Cause of Some Sensory Processing Disorders

by Susan A. Redding
(Broomall, PA)

I am a Teacher and Reading Specialist. I have six children
and have worked with many types of children including autistic children. I read about a new theory of SPD that might blame the environment.

If a child is left by a babysitter or a busy mother in the crib or in their room for hours, or if the mother or babysitter do not speak to, make eye contact with, teach their baby to sit, pull themselves up, crawl or walk during prime development days, this can cause the child to be autistic or seem sensory deprived. They can't make eye contact because no one is teaching them to. They can't speak when they should because the mother or babysitter is not actually teaching these children to speak. Babies do not teach themselves these things, their parents must by demonstrating how to and giving them positive reinforcement when they learn something new.

I have members of my family who do this. They are too busy to teach what really are the milestones of a baby's development. My sister's baby just turned 1, and just learned how to crawl.
The baby is uncomfortable when I make eye contact with him, and is shocked when I clap for him when he tries something new. He smiled readily when he was 3 months old, but at 12 months doesn't smile much and has no real consistent vocabulary. He was and is perfectly healthy, but is not developing as he should because he is not being taught to smile, talk, make eye contact and walk. Mom's too busy. I cannot imagine how many hours a baby spends alone when a babysitter is their primary caretaker.

I now teach reading, but I was at home when my children were little. I knew what the milestones were, just naturally. They rolled over at 1 day to 3 weeks, sat up at 4 to 5 months alone, crawled at 6 months. They ALL walked before they were 1. They all smiled before 1 month, some at 1 week. I was in their face all the time, making eye contact with them, hoping they would smile at me, and they did. They all spoke many words by their first birthday, and those who did not pick it up as quickly I spent more time with. I used my instincts. It was MY JOB to teach them these things, I am their mother, HOW COULD I NOT??

Having a baby is not like having a puppy. My sister's dog gets more attention than her fourth baby. Once the milestones have passed, you can't get them back. You have to teach your baby out of the womb, not classical music, just how to smile, talk, walk, etc.

Susan A. Redding Broomall, PA