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Sensory Stimulation For
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First, let me tell you a story... a friend of mine shared with me the most important "lesson" he learned while attending Lamaze classes with his wife 18 years ago. During one of the classes the instructor emphatically told the couples, "Do NOT adjust to your baby... have THEM adjust to YOU!" My friend went on to describe how this materialized, from the first day of his little girl's life on.
As my friend, his wife and their new baby left the hospital, they ever so gently placed their precious newborn into her car seat and started driving home to begin their "new life". My friend began driving and, almost instinctively, avoided EVERY bump, EVERY pothole, carefully and slowly rounded each corner, so as not to disturb or "hurt" his little baby, until... he remembered the Lamaze instructors words. It was that defining moment which changed everything... he let go and just began to drive as he normally would (not dangerously, just "normally"). "The rest", they say, "is history."
Now, I must be clear... I am NOT saying you neglect your child's needs or do your "own thing" at the expense of ignoring or hurting your child. What I AM saying is... the earlier you introduce them to various forms of sensory stimulation, the better. I am also NOT saying a child's sensory challenges are YOUR FAULT OR THEIRS. What I AM saying is that children's nervous systems are what they are, at any given moment. But, we CAN help change or influence their nervous system development while it is most malleable, particularly in the first seven years of life. The younger though, the better.
Therefore, it is critically important that we provide our children with a variety of sensory stimulation from the moment they are born. Notice, I didn't say "bombard them" or "overwhelm them". We should introduce them to sensory stimulation naturally and gradually, yet often enough so they can integrate this stimuli, make sense of it, and be able to efficiently act on and use it for the purpose it serves. Infants, babies, and toddlers actually LEARN through their senses. IT IS, in fact, THE WAY they learn. Without being able to take in, interpret and use this sensory information effectively, proper learning will NOT occur, and milestones will be delayed.
Remember, sensory processing theories are heavily based on the influence of the 5 "typical" senses AS WELL AS (and perhaps more importantly) the interoceptive, vestibular, and proprioceptive senses. These latter 3 are at the root of any individual's ability to effectively process and use sensory stimulation, no matter which sense you are referring to. If these 3 core sensory systems (at the central nervous system level) do not interpret sensory stimuli properly, then your precious little infant will start showing signs VERY EARLY on. We MUST be aware of this and recognize these signs as quickly as possible! (Click Here For An In Depth List Of The Signs And Symptoms In Infants/Toddlers!) If we address it early enough, we can prevent the all encompassing and debilitating functional impact that sensory processing disorders can have on a child.
Have you ever heard of a program called "early intervention"? If not, let me explain... it is a free program in many states, (but some do charge, or bill insurance for OT/PT, etc.) which is available in every community and is usually part of the educational system. If you EVER have any concerns about your child's development not being "on target" before the age of 3, you should call your local early intervention program (if you don't know who they are, start by calling the school department or your child's pediatrician).
Once a referral is made (and YOU can make the "referral"), a team of therapists will come to your home to discuss your concerns and professionally evaluate your child. If your child is delayed, or even "at risk" for a delay (such as being born premature, living in or with certain environmental or social conditions, or has a known disability), a variety of developmental professionals can help address and actively treat your child, at no cost/minimal cost, to you. Sensory processing disorders (also called sensory integration dysfunction) are certainly a necessary part of that evaluation as they influence developmental milestones. So, if you have ANY concerns, speak up... please! Catching sensory processing disorders as early as possible WILL minimize any negative effects on your child's development.
It is with these concepts in mind, that I feel passionately responsible to emphasize the importance of sensory stimulation on infants, babies, and toddlers. It has been proven over and over again that if infants and babies are neglected or deprived of sensory stimulation, they WILL NOT develop "normally". They WILL likely have a sensory processing disorder that, if not addressed, will be carried into childhood and adulthood.
Here is just one, of many examples... there is an extremely high correlation between infants who are tube fed for any extended time to those who have ORAL DEFENSIVENESS. Why? Because they never received any sensory stimulation in their mouths (or, if they did, it may have been intrusive, invasive and uncomfortable; due to certain medical procedures), thus becoming hypersensitive in that area. So, when they are finally able to be fed orally, they may resist, gag, and/or choke.
So, please, I beg of you... give your children as much sensory stimulation to all of their "8 senses" as possible. Do not force them, or overwhelm them, just gradually introduce them to a variety of sights, sounds, tastes, textures, movement, touch and tactile input every day! Their fragile, malleable little nervous systems will begin to acclimate and adjust. If there are any of the "8 senses" they absolutely will not tolerate, then call in the specialists! It is VITALLY important.
Keeping this all in mind, I would like to help you pick the best infant, and toddler toys (sensory integration toys) that will benefit your child's sensory system and give them the sensory stimulation they need. They are developmental infant toys. They are toddler educational toys. They are infant and toddler activities that should be used. They are kids toys and play equipment that will provide wonderful sensory stimulation for your child.
Infant stimulation, infant toys, and infant activities are all CRITICALLY important for proper infant development. Toddler toys, activities for toddlers, and toddler equipment based on providing sensory stimulation are also invaluable and highly recommended for normal sensory development.
Like I said, "Get 'em when they're young!". Here is a
start to a whole host of developmental, sensory stimulation, and educational
toys which you can introduce to your child.
(For SO MANY MORE, Check Out Sensory Integration Products)
Michele's Top Recommended Infant &Toddler
Sensory Stimulation Toys:
(simply click on any picture to find out more)
Fisher-Price: Crawl-Along Drum Roll
Whether sitting or crawling, baby can make exciting things
happen with the Crawl-Along Drum. Sitting babies can tap the bongo drums for fun
music, sounds and lights. And when they're ready to crawl, the fun's ready to
roll! Baby can chase the rolling drum while music, lights and fun rewards
encourage movin' and groovin'.
Drum plays four fun songs and features colorful spinners, busy activities and
dancing lights to delight baby.
Buster the Busy Bus
Buster is a friendly-faced, free-wheeling bus brimming with activities. Preschoolers can have fun "steering" Buster as they push him along, encouraging first steps. And when he's stopped, there are busloads of fun areas to explore. Kids can sort colorful, chunky shapes; scribble on the sketch board; spin the roller to hear fun music and sounds; activate twinkling lights; press three buttons for delightful melodies; and much more.
Busy Ball Popper
Fisher-Price: Sit-to-Stand Giraffe
Sitting, standing, exploring - there's so much to discover! Music and lights accompany the fun as your little one feeds this loveable giraffe three colorful balls. Watch in amazement as they roll down and around, disappear, then pop out down below. This playful friend will even lend an ear (or two) to help little ones pull themselves up and stand. Before you know it, the fun is at a whole new level!
Lamaze Garden Bug Wrist Rattle/Foot Finder Set
Baby-soft wrist rattle and foot finders encourage discovery. Bright patterns and faces with fun sounds to reward exploration. Ideal for developing hand-to-eye coordination skills.
Bubble Beater
You know how frustrating it is when your bubbles go away' It never needs to happen again. Now you can whip up some bath time fun with Alex bubble bath and specially designed Bubble Beater. The chubby handle is easy for little bathers to hold and turn. Soft blades spin around creating tons of fun bubbles. Comes with its own tube of bubble bath.
Hungry Pelican Bath Toy
This brightly colored pelican is always hungry, and he needs
your help to catch his food. Pelican comes with four adorable sea creatures that
float, so they are easy for Baby to scoop up. Press the handle and the pelican
clicks his wings and opens his mouth to catch the food. Water and "food" all
come down through his tummy for fun, repetitive play during bath-time. Includes
pelican and four sea critters for him to feast on.
Miracles & Milestones - Touch & Cuddle Hedgehog
This colorful friend invites exploration from its squeaky nose at one end to a squishy beanbag filling at the other! In between are a cheerful smile, soft quills, crinkly ears and feet, and lots of cuddly fun! It's just right to develop and delight your little one.
Fisher-Price Melodies & Lights Deluxe Gym
Repositionable toys include a soft hanging monkey, a soft toucan with jingle, an elephant with soft ears and a spinner with beads, a parrot with a paddle spinner and a frog character mirror. Two satin butterflies fly around above baby as colored lights pulse on and off while music plays. The large mat has a quilted rainforest underside, sun ray ribbons, and a soft tiger tail. A large soft giraffe sits at the bottom of the rainbow arch and has two points on which to link toys for baby. Mom can also link the toys to any of three link points on the mat as well as to any of five link points overhead for a total of 11 places to link toys for baby. Mom can choose between three modes of play: Baby mode allows baby's play time movements to set off eight to 12 seconds of lights and music. Music mode plays music for 20 minutes while baby plays. Rainforest mode plays 20 minutes of rainforest sounds while baby plays. The gym provides four songs and two sound effects sequences.
Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn™ Learning Puppy™
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Baby can learn A-B-Cs, 1-2-3's and parts of the body, plus sing along to 10 favorite songs and games
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Dog bone collar lights up to the music
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With rich music, sing-along songs, and lots of activities, they combine early academics and everyday experiences-for the way kids really learn
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Part of Laugh & Learn Collection
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Age Range 6 to 36 Months
Click Here For MORE Great Infant/Toddler Stimulation Products
Click Here For Bouncing, Vibrating Baby Seats
Click Here For Information On, And A Great Selection Of, Rocking Horses
Check Out These Cool, Fun, Baby Jumper Toys!
Click Here For Gross Motor Activity Ideas For Your Toddler
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