Oral Motor and Feeding
Oral motor skills begin in the womb and are fully developed by the age of 3. Oral motor skills are complex in nature, comprising of movement patterns with physical and. sensory components.
When feeding is a challenge, many times individual oral structures and sensory-motor patterns are a cause.
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Oral motor problems cause issues and difficulty with difficulty biting, chewing, and manipulating foods. They can cause difficulties with textures of foods, and can be a reason your little one is a picky eater!
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Contact Tara for an oral motor and feeding assessment if you suspect oral motor difficulties or need help with any of the following:
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Weak oral muscles
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Oral apraxia (problems with motor planning)
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Oral coordination
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Oral sensitivities
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Transitioning to table foods
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How to drink from a straw
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How to use utensil
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How to help picky eaters using no-pressure techniques and exploration
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Creating structure and Routine at meals (which is the foundation to creating healthy eating habits for life)
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See below for tried and true feeding utensils and oral motor tools recommended by Tara:
Feeding
Great for children who may not be able to use a spouted sippy (which I rarely recommend anyways) due to a cleft palate or other medical issues. Its free flowing design requires no suction with true flow-controlled rim drinking all the way around. Perfect for helping children learn how to transition to drink from an adult cup.
Weighted straw allows your toddler to hold the cup at any angle. Handles are easy for little hands to hold. BPA free
Recommended by U.S. pediatric dentists, this straw sippy allows for healthy oral development; short straw designed to allow natural tongue movement and swallowing process. Comes with 100% Leak-proof Money Back Guarantee
Drinking from anywhere around the rim, like a regular cup, helps support normal muscle development in a child’s mouth. The handles support self feeding.
Rounded, soft spoon bowls are gentle on baby's gums Ergonomically designed for a comfortable hold BPA free
These water bottles are not only safe for chewing on (unlike their plastic topped counter parts) but the silicone spout on these water bottles actually encourages chewing, as you have to bite on it in order to drink from it. Great for oral seekers with high biting needs.
Oral Motor
