Sensory issues

I posted a question on FB about my DD, who is 2.5, chewing on a book (and spitting out the pieces). She constantly has something in her mouth and we're always telling her not to chew on her toys.

Another mother advised me (thanks Crissy!) that it's a sensory issue and I should get her an automatic toothbrush to use 2x a day to help.

Which made me think... could DD have sensory issues? In addition to having to have something in her mouth, she has this "thing" where she pinches the sheet in her crib and kind of rubs it between her fingers. She calls it "playing my nap." She does it a LOT when we are visiting family - she'll run into the room she shares with DS and reach through the crib bars to do this.

She is also a freaking daredevil. She is always running around like a crazy person, throwing herself on the floor, diving off the couch, just being silly.

In addition, she's a tickle freak. She will come up to me and DH and literally demand that we sit on the floor and tickle her.

She's a good girl, and generally happy, but she was super high maintenance as a newborn and infant and only started to calm down at around 16 months... she loves to "zone out" with an old iPhone that has lots of games and movies on it, which helps when we are out shopping or something and can't give her all the attention she needs.

Today something in my head just "clicked." She doesn't have any other issues as far as I can see. She's very verbal and although some people don't understand her, most people can understand about 50% of what she says. She knows her ABCs, can count to 10, etc. She's very social after she warms up, and participates appropriately when we have circle time in our weekly class.

I guess my quesiton is... what can I do? The sensory issues don't seem to be hurting her now (other than giving her a distinct lack of patience LOL) but I know it can and probably will affect her in school.

Thanks for any advice you can give me

Re: Sensory issues

I can recommend two books that deal with sensory issues:


and once co-authorized by DH's cousin:

Raising a sensory Smart Child

The out of Sync child

Re: Sensory issues

My DS has sensory issues, and it has a horrible affect on his eating.

Just have her do different sensory activities each day, IE. Play in sand, play with moon sand, finger paint, play dough, crafts with different fabrics to touch. Lots of play ground time, and limit the tv. Even if she isn't watching the tv, the noise isn't great for kids with sensory.

My DS is super bright, can count to 20, abc's, super social and affectionate, so I have no doubt working with him now, he will have no issues in school.


Good luck and if you have any questions feel free to FM me

ETS: Much of what you described with DD sounds like completely normal toddler behavior.

Message edited 11/3/2012 6:36:20 PM.

Re: Sensory issues

Hmmmm. I am no expert, but some kids just like sticking stuff in their mouth. My DS did and still does at almost 2.5. My DD never did. DS chews on my DD's teething toys... She has no interest. The rest of your description sounds like it is of a totally normal kid.

Consider the sensory thing... But I wouldn't take a diagnosis by Facebook. Ask your ped what she or he thinks.

Re: Sensory issues

Posted by katiebug

My DS has sensory issues, and it has a horrible affect on his eating.

Just have her do different sensory activities each day, IE. Play in sand, play with moon sand, finger paint, play dough, crafts with different fabrics to touch. Lots of play ground time, and limit the tv. Even if she isn't watching the tv, the noise isn't great for kids with sensory.

My DS is super bright, can count to 20, abc's, super social and affectionate, so I have no doubt working with him now, he will have no issues in school.


Good luck and if you have any questions feel free to FM me

ETS: Much of what you described with DD sounds like completely normal toddler behavior.

Re: Sensory issues

Thanks everyone!

I guess that's why my mind never jumped to sensory - she's a very rambunctious kid but not in an aggressive way, she just loves to move, but putting everything together makes me look at things in a new light. Like I said, it doesn't affect her everyday life, and she's a pretty good eater - better than my DS - so that hasn't been an issue for us.

I may mention it to the ped and see what they say too.

Re: Sensory issues

My son has sensory processing disorder, and he doesn't receive any type of program or wasn't approved for any thing that is offered to other kids. The main reason is because it doesn't effect his everyday life. It was worse when he was Younger ((he will be 4 end of December)) but I made a promise to myself that unless it was harming him I would find ways to integrate play that would make him more acceptable to his surroundings. He hated sand, wouldn't finger paint, he wouldn't eat things without having his hands and mouth wiped constantly etc. Now? Loves sand, loves getting messy, loves painting and coloring, and doesn't mind having food on his hands and face while he is still eating. The two things I continue to work on with him now are, loud noises ((he covers his ears when people are loud or loud noises etc)) and he is a picky eater, but whatever he eats a TON and for the most part it's healthy, he just likes plain things, so do I cook seperate meals for him, yupp, but he's made soo many strides in so many areas, I don't mind so long as hes not hungry, ya know?

Anyways my loong drawn out response was to tell you, it doesn't hurt to ask a doctor, bc we moms want answers and want to make sure we are doing the best thing possible for our babies. But just wanted to tell you I have sooo many things that may help her cope on a daily basis that you can try with her, bc so long as nothing is disrupting her daily life, they might not have anything to offer you. Just FM me if you'd like to chat!

Re: Sensory issues

If it's not causing issues, I honestly wouldn't worry about it.

If it was stunting her verbal skills, her language, he speech, I would seek help. If not, I wouldn't worry about it.

DS is sensory seeking. Rips paper and chews it. Is a dare devil. Climbs and jumps off of the kitchen table. Love tickles. Rough play in general. It is part of an overall "issue", he has global delays so he gets various therapies. If he was normal in all other areas I would not be concerned. Because it is a part of overall concerns, we address it. Pica actually came up, but I don't think that fits DS.

Sensory issues

Always follow your gut and it never hurts to talk to your doctor. Maybe he/she can reccommend activities to help you keep her engaged and work through the negative aspects of her sensory seeking. Both of my children are like this but my younger one is more intense. I always saw it as part of their personalities and tried to find activities that were engaging and helped released this energy. We do a lot of art projects around here using all types of materials, finger painting, use paintbrushes, glitter picked up by hand, pipe cleaners, sand, leaves and basically anything we can get our hands on. We make hand and foot prints using fingerpaint. We use playdoh. My older DD freaks over loud noises, so I got toy instruments and we play marching band., I also take out the pots/pans and bang on them with the kids. We listen to the difference in sounds that a variety of instruments and materials make. We also go to the park a lot and I let them climb. I have to be on top of the little one constantly but she is starting to learn she needs a grown-up around before she climbs things. We go on nighttime listening walks to hear what those scary sounds really are. Are my kids perfect or easy to handle many times, no way but I try to find ways to keep them occupied that work for their personalities. Luckily they are similar in many ways so that makes it easier. When they do crazy things that make me want to pull my hair out, I post about it on FB for everyone to laugh at my misery and it helps me see the humor in it.

Re: Sensory issues

Is it possible to call EI and ask for an evaluation? She might qualify for services and they might be able to help her dea with the sensory issues better. It's free and it wouldn't hurt! That's what I would do!

Re: Sensory issues

Re: Sensory issues

Posted by headoverheels

Posted by babyonthebrain

Is it possible to call EI and ask for an evaluation? She might qualify for services and they might be able to help her dea with the sensory issues better. It's free and it wouldn't hurt! That's what I would do!

The problem with that is that we're in Canada, but our insurance is US-based, so I don't even know how that would work.

I don't even want to get her evaluated because other than the "issues" I posted about, nothing else is "wrong" (for lack of better words) and like I said, it doesn't affect her everyday life. I feel like EI would either tell me what I already know, or else make a big deal out of nothing.

I'm going to try to incorporate some sensory projects into her day and see if that helps before I take a bigger step.

Thanks everyone