Booster Seat Strategy for Sensory Regulation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

While sitting calmly in situations like circle time would be a nice change for DS, that isn't our main goal for our interventions at this time (and wasn't the main concern we voiced to the Dr, I think Dr was just annoyed that our son wouldn't sit through all the coginitive tests). As some of you mentioned - he is only two. Our main goal is to work on increased communication skills and helping DS to better regulate himself so he can play with his toys rather than spin in circles and walk around aimlessly.

This sounds like a totally different issue, and it sounds like the doctor wasnt listening to you and didnt have appropriate expectations. I'd find someone else.

I don't think so, I think that engaging in eating for short periods, without needing breaks to seek movement, is similar to engaging in play for short periods. It sounds like your child struggles to organize his behavior and focus on a task, and that since eating is a task he's already mastered, it might be a sensible place to start. I also think that getting a child to the point where they can organize around a task for a couple minutes, can make speech therapy much easier and more effective.

Whether this would work, I don't know, but it doesn't sound like an unrelated issue.

I'm the pp immediately above. Could you try this with small portions of a preferred snack? e.g. meals are still in high chair, but serve him say a few goldfish crackers (or whatever he likes) sitting at a little table and if he gets up quietly put them away?

[Anonymous]

I would keep him at the family table in a high chair because it is working. Perhaps at lunch you can get a small table and chair ( iKEA sells a two chair and tiny table combo for 19.99) and have him eat there to practice eating and not being restrained. It certainly can be done. At my kids daycare center no high chairs or any restraints are used. When kids are 9 to 12 months they start with finger foods at a tiny table with tiny chairs. The kids learn they can't get up before they finish eating. If they get up and havent eaten the teacher walks them back to the table or if thet have eaten some the child is taught to put their dishes away.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

We have a little table and chairs set, so I tried serving snack at that a few times, along with snack at a park bench, and both have gone well. He's pretty much sitting through his whole snack.

So I'm going to try a booster for a few meals and see what happens, since it might not be a real fight to keep him in his seat. If it wrecks our meal time, then we'll go back to the high chair for a bit. Because I don't think any big drama around food will help anything right now.

Thanks for all the input, its been really helpful.

[Anonymous]

14:27 and 14:37 here again,

That's really great that he can do it! Sitting to focus on eating, is a great first step! I agree that it can't hurt to try the booster seat (or maybe try lunch at the little table with a few more foods), especially if you aren't punitive when he gets up, just gentle and matter of fact. If he's not ready, then you can try again in a month or two -- they change so fast at this age!

[Anonymous]

expecting a two year old, sensory issues or not, to attend to a structured circle time..seems a little over kill. some two year olds can do this, many cannot and that is developmentally okay.

[Anonymous]

OP here (again)

So it seems my anxiety about this was unnecessary. I tried out a full meal and my son wasn't into the booster, he did it but kept wanting to just sit in a regular chair. So I let him, and now he's just sitting in a regular kitchen chair and staying there for full meals with no problem.

He looks funny sitting so low at the table, but he's sitting and he's happy. And bonus that I get to tell the doctor we've done everything she suggested

Time will tell if it starts to make a difference in his ability to focus in other areas.