Page 81 - Mother & Baby - UK (March 2020)
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Here to help
BEHAVIOUR
My 18-
Q month-old GET IN
gets upset by TOUCH
loud noises. How Gotaquestionyou’dlike
ourexpertstoanswer?
can I help him? Emailyourqueryto
ask@motherand
Sarah Peirson,
baby.co.uk
New Mills
It’s common for some
loud noises to upset
toddlers, such as
hand-dryers or vacuum
cleaners, but if your little
one is upset by all, or
most, loud noises he may
have something known
as Sensory Processing
Disorder (or SPD). SPD
changes sensory feelings
for children – some may
be hypersensitive to
noise (or other senses Whydoesmynewbornstillrooteven
such as touch), while
others may seek sensory thoughsheisbottlefed?
stimulation because they
seem to under-processit. Alice Rathmell, Fleetwood
If you are concerned,
speak with your GP, Justlikeanyothermammal,allbabiesare Thisinnatereflexisanimportantpartof
who may refer you to an bornknowinghowtofeedandattachtothe keepingthemsafeandhelpingthemthrive.
occupational therapist. breast.Yourbreastswillstillbesecreting Whileyouknowyourbabyisbottlefed,it
These are people whoare smallamountsofbreastmilk,whichyour willtakeabitlongerforherbiologytocatch
trained to help children babywillbeabletosmell.Similarly,your on–untilthenshewillcontinuetoactin
with sensory issues, and nipplesareslightlywarmerthantherestof thesamewayasabreastfedbaby,byrooting.
will advise you on changes yourbreastsandyourbabywillbeableto Rootingisincrediblyhelpful,evenifyou’re
to your daily life, whichcan sensethissmalltemperaturechange.Nature notbreastfeeding,asithelpsyoutoknow
literallydrawsababytoabreast! whenyourbabyneedstofeed.SO
really help your child. SO
Q My26-month-oldcan’t
copewithhearing‘no’!
HowshouldIhandlethis?
Ashley Banks, Dorchester
Toddlerslearnbytouching,throwing,
pouring,mark-making,pushing,prodding,
bouncingandsquashing,sowhenyoutell
him‘no’,youareinhibitinghisinstinctto
explore.But,obviously,it’snotappropriateto
allowhimtodoeverythinghewants,andyou
dohavetosay‘no’sometimes.Justtryto
alwayssayitwithempathyandunderstanding.
Whenyousay‘no’andhebecomesunhappy,
takeamomenttoremindyourselfthatheis
strugglingtoo.Supporthiminwhateverway
helpshimtocalmdown,takeadeepbreath,
andre-connectwhenheiscalm.SO
mothe ra ndbaby.co.uk | March 2 0 2 0 | 7 9
