bilateral integration, improves hand strength, and improves self-esteem.

    If I had my own clinic, a rock wall would be the first thing that I install. It’s a great activity for a kid to do with their OT. But I do like the idea of having children go rock climbing with their parents, or even better… with a friend.

    Category activities | Tags: ,,,,, | No Comments

  3. Some ideas to help your toddler with autism and ADHD go to sleep.

    May 9, 2011 by Julie

    The two activities of daily living that are most impacted by children who have sensory processing dysfunction are eating and sleeping. I especially see this in young children with autism/PDD and ADHD. Most children with autism have sensory processing problems, somewhere in the neighborhood of 90%. I am not sure how high the rate of sensory processing dysfunction is with children who have ADHD, but I bet it is up there too.

    Children with sensory-based sleep problems usually have deficits in one or more of the following areas: nocturnal sleep duration, daytime sleep duration, sleep-onset time, settling time, night waking, and nocturnal wakefulness.

    Here are some ideas to help promote sleep in young children with sensory processing issues. These tips are more geared towards children who have autism and ADHD, but may be useful for other children who are having sleep difficulties.

    1. Rub your child down with some lotion before bed. Many children with autism also have eczema on top of their tactile hypersensitivity/defensiveness. This can make them an itchy mess, which is not good for calming or falling asleep. Rubbing some Aquaphor or another cream that is hypoallergenic will give them a nice deep pressure massage, and hopefully prevent middle of the night waking because of the itchies. This is my favorite cream for children who have eczema:

    2. Have them play outside during the day. Natural sunlight inhibits the release of melatonin during the day. When the sun goes down, your brain turns the melatonin on and makes you sleepy. Getting sunlight during the day, especially in the morning, helps your child’s body have “up time” during the day, and “down time” at night. The last thing you want is for your little kiddo’s body releasing melatonin during the day. Help them save it for the night by having them play outside during the day.

    3. Recognize that not all children can fall asleep at the magical 7pm. Some children are just naturally “late” sleepers. I had a pediatric neurologist tell me this, which helped me feel a lot better about myself as a parent.

    4. Change the environment. One of the things that OTs do very well is to alter the environment to maximize function. A tiny little gland in your child’s brain stimulates the production of melatonin, when there is no sunlight. Use room darkening shades if necessary. Also, try to give your kiddo’s bedroom the ole Feng Shui… decrease clutter and distractions.

    5. Some people with children who have sensory based sleeping problems swear by the use of tents like this one :

    The rationale for using one of these is to reduce visual distractions. It is also supposed to help children feel “enclosed” which is something that many children with autism crave. Almost all of the bed tents on Amazon get pretty crappy reviews, so I don’t know if I would use one. But it has helped some kids, and it might helps yours.

    6. Let your child sleep in a sleeping bag. Same idea as the bed tent: provide deep pressure input which is supposed to help calm and regulate your child for a good night’s sleep. Plus, look at how cute these bags are:

    7. Get an air conditioner, especially if you end up getting a sleeping bag for your kid. Air conditioners make some great white noise for young children and babies to fall asleep to. It is also good for children who have eczema, especially in the hot and humid summer.

    8. Children with sensory processing dysfunction often are very, very hypersensitive to smells. They tend to love some smells and hate others. Try to find which smells your child finds calming… vanilla, banana, lavender, etc, and use these smells to help them relax in their bed. Some parents have found this little pillow helpful:

    A note on Melatonin:
    I have been tempted to use melatonin on my kids. I admit that I can get desperate. Really, really desperate when it comes to getting sleep. But personally, I try to stay away from drugs to help my kids sleep. Not to say that you shouldn’t be using melatonin if your doctor recommends it for your child. But from my experience, and from talking with colleagues who are pediatric psychiatrists and pediatric neurologists, it should not be used long-term. We really don’t know what the long-term effects are.

    A final note:
    Sleep disorders in young children are serious, and most of the time need a multi-pronged approach and long-term approach to solving. You should always tell your pediatrician if your child is having real problems with sleep. This way your doc can rule out sleep apnea or other medical reasons for your child not sleeping well. Your pediatrician may also refer your child to a pediatric sleep clinic, if there is one available at a clinic or hospital near you.

    Category sleeping | Tags: ,,,,,, | No Comments

  4. Bottle Feeding Your Baby: Which bottle is best?

    May 4, 2011 by Julie

    I spend most of my day bottle feeding babies in the NICU, something that I love to do. First, I evaluate the little babes to see if they are ready to eat, then I determine how best to feed them, from a developmental perspective. For premature infants who are learning to eat, we usually start them on the slowest flow nipple possible. The ones that we use are slower than the ones that you find at Babies R Us. Parents usually ask about what type of bottle system I would recommend they use when their baby goes home. I’ve done a lot of research on this, plus have had three babies of my own recently, so I feel like I have some pretty good experience in this area. So these are the bottles that I like to recommend:

    1. Dr. Brown’s:



    I usually recommend that all newborns, and most preemies that go home, start on the Level 1 nipple. I like the shape and texture of the nipple. I find that it is a good length and babies tend to have a good latch on it. The silicone nipple is soft enough to compress easily, but not so soft as to collapse. I don’t think that there are any good studies out there that prove that it reduces gas or colic, but that may be a good added benefit. I know that one of the reasons people tend to shy away from this brand is cleaning all the parts, but I never found it to be inconvenient. This is the brand that I recommend to most of my NICU parents. It is also the one that I used for my two older kids, both of who were full-term.

    2. Playtex Natural Latch:

    I like this nipple for babies who require a firmer nipple, and a broader base. The broader base provides an increased surface area for babies to push-off against, increasing proprioceptive input, which is organizing for the baby. It is also a nice nipple for babies who were breast-fed, or who are currently breast-fed. What I like best about it is that the liners are disposable, so all you need to worry about is cleaning the nipple.

    3. The Tommy Tippee:

    This bottle is the “go to” bottle for those sweet little babes who have been exclusively (or almost exclusively) breast-fed, and then all of a sudden need to learn to eat from a bottle. I like to recommend this bottle for babies of mom’s who need to go back to work after a maternity leave. It really is the best “breast shaped” bottle out there, and the quality is excellent. I know that there is one review on Amazon that states that the rate of flow is too fast. Babies who breast feed tend to have a more variable suck, so the flow is more variable. The way to help babies who are breast-fed control the rate of flow is to bottle feed them side-lying. If fact, when you start to teach your breast-fed baby how to eat from a bottle, side-lying is the absolute best position to feed them in. This is the only bottle that worked for my third baby.

    Other bottle feeding tips for newborns:
    1. Newborn babies sometimes do not have fully developed muscle tone, so they like to be swaddled when feeding.
    2. Low lights, low noise. However, some babies do like to be sung to while eating. It helps them to regulate themselves.
    3. Sometimes slow, rhythmic rocking is organizing.
    4. Don’t forget to burp your little one. For newborns, I usually recommend burping every ounce, or sooner if your babies looks like he is squirmy or “smiling” around the nipple.
    5. Think positive thoughts, and relax. You might even want to tell your little baby “I know you can do this… but if you can’t I’ll love you anyway.”

    Last thought:
    Some babies are very difficult to feed via bottles because of oral aversions, structural anomalies, or other medical conditions. If that is the case, I would strongly recommend that you talk to your pediatrician and get an OT or Speech therapy referral to see a feeding specialist. Many Early Intervention programs also have feeding specialists that can help you teach your baby how to bottle feed.

    Category feeding | Tags: ,, | No Comments

  5. Sensory Tip of the Day: Underarmour Underwear for Proprioceptive Input

    April 20, 2011 by Julie

    I have decided that Wednesdays will be “Sensory Tip Day”. I will post one sensory tip that I have found to be particularly useful in my practice as an OT, and as a mom. Today’s sensory tip is for those children who need constant proprioceptive input in the form of deep pressure. These are children who are always:

    • – leaning on things or people
    • – needing to sit in a lap or be cuddled (not really a problem unless your little one is in preschool and her teacher is unable to pry her off)
    • – seeming clumsy, or unaware of where their body is in space
    • – looking like they are ready to jump out of their own skin, i.e. have a case of the scootchies.

    This tip may also be useful for children who have tactile defensiveness. Aside: We often times will treat a tactilely defensive child with proprioceptive input.

    The tip is to put your little girl or boy in… UNDERARMOUR.

    I would start with just the top, and then get him some bottoms too.

    The material is stretchy, and super snug, so it delivers constant pressure that may assist your child in sitting still, paying attention, engaging in proprioceptive sensory seeking behaviors, and just plain feeling good.

    The nice thing about Underarmour is that it is pretty trendy, can be worn under clothes (get the t-shirt for summer), machine washable, does not have annoying tags, and is a lot cheaper than the deep pressure and weighted clothes that you get in specialty therapy stores.

    Note: You should not get the turtleneck. Turtlenecks tend to send kids with sensory issues into distress.

    Category sensory tip of the day | Tags: ,,,, | 5 Comments

  6. Sensory Friendly Films for children with autism. Go watch Rio.

    April 19, 2011 by Julie

    We took our 3 and 4-year-old kids to see Rio last night. They LOVED it. So did we.

    Going to the movies with young children always makes me a little worried. Will they be too loud? Will they be overstimulated? Will they kick the seat of the person in front of us? With 3 and 4 year olds, probably yes. With children who have autism, defintely yes.

    So, I was really happy to see that AMC theaters has partnered with the Autism Society to show “Sensory Friendly” Films one time per month. It’s a great thing to do, especially considering how much little children who are diagnosed on the spectrum LOVE animated movies. I love that for these shows they turn down the volume, turn up the lights, let kids walk the aisles, and offer allergy free foods. Awesome. Here is the link that will let you know if there is a theater in your area that offers these movies.

    Now, if they would only make Sensory Friendly Airplanes.

    Category activities, sensory processing | Tags: ,,, | No Comments

  7. Sensory Processing and Occupational Therapy in Young Children

    April 18, 2011 by Julie

    This is a picture I took of my son outside our house yesterday:

    He has never liked shoes or socks. Especially socks. It’s a good thing that we don’t wear shoes inside our house. I would like him to wear socks though. We live in the Massachusetts, where the houses and floors are cold in the winter. Still, I appreciate that my boy is sensitive to socks, and that this is a battle that would be more effort that what it is worth. My son is a “sensory processor”, just like all of us.

    What is sensory processing, and what constitutes a sensory processing disorder? Sensory processing, also sometimes called “sensory integration”, refers to how we our brain perceives and interprets sensory information that it receives in the form of touch, hearing, vision, taste, smell, movement, and position, and the behavioral responses (output) that are products of that processing. Some kids, who are what we call, “well-integrated”, have behaviors that are what occupational therapists call “adaptive”. These are who kids who can do complex things, like be a flower girl,

    and not so complex things that we take for granted, like sit still for circle time. Actually, sitting for circle time is pretty complex. Just ask any kindergarten teacher.

    Children who have sensory processing disorder have difficulty in either registering sensory information, or processing sensory information. This results in maladaptive behaviors, and an inability to function in activities that require sensory organization. These are some examples of some behaviors of children who may have sensory processing problems:

    1. The child who unable to go to the circus because it is so loud that, as one 3-year-old put it, “hurts my brain”.
    2. The child who may get mislabeled as “agressive”, when she is really just sensory seeking, and needs to, as another 3-year-old put it, “hug you extra hard”.
    3. The baby who is dislikes being held, and is unable to “mold” her body to yours when you try to cuddle her.
    4. The child who is unable to pay attention to the task at hand because she is so distracted by every little sound and visual stimulation in the room.

    There are hundreds of examples. There are lots of checklists out there that occupational therapists use to help determine if your child has a sensory processing disorder. This is not a standardized one that your OT would use in her office, but it is pretty decent.
    If you are a parent, these checklists are not meant for you to diagnose your child. An OT who is trained in evaluating children with sensory integrative or processing problems, use checklists like these as a supplement for their complete evaluation. I do find that when parents fill these checklists out, they are often really relieved that they may have finally found a basis for their child’s behavior, and have some hope for help.

    Most young children exhibit some sensory based “quirks”. Makes sense, as babies, and little kids are in the “sensorimotor” phase of development. A child may “hate” having her fingernails cut, be unable to tolerate the feel of tags on the back of her neck, and be unable to skip, and do jumping jacks, and not have what we call sensory processing dysfunction. It is only when I see a cluster of behaviors, along with clinical observation, possible (probably) results of standardized testing, and reports from parents and teachers and other caregivers, that I could say that a child have sensory processing dysfunction that impacts function, and requires treatment.

    Here is my book recommendation of the day. This one is probably the best-selling “sensory” book out there. It is not written by an OT, which has its pluses and minuses. It’s a good starting place for parents who want to learn more about sensory processing and sensory integration.

    I have been trained in Sensory Integration, and have used the model to successfully treat many young children. Having said that, I readily admit that often times, especially in children who have a diagnosis of autism, or ADHD, there are other therapies that should be used in conjunction with OT. The one that is often most useful is behavioral therapy.

    Category sensory processing | Tags: ,,,, | No Comments

  8. Sensory-based sleep problems in young children.

    April 14, 2011 by Julie

    Most of the children who see me have what I would call a sensory based sleep problem. These are children whose bed time routines take 2-3 hours, or are unable to fall asleep on their own, wake up frequently (more than 3 times) during the night, refuse to sleep in their own bed or crib (will cry for more than 1 hour and vomit), need to fall asleep in front of the TV, etc. There are many parents out there who will let their 4+ year old sleep in their beds every night, just so that they can get some sleep. Actually, what I have found is that the kid sleeps with the mom, and the dad sleeps in the kid’s bed, or on a couch. Next to eating, sleeping is the “other” ADL (activity of daily living), that tends to stress parents of young children the most.

    The reason the kiddos in my clinic, and in my practice, have such difficulty sleeping is that they have problems with regulation. Infants with regulatory disorders have difficulty attaining and sustaining quiet, alert, or “emotionally positive” states. This disables babies and toddler’s abilities to be available for learning, social engagement, and disrupts sleeping and eating patterns. Children with disorders in regulation are usually either hypersensitive or hyposensitive to sensory stimulation, which is thought to be related to difficulty in processing sensory information.

    Here are some suggestions that I give to parents with children who have sensory based sleeping problems (these are also nice for children without sensory issues too):

    1. Increase natural diurnal sleep patterns. Decrease the amount of sleep that your baby gets during the day via naps, and increase the amount of sleep that she gets during the night. Do this gently and gradually.
    2. Put your baby in the crib when she is in a drowsy almost asleep state. This way she will learn to fall asleep on her own, and not on you. Provide her with a pacifier if she needs something to suck on to help her calm and fall asleep. Use a transitional object such as a stuffed animal if she needs something to hold and touch while falling asleep.
    3. Provide calming input in the evening. Calming vestibular input may include providing time in a baby swing, taking a walk with in a stroller, rocking in a rocking chair, etc. Calming proprioceptive input may include snuggle/cuddle time (being held close to your body with some deep pressure), deep pressure massage (I find milking and squeezing work best). The deep pressure massage works very well for my little boy at home. Some babies and toddlers like neutral warmth to relax and fall asleep. I find that this is better achieved through a towel that was placed in a dryer, than a bath. I find that baths, even warm ones, tend to alert babies more than calm them.
    4. Decrease arousing activities 1-2 hours prior to bed time. Arousing activities may include: TV, bathing, diaper changes, and rough housing.
    5. Babies with regulatory problems fall asleep better when sidelying vs. on their back. They also fall asleep better swaddled, and when there is some pressure on them. Given back to sleep regulations, I recommend placing babies on their side, unswaddled. Use your hands to provide deep pressure though their arms (arms always forward and near their mouth), and legs (legs slightly flexed and together), and very gently rock them. When your baby falls asleep, gently remove your hands, and then gently and very slowly roll her onto her back.
    6. Provide background while noise via a toy like this (helped my son):

    7. Organic cotton night wear and bedding. Some babies like cotton flannel. Your toddler may also like her night jammies a little on the snug side to… to provide that extra deep pressure input.
    8. For toddlers and young children: Try a lava lamp like this one:

      The repetitive visual stimulation sometimes helps babies to calm.
      This turtle is also great for providing some transitional visual stimulation:

    9. For toddlers: Read them books about going to sleep. Toddlers with sensory based behavioral issues are actually really good at following “rules” that they learn about. These two books are my favorite because of the rhythmic quality of the verse:

    10. This last suggestion is more psychological than sensory: Practice “separation” games during the day, e.g. hide-and-go-seek, peek-a-boo, etc.

      11. As with sensory based feeding impairments, if your baby or toddler is having problems with sleep, you want to check with your pediatrician to make sure that there is not a medical issue impairing their function in this area.

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  9. Tummy Time!

    April 13, 2011 by Julie

    Before my little NICU patients go home, I give parents a little handout, and teaching on the importance of tummy time, and how to do it. Some parents are surprised that their little ex-preemie (who may not even be term yet), are able to handle tummy time. I will usually tell them to start as soon as they get home. Tummy time, or being prone, is one of the most important exercises that you can do with your newborn.

    The best way to do tummy time with a preemie, or a full term newborn, is to have them lay on your chest. You can be sitting up, or laying down on the couch (like my husband likes to do). Your baby will try to lift her head off your chest, push up against your body, and get the tactile stimulation across the front (ventral) side of her entire body, which is essential for later motor and sensory development.

    You can also place your baby down on the floor on a blanket or play mat, and then get down on the floor (lay down with your face at their level), and goo-goo ga-ga away. You do the goo-goo ga-ga.

    Play mats like this are good for supine play (on the back), and prone play (on the belly):

    For little preemies who go home from the hospital, I tell parents to watch their signs… discontinue tummy time if the baby gets stressed. I would recommend tummy time at least 3 times a day for 10-15 minutes for the ex-preemies newly home. Full-term newborns can tolerate much more.

    This is the handout that I like to give parents.

    The handout was written by an OT and PT at Children’s Hospital Atlanta. It mentions helmets for babies with head deformities. Head deformities are much more common than they used to be, because of back to sleep. It is now pretty common place to see little babies out on the street, in strollers, with helmets on. I will do a helmet post at a later date.

    I can’t stress how important tummy time is for the little babes. And starting it early. If you start it too late, you may have a little one who does not like being on her belly. Pre-1994 (when babies slept on their tummies), babies used to get more tummy time, and stimulation on their ventral side. Now that your baby is sleeping on her back, she will get less time on her tummy, which will prevent SIDS, but it can be detrimental to motor and sensory development. Detrimental if your don’t get her on her tummy during the day. In fact, there is growing evidence that babies are crawling and walking later than they were 20 years ago. Personally, I have seen this in my own practice. I also see more shoulder weakness, and more fine motor weakness in later childhood. I think it is due to not being prone enough. I think that the developmental milestones need to be revisited and revised. This would make a lot more parents less anxious about their little tot who is 18 months old and not quite walking yet.

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  10. Baby Massage

    April 11, 2011 by Julie

    Parents in the NICU can feel pretty helpless, so I spend a big part of my day helping them feel empowered. One way parents can be useful is to massage their baby. You wouldn’t think that a premature infant in an isolette and on oxygen would love a massage, but they do. Massage has been proven to increase bone mineralization, weight gain, deep sleep, improve muscle tone, and even decrease length of hospital stays. It has also been shown to improve scores on cognitive evaluations in later childhood. Tiffany Field is the researcher that I think has done the best, and most accessible work in this area. Massage is great for all babies: premature and full term.

    Preemies can’t tolerate a full massage routine that is designed for full-termers. If you have a premature infant in the NICU, I would definitely ask your nurse or occupational therapist for guidance before you try any of these techniques.

    Lotions and Oils: Most infant massage therapists recommend vegetable grade oils. I like to use grape seed oil because it is not too greasy, has no odor, and absorbs well. The kind I use is:

    Amount of pressure: Do not use light touch. Babies, especially preemies, do not like this. Light touch is actually alerting, not relaxing. Use gentle but firm pressure.

    Before you start:
    1. Read your baby’s cues. If she is stressed or irritable, best to try to calm her or wait until she is ready. A good quiet or active alert state is best.
    2. Prepare the environment: The best environment is quiet with dim lights. Lay your baby on a blanket or towel on the floor or on your bed. Face him or her.
    3. Take some deep breaths yourself, and release the stress you have in your own body, then… ask your baby permission to massage him or her.

    These are the massages that I find most of the babies respond positively to:

    FACE:
    a. Forehead: Start with both your thumbs in between the eyebrows, then move your thumbs out to the temples. Repeat 5x.

    b. Jaw: Make small circles around the jaw.

    c. Cheeks: Start with your thumbs at the jaw (TMJ), and then move them to your baby’s chin. Repeat 5x.

    UPPER EXTREMITY:
    a. Indian Milking: Support your baby’s wrist with one hand, then stroke the arm with the other, from the shoulder to wrist. Hold your hand in a “C” shape while stroking. Continue stroking, alternating hands. 5x/arm.

    b. Swedish Milking: Same as Indian Milking, but go from wrist to shoulder. 5x/arm.

    c. Squeeze and Twist: Using the “C” shape of your hands, squeeze and twist your baby’s arm, starting from the shoulders to the wrist. 5x/arm.

    d. Finger roll: Gently open your baby’s hands using your thumb. Then squeeze each finger and gently pull on them.

    CHEST:
    a. Open book: Start with both of your hands at the center of your baby’s chest. Then move your hands out to the sides. Move your hands in the shape of a heart. 5x.

    b. Butterfly: Start by cupping both sides of your baby’s chest with your hands. Using your right hand, stroke up to your baby’s right shoulder, cup the shoulder, gently pull down and bring your right hand back to its starting place. Then do the same with the left hand. Repeat the same motion, alternating hands rhythmically over your baby’s chest, in the shape of a butterfly.

    STOMACH:
    a. Water Wheel: Using the sides of your hands, make paddling strokes on your baby’s stomach, alternating hands. Start below the ribs, then make your way into the stomach.

    b. Sun and Moon: One hand draws a CLOCKWISE full circle, and the other draws a partial circle, also clockwise.

    c. Knees Up: This is not really massage, but I like to include it here because it is a great range of motion exercise, and will help with gas and constipation. Bring both knees together and gently push them into your baby’s tummy. Hold for 5 seconds. Gently bounce her legs after, encouraging them to relax. Repeat 5x.

    d. Bicycle: Gently push the knees into the tummy, alternate legs. Then bounce them out straight to relax. Do 10x.

    LOWER EXTREMITY:
    a. Foot Massage: Stroke from the heel to toe with your thumbs, one right after another. 5x/foot.

    b. Top of Foot: Stroke the top of the foot to the ankle. 5x/foot.

    c. Toes: Squeeze each toe. Great time to say the “This Little Piggy” Rhyme. For those of you who need a refresher… “This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy had roast beef. This little piggy had none. And this little piggy went wee wee wee, all the way home.”

    d. Indian Milking: Support your baby’s foot with one hand, then stroke the leg with the other, from the buttock to ankle. Hold your hand in a “C” shape while stroking. Continue stroking, alternating hands. 10x/leg.

    e. Swedish Milking: Same as Indian Milking, but go from ankle to hip. 10x/leg.

    BACK:
    a. Parting the Sea: Start at base of neck, with both of your hands at the center. Move your fingers out to the shoulders, making strokes perpendicular to the spine. Do this down the whole back, to the buttocks.
    b. Raking: Make raking strokes with your fingers, from the shoulders to the buttocks. This is a nice one to end on.

    Always end with a kiss.

    Do not fret if it takes you a few trials before you and your baby gets used to this routine. The whole routine should not take you more than 10 minutes, once you get the hang of it.

    Premature infants tend have difficulty tolerating massage to the arms. I tend to just massage the legs, face, and back for the little ones in the NICU.

    Infant massage is great for grandparents to do too. My mom helped to take care of all of my babies when they were infants and massaged them every day. My babies, and my mom, loved it.

    Parents sometimes ask me about books on massage that I would recommend. I like these two:

    Special Note: Every single seminar I’ve been to, or book that I have read on infant massage, tells you to ask the baby for permission before you start. It sounds kind of strange, but now I feel wierd if I don’t ask for permission first. Your voice signals to them that your hands are coming next. Little preemies, and babies in general, get stressed out if you just touch them out of the blue. It’s best that they hear you first.

    Category activities, new parents | Tags: ,,,,, | 1 Comment

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