Feeding suggestions

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Neeti

Many children with brain damage or because of oral sensitivity or with some other issues are not able to take proper meal. This is major concerns for parents regarding the child health and nutrition. So, apart from medical intervention if required, oro motor exercises may help the child to recover faster.

  1. Position is the first thing to maintain. If the child is in your lap lift the knee up from the side of his head. Put some pillows under your knee so that you and child both are comfortable.
  2. Upright position should be followed at home like lifting the bed or use either wedge. Slowly try to make it more upright position as he is comfortable with.
  3. Break the meals into the short sessions so that the child is less tired. Thought initially when he is in hospital and in acute phase let it to me more hourly based.
  4. Stimulate or stroke the neck with gentle touch while he is taking food. Use of deep but small mouth spoon is advice as it fits in mouth.
  5. Stimulate the whole mouth especially around the lips, chin and cheeks before feeding. This should be done few minutes before feeding so the muscles get activated and prepared for feeding.
  6. Try closing the open mouth very often throughout the day, it increases the tone. This should be done by gentle touch on chin and push the chin up.
  7. Once he is on oral feed, start closing (poking lips/protruding lips) like we say uuuuuuuuuuuu. If the child is cooperative or else use play activities. Pull the upper and lower lips and protrude forward.
  8. Once his irritability comes down, start playing with the child like tickling or playing with lips. Physical touching the mouth area helps in getting lots of physical and sensory stimuli.
  9. Generally it is easier to control little thicker liquid than liquid as it. If the child is on oral feeding, and not advice to take thicker liquid, start slowly.
  10. If child is initiating thumb sucking, do not stop immediately. It would decrease the oral sensitivity.
  11. Once the child is stable and starts chewy stick. If he does not like to hold just put slowly in the mouth and stroke gently in mouth.

.All the Best!!!

About Neeti

Dr. Neeti is an Early Interventionist with over 5 years experience providing quality Occupational, speech therapy and sensory integration to children with Autism, Cerebral palsy, Down’s Syndrome and Sensory problems. She has a Post Graduation in Early Intervention. She had published many articles in newspapers and books regarding disability. She is currently self employed and a school therapist promoting inclusion for children with Disability. Sakshum (means 'Being Capable' in hindi) is a tender initiative for children with special needs to provide holistic treatment and integrate them into the main-stream. By 'special need' we mean to address all children who are diagnosed with disability (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down's Syndrome and other childhood disabilities) and "At risk" (Pre-term, behavior and emotional problems and lack of stimulation, which hampers their overall development). The goal is to provide early diagnosis and Early Intervention for children with special needs.
This entry was posted in ADHD, autism, awareness, cerebral palsy, child development, child disability, developmental disability, developmental milestone, disability, Down's syndrome, early intervention, early intevention, feeding, finemotor control, GFCF diet, hand dominance, hyderabad, inclusion, knowledge sharing, medical, midline orientation, nutrition, occupational therapy, oral issues, parenting tips, sakshum, sensory integration, special education, speech therapy, Therapy, treatment, vision therapy and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a comment