ARK's Blog

Question:  How can I keep my son from stuffing his mouth with food, not properly chewing, then getting choked when he swallows?  He is 5 years old and Autistic.  Do you have any idea why he does this?  I assume it has something to do with his oral sensory needs, but I am not sure.  .  Yes, you're right!  Stuffing food in the mouth most likely has to …

Question:  I am an OT and a new mom to my 6-month-old daughter. We have just started introducing solid foods, but she drinks from only a bottle. I was wondering if you had any tips for transitioning from bottle to cup.  I have heard mixed reviews regarding sippy cups... .  I am not against using the right sippy cup as an intermediate step to teach cup drinking.  How …

All parents want their children to be able to blow out their birthday candles.  While most children pick up this skill naturally, others need a little more help.  Below is the process that I have used over the years.  I hope it works for you as it does for me!  . . 1.  The first step is to establish the concept of blowing air out of your mouth.  Put your h …

Finger feeding is a very important step towards 1. feeding independence and 2. setting the stage for healthy eating habits.  Finger feeding typically starts at about 8-10 months, but of course there are always exceptions.  A friend of mine didn’t start with her baby until 11 months of age for example. In order to be ready for finger feeding, your child needs to be able to …