Savannah Age 4

by Jan
(Lynn, Mass, USA)

Savannah is 4 years old ... at age 2 she freaked out over strings in her sock, we called her princess cause of princess and the pea! She didn't like to be dirty, wet, sticky, wouldn't try foods like rice, jello, chicken. We LIVED off of hot dogs, mac and cheese, muffins, and peanut butter and jelly. some "fits" would be about her pull-up or under wear not fitting her "right"! What LOOKED fine to us was driving my 2 year old CRAZY! I thought I was going out of my mind! Drs telling me everything was normal and fine yet my baby was so upset! She wasn't FINE! Not if she was so upset! They told me at a local hospital when I had her evaluated for speech that I needed to have her evaluated for OT cause she had sensory issues. Sure enough! with deep pressure message and OT she relaxed a little bit each week ... to the point we COULD get socks on and ok. Food wise ... she still eats muffin for breakfast yet we do have a LITTLE more variety with lunch and dinner. I was SO excited when she had some mint chocolate chip ice cream ... before she gagged and spit out the chips but she actually ate them! :o)



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starstarstarstarstar 		great job savannah's Mom!
by: Anonymous

Jan,

My daughter has the same issues, we caught it around a year old, because she just wouldn't eat. I kept her on formula till over a year and a half because of concerns she wasn't going to get the nutrition she needed. Once she grudgingly started to eat, We applied what I called the "smorgashboard" method. Many choices, including a favorite or two. She still is not very explorative with food, and will take her shoes off for "piggy toe time" whenever she can.

We have found that hair in her face seems to increase her sensitivities. So we deal with the struggle in the morning to put her hair in braids and find that she has a much better over all day.

From what I understand about it, we have the first seven years to build in self soothing techniques. Do your best to get your preschool teachers on board with it. The symptoms do look like tantrums, they aren't. It's great you're on board with teaching her how to be a "self rescuing princess" (This is the term we use with my daughter, who responds "I am NOT a self rescuing princess" In turn we say, "ah but you will be!")
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starstarstarstarstar 		child problems
by: Anonymous

In your description I recognize some of the problems of my child. That have long been considered a tantrum, but then I have found that cause distress to the child. Now she has been recognized on the autism spectrum. Try to see childhood developmental pediatrician and psychiatrist, in order to respond adequately to the needs of your child.

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