Let's Get Messy: The Importance of Self-Feeding and Sensory Experiences
In my past observations working in early intervention (0-3) as an Occupational Therapist, one of the newest parenting trends I came across was a shift from encouraging self-feeding and the messy sensory experience to a neater, more controlled approach. The popularity of the food pouch is the new FAB thing. A quick and cleaner mealtime option makes this a popular choice for many busy parents fabulous. Don't get me wrong. The pouch is an amazing invention, that provides a great 2-handed approach to self-feeding. Not to mention good oral muscular strengthening and a a "quick" go-to while traveling,long car rides or quick snack. However, it is suggested through studies that is extremely essential for a child to manage and explore the sensory properties of food for better self-feeding skills and more participation in "mealtime". Food play stimulates all parts of the brain and helps kiddos take ownership of ideas. Self-feeding and oral sensory play support the development of oral-motor coordination (such as lip and tongue movements) and manipulative skills, along with the benefit of promoting social-emotional development as the child masters a new skill.
Usually when you first start feeding a baby cereal or stage 1 fruits, they are fairly easy to keep clean, since they aren't moving around too much. Over the next few months they start swiping the spoon and blowing raspberries and bubbles in their food and or simply spitting it out. It can get messy in a hurry, for everybody! I know this can be overwhelming and letting them get messy may seem like more work than it's worth. Some parents I have worked with feel like it's neglectful to let their child sit there with food all over them, even if it is during the meal. Or I have met families that are super busy that it's "easier" to clean up as they go to prevent the clean up later. Or some that don't like messes AT ALL! You know ? Clean freaks! Type A personalities. Something I wish I was a little more like. Ha! I am here to say, throw out the towel (literally) and let them get messy. Let the food get on their hands, in their hair, and all over their face (and don't make any disgusting faces while they are doing it). Here are four really good reasons why:
1. Importance of Sensory Play
Did you know that Meal times for babies and toddlers are about more than eating? Besides learning all sorts of cultural and social norms, it is some of their first ACTIVE Sensory Experiences. Really! Do you see yourself sticking your 7 month old in a sand box or use beans and hard rice or finger paints to play with? No! They will eat it silly! So why not start with something that is edible? The tactile stimulation you get from playing in messy textures provides loads of meaningful information to the brain that children process and create more sophisticated responses to. Babies and children will actively seek these experiences out as part of curiosity, discovery, exploration, and the drive to experience sensory input. It is soooooo important for their little brains and senses to become accustom to these sensations to regulate and be comfortable within their environment!
2. Learning How to Self Feed
When babies get their hands messy in the baby food, it will eventually register that when they put their fingers in their mouth they get some food. It will likely be months before they are spoon feeding themselves, but those early tastes from their own fingers will set the groundwork for this skill and they will likely accomplish it much sooner! If your baby is getting messy and not putting their hand up to their mouth when it's covered in dinner, take your hand and show them how. You as their parent are their greatest teachers. PLAY!
3. Preventing Tactile Defensiveness and Increasing Positive feeding Experiences
When kids aren't exposed to different textures, they can become sensitive to new or different textures over time. WHEN your child is kept clean during meals, or any sensory experiences they may reach a point when getting messy feels uncomfortable because it such a foreign sensation to them. This is not to say that all tactile defensiveness is learned or a consequence of, most of the time it's NOT. Kids that are born tactile defensive will show signs early on as a baby or toddler. The constant wiping with a spoon or napkin to keep the baby clean can actually be more uncomfortable for them. It is very invading to their personal space and can become a frustration during feeding. Have you ever tried having someone feed you and wipe your face as an adult? Ha ha ha you should try it! You will get my drift ! (If you have a child who cannot "get messy" or freaks when they do, (first distract, Distract, DISTRACT! Let them play or have the food stay on them as long as possible before wiping it off!) This can help with the initial desensitization process. It also might be time to start exploring more sensory play activities to decrease defensiveness and/or contact your local OT or just ask me for suggestions via COMMENTS!)
4. Feeding Time = Positive PLAY (keeping it positive)
I cannot express the importance of keeping mealtime as positive as you possibly can. Did I mention fun? Letting babies/toddlers get messy keeps a more laid back flow to the whole meal and thus is more positive. If you are constantly fighting with your baby so they don't grab the spoon or trying to pin them down to wipe their face off after each bite, meal time might not be so positive for your child. Letting your baby and toddler play and explore food can increase their understanding of their environment and world around them. It lets them CREATE. If it's fun and positive, it can also be an amazing way to bond with your baby.
If you wipe your baby's face constantly or don't let them help feed themselves, you are keeping them of a wonderful learning and sensory experience. Don't feel bad if you have done this. We are all learning and growing through our experiences. So are our babies and toddlers. The good news is that it's not too late to let them start to get messy. As they approach life as a toddler, it is important to start teaching them manners and it may not be a great idea to let them squeeze and slop their food around just for the sake of playing. However, if they are getting messy just from the act of eating than let it go and while they are younger toddlers a little of the messy play is ok, as long as they are still able to participate in mealtime, without too many distractions. If you notice your toddler is trying to play with their food a lot, provide them with other opportunities to "get messy" or experience other sensory experiences i.e.. Finger paint, play dough, shaving cream, and/or various sensory bins etc.
Here are a few easy tips and strategies to encourage self-feeding and sensory exploration during your baby or toddler’s mealtime.
1. Create an good safe environment for them to get messy. Make a disposable splat mat by cutting open a large garbage bag and placing it under the high chair. Makes cleaning up quick and easy for those who do not get excited about the idea of a messy kitchen. I have also seen parents let their child eat things in the TUB (usually toddlers 1+) for easier clean up.
2. Once your baby can sit well (as in able to hold himself up and have good head and neck control), get him used to eating in the high chair and participating in mealtimes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
3. I encourage parents and caregivers to sit and eat with their baby. SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR BABY AND THEM TO LEARN ABOUT YOU. Mealtimes are meant to be a social time, with opportunities for communication, engagement, and modeling of positive feeding behaviors. So shut off the TV, put down your smart phone and grab food for yourself while you sit and eat with your little one.
4. It's suggested to limit the use of the baby food pouches, I mean do (not throw them out entirely), because if the food is a preferred one, squeeze a small amount on to the high chair tray, or spoon. This allows the child to see, smell, and touch the food before it gets to his mouth. Gets their senses going.
5. Babies only need a small amount of purée to explore. Touching, poking the food and licking it off their fingers, smelling the food is a wonderful sensory and fine motor experience. Self feeding is a natural way to encourage isolated index finger poke, eye-hand coordination, and most importantly social interactions with you.
6. Once a baby moves on to solid soft pieces (usually around 9 months), offer him cubes of soft cooked meat and vegetables from soups or stews to squeeze, explore, and enjoy. Every new food is an opportunity to learn about shape, color, texture, and taste. Other finger foods to try include “O” shaped cereal, cubed fruits, cheese, pasta, bread, pieces of frozen waffles and small pancakes. Always, ALWAYS be present when feeding & avoid common choking hazards of those not so age appropriate foods for babies and toddlers such as raw carrots, nuts, raisins, and hot dogs or grapes.
7. Once your child starts to show interest in the spoon, offer your child a small sized, chubby toddler spoon for safe oral exploration. This is the age when you each have a spoon and can introduce the idea of turn taking and pretend play. To encourage scooping, place jarred foods in a medium sized, non slip bowl to make an easier target for new self feeders. Thick purées are often easier to start (such as pudding, oatmeal, and custard style yogurts) as they stick to the spoon, creating a greater chance of success. (Which is what we want for kids to feel as they are learning a new skill). SO please give them the time they need to practice and LEARN. I know that it can be just easier doing it for them for the sake of time.
8. Keep in mind that your child’s stage of development affects mealtimes. Toddlers 1.5-2.5 years are learning to separate from you more and more to become more independent. This creates a natural opportunity to encourage self feeding, as it offers the toddler more CONTROL over the feeding process. Keep in mind, two and three year olds naturally drop foods from their diet which they previously enjoyed. At the end of the day, most children will eat what they need and, as long as your child is growing, you can relax and enjoy mealtimes together. Stay POSITIVE. They will not starve if they miss a meal.
As you can see, self-feeding and exploration at mealtime has many developmental benefits for your child. So set he or she up for a lifetime of happy and healthy mealtime habits by giving them opportunities to PLAY, explore and "get messy!"
Ps. Take into an account an infant, toddler or child's attention span.
Was this a good sales pitch? Did I win over any other neat freaks type-A's that want their kids to be clean ALL THE TIME? ha ha ha Baby Steps... TRY to Embrace the mess! You are only a parent once! Your baby/toddlers sensory system will thank you later.
FOR QUESTIONS about your baby's feeding, feel free to comment. Let's get everyone to help each other out on what works and what doesn't work & get an OT perspective and experience along the way!
Jamie B. OTR/L
xoxo
