Author: Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Treat Yourself: An Oral Sensory and Motor Tip

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

When babies are born, they have an automatic response to suck, allowing them to feed. Considered their first oral-motor skill, sucking also strengthens the muscles in the mouth and jaw, building toward biting, crunching, chewing, and licking. 

Kids who rely on sucking or chewing to focus or calm themselves may seek to do this on inedible objects, like pens/pencils or shirt sleeves/collars. If this is the case for your child, try this super tasty tip to provide more appropriate alternatives for chewers and suckers.

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child(ish) Q & A: Pacifiers

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Pacifiers are great soothers for a newborn, but could pose problems when a child gets older. When is it no longer necessary and when does it become a problem? Here’s a guide to the ins and outs of pacifiers: 

What is a pacifier?

Called by many cute names (Binky, Paci, bah-bah), a pacifier is a tool designed to soothe infants when they are crying. They are useful for satisfying the sucking reflex necessary for newborn feeding, reducing the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) when napping or sleeping, and they help children learn to self-soothe. 
For this post we are only talking about rubber/plastic/silicone pacifiers. We also aren’t covering teething for this post. If you have any questions, please leave us a note in the comments.

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Bare Feet Were Made for Walking

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Baby shoes are beyond adorable, but in truth, they are not necessary. In fact, they may hinder your toddler’s development with walking.

When a baby is born, the bones in their feet are still hardening. Wearing shoes at such a young age may alter their developmental growth, conforming the foot to the shape of the shoe rather than the needs of their environment. In addition, thick soles found in some shoes restrict the range of movement necessary to learn how to walk.

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Playing in Prone: Superman Activities for All

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Tummy Time for babies is a basic building block to prone extension for children and adults. 

What is that? Prone extension (aka the Superman) is when you lay on your stomach and lift your arms and legs straight off the ground. 

This position helps with balance, attention, and coordination. It’s also a good indicator if your child has postural control issues. 

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