Sensory integration and sleep.

What does it take to make your child comfortable? For some children light touch is irritating. They prefer firm contact. These children often have difficulty settling to sleep when the bed covers are light but offer a weighted blanket and they settle much more easily.
Our perception of touch, sound, colour and texture is part of what makes us who and what we are. Children who have difficulties with their sensory information often also have difficulties in other areas of their lives. When we recognise this we can address it and provide the comfort that the child needs to feel secure in their environment.

Some children who require "deep stimulation" like to be held firmly and this will also assist in settling them to sleep. Using a sleeping bag or a weighted blanket is comforting because there seems to be a defined place in the bed for them, they feel as if they are being held, without any danger of "falling out" or being left loose.

Small babies enjoy being swaddled because it replicates the space they came out of and being swaddled is like being held without mum or dad having to hold them. Most children grow out of the need for this but some do not.

Settling to sleep is a behaviour that we want our children to acomplish by themselves, without the need for our intervention. Looking at each child as an individual and identifying the measures that make that child feel secure can help in assisting that child to relax and go to sleep.

Sleep disturbances are much more common in children with sensory difficulties than in the rest of the population. This is well recognised, but it is also possible to alter their sleep behaviour. It may present more difficulties and may take longer but it is certainly possible.

If you would like help and support in altering your child's sleep behaviour,
Contact Dream-Angus.com

Fussy eating.

The term "fussy eater", for diagnostic reasons, can really only be applied to children over 6 years of age. Until this stage in development the child is still learning about foods and textures. This does not mean that concerns, arising from eating behaviour before this, are invalid.

Children who have had reflux or colic lasting most of their infancy are not going to find the process of eating and being satisfied, at all comforting and may refuse foods for that reason.
Mealtimes can be the one time the child feels that they can have any control over their day and for that reason may take all the control that they can.

In general, no child will starve themselves. If you are concerned about your child's eating pattern then making a note of what and how much food they eat over a two week period is much more helpful than looking at amounts taken over a day. Children's appettites change over a day and over a week dependant on growth spurts, levels of activity, feelings of "wellness" and other factors. You may find that they do take in enough food over this period and are growing and gaining in height and weight although your initial perception was that your child wasn't a good eater.

If you have concerns about your child's eating habits it may be worthwhile having a proper feeding assessment done. This will give you a better idea of how to cope and, if another professional could be of assistance.
Dream-Angus.com offers exactly this service. Call for a free, no obligation consultation and then decide if you will take this further.