Sensory processing disorder advice?

Liz - posted on 05/04/2013

choose your battles...if the other chair feels better who cares where he sits? as long as he's sitting and eating...you will notice certain feelings and textures and clothes make them freak out. even when coming out of the bath it's best to get a heater so the shock of temperature doesn't set them off. certain textures of food they don't like either. my daughter is now 6 yr old and she can only wear cotton stretch pants. no jeans at all. and she will tell me when a shirt doesn't feel right (more like scream at me) but you will learn the difference day by day

Jeanette - posted on 12/03/2012

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Penny - posted on 10/22/2009

Hi Shauna, I have an 8 year old with SPD. For her it is always an issue of controlling her environment. I have found that if I give her two choices (ie, this safe chair or a booster seat) she will make a choice between the two. She doesn't always like what I have given her to choose from but she knows that she is only going to get the options I give her. You have to be firm...it is really hard during the toddler stage but it pays off when they get into school and have all those challenges. Good luck.

Shelly - posted on 10/20/2009

Hi! My 3 year old son also has sensory issues. Although he gets OT at preschool, we do have some issues at home. Temper tantrums are pretty frequent. Instead of having a "time out" we have a red rug in the corner of the dining room (a semi boring room with little distractions) and we tell him he is to sit there until he is done having his fit and then he may get up. It is hard not to give in especially since I know he may be having an issue that he can't explain to me but I feel he also needs some rules and boundries, just as any other 3 year old would. Giving my son a choice seems to help. Maybe your son can choose his booster seat (with you actually showing him two seats that you approve of) and he will get a sense of control out of that. Good Luck!

Ann Marie - posted on 10/15/2009

First, make sure the chair is not giving a sensory issue. A cover will make it softer (and it can be removed to be cleaned). When choosing the fabric, go with something you know. If he is good with T-shirts or sheets, use those fabrics. Then, you will know the chair itself is not the problem.

Second, stick to your guns. Do not give in and let him eat wherever. If you get to the point he will absolutely not sit at the table, consider buying a children's table and chairs. This may be an alternate solution.

Third, ask your speech therapist if this behavior is a result of his sensory issues with the food itself. many SPD children object to the textures and temperatures of food. This may be the problem you are encountering. He simply may just associate the booster chair with food he does not like in his mouth.

Children will come to you and eat when they are hungry. He will not starve. This may be a typical toddler test of wills, but be sure it is not a sensory issue with the chair and the food before you chalk it up to the toddler blues.

Ann Marie
Author of "Taming the Terrible Twos: A Parent's Survival Guide"

Sonia - posted on 10/13/2009

I was told not to give into a tantrum. My kids have ASD but all kids are the same when it comes to what they want. So let them have it out. Put away the food and say when you are ready to sit in the chair . Then walk away. (Its hard to do. But it works for the most part) The only other thing I can think of is to see if you can get or make a pretty comfortable cover for the booster. Even make it his idea. Have him pick out the material. I know I hate sitting in an uncomfortable chair. What does his therapist say?

I hope you have a good Occupational Therapist.