Tips, Strategies, and Advice from ARK's very own Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP

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The information contained in this blog is offered in good faith and represents only the author's current understanding of best therapeutic practices. Please keep in mind that the content presented here is not all-inclusive, and should not be considered a substitute for an in-person evaluation and treatment by a certified Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, or another trained professional. Any ideas from this blog should be discussed with your child's treating to ensure proper use.

Debbie's Blog

Transitioning off of / Replacing the Binkie

Posted on 2nd Jun 2017

I just bought your brick chewie for my son, who chews up all his clothing! But I'm wondering - I'm having a terrible time getting my 2 year old daughter to give up her binkie - do you think that one of your chewies would work to replace them too? Have they ever been used in this way? Thanks so much!

Great question! People of all ages use our chews for all kinds of reasons. Transitioning off of a binkie isn’t one of the main uses, but we’ve definitely had some people tell use they use our chews for exactly that reason. So I’d say it’s worth a shot.

Out of all of our chews, I’d recommend our Baby Grabber for that. Specifically choose one of the soft versions from the pull-down menu on that page (it comes in soft and firm).

The extension part of the Baby Grabber is probably the closest in shape to a binkie, and as one of our softest chews, it’s probably the closest in terms of feel too. It also has a loop that’s easy for little hands to hold.

I hope this helps some! If you have any other questions, just let us know :)

Teaching Kids the Concept of Sucking (Not Blowing) through a Straw to Drink

Question: Good afternoon! I'm a speech therapist working on straw drinking with a child who has Autism. We've done the first 3 steps of your How to Teach Straw Drinking blog post, but cannot proceed to the 4th because the child does not know what it means in general to take a sip. I cannot think [...]

Oral Motor Staples for Babies Who Have Down Syndrome

Hello! About 1 week ago my husband and I got a confirmed diagnosis of Down syndrome for our upcoming baby girl. I want to help my little flower as much as possible and start as soon as possible! What tools are recommended for starting at an early age? We are very excited to help our [...]

Alternatives for Nail Biting

Question: My five-year-old has recently started biting his fingernails. I came across your site when trying to find a way to switch him away from that habit. I also bite my nails so I'd be interested in something for me too. Do you have any recommended products we should try? .. We do! [...]

Can't Eat by Mouth, but Still Want/Need to Chew?

I’m a therapist searching for a product for an older woman with intellectual disabilities. She loves food and drink, but it’s not an option to drink and eat all day. So we’re looking for a safe way to her to chew without actually eating. I was thinking about your grabbers? What do you [...]

When Kids Think Feeding Utensils Are Food

Question: I work with a child who has Down Syndrome. She is 16 months old. She presents with open mouth posture and tongue thrusting not during feeding. Mom purchased a Z-vibe and I saw your article on using the Z-vibe to promote lip closure. Only problem is....anytime we go near her [...]

Oral Motor Straw Workout

Below are directions for a Straw / Lip Blok program I've used with many of my kids over the years. I usually do this in conjunction with tongue thrust therapy when their swallowing pattern needs to be changed. And it also helps work on oral tone and tongue retraction. . . What You'll Need: 1. Krazy Straws. [...]

Chewelry for Girls

All of our chews are used by both boys and girls. They come in a variety of shapes and colors for lots of different interests. But for anyone looking for traditionally "girly girl" designs, check out: ARK's Diamond Chew Necklace - As they say - diamonds are a girl's best friend! . . ARK's Krypto-Bite Chewable Gem Necklace - a beautiful [...]

Frequency of Speech Therapy Sessions

Question: Do all children with speech problems have to attend regular speech therapy?Not necessarily. Sometimes you can place mild cases on consultation to monitor their development and progress. For example, I recently saw a child with an L distortion in a private school. She was four years old, and I knew the parents would be very [...]

Feeding Problems - When It's Psychological

Question: I've read your Food Refusal article, that feeding problems are usually related to oral motor or sensory problems. But can it be psychological? I’ve searched the internet and can find very little practical advice about addressing the fear of solid foods for an infant/toddler. Our son (3 and 1/2 now) is still eating pureed food [...]