How to prolong snack breaks and avoid dangerous mouth stuffing 😋 Does your baby or toddler stuff their mouth, especially with small snacks or finger foods?😅 Before I give you some food pacing solutions click to follow for a daily dose of activities, ideas and education for your child from a pediatric occupational therapist 😎🤩 Encouraging a baby/toddler to slow down and not stuff their mouth with food can be a gradual process. Here are some solutions: 1. **Offer Smaller Portions:** Serve small, manageable portions of food at a time. This helps prevent overwhelming your child and reduces the tendency to stuff their mouth. 2. **Model Eating Behavior:** children often mimic what they see, so demonstrate slow and deliberate chewing yourself. Eating meals together as a family can also encourage them to follow the pace of others. 3. **Use Finger Foods:** Offer finger foods that require chewing, such as small pieces of soft fruits, cooked vegetables, or shreds of meat. These foods naturally slow down eating as they require more chewing. 4. **Encourage Self-Feeding:** Allow your young child to feed themselves using their fingers or utensils. This promotes independence and allows them to control the pace of their eating. 5. **Praise and Encourage:** Offer praise and encouragement when your child eats slowly and chews their food thoroughly. Positive reinforcement can reinforce good eating habits. 6. **Create a Calm Environment:** Minimize distractions during mealtime, such as loud noises or electronic devices. A calm environment can help them focus on eating and reduce the likelihood of hurried eating. 7. **Be Patient:** Remember that learning to eat at a slower pace is a skill that takes time to develop. Be patient and consistent in your approach, and eventually, your baby/toddler will learn to eat more mindfully. Comment “link” for the pop it puzzle!   ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀   #momsoftiktok #toddlerfood #babyfood #childsaftey #firsttimemom #occupationaltherapy #babyfirstyear #toddlersensoryplay #pediatricoccupationaltherapy #babyplayideas #pediatricot #tastesafeplay #babysensoryplay #earlydevelopment #sensoryplay #sensoryintegration #earlyintervention#sensoryprocessing #playbasedtherapy #parentingtips #mommyandme

Aaand we have a 7 month old crawler 😅 Comment “more” if you’re interested in more ideas and strategies to help your 7-10 month old start crawling! Follow for tips and tricks from an pediatric occupational therapist 💗   ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀   #momsoftiktok #babymilestones #crawlingbaby #babyplayideas #childdevelopment #7monthold #occupationaltherapy #pediatricoccupationaltherapy #pediatricot #earlydevelopment #sensoryplay #socialskills #sensoryintegration #earlyintervention#sensoryprocessing #playbasedtherapy #selfregulation #emotionalregulation #parentingtips #mommyandme #раннееразвитие #чемзанятьребёнка #развитие2года #детиразвития #детиигры #развивашки #сенсорнаяинтерграция

Happy Valentine’s Day 🥰 Here why I will continue planning play dates: Play dates aren't just fun - they're a powerhouse for toddler development! From building social skills to fostering parent-child bonds, every play date is a stepping stone towards growth and connection.🌟 Group activities offer numerous benefits for toddlers' development: Social skills- practicing communication, empathy, and understanding of others' emotions. Language Development- opportunities for toddlers to engage in conversation, storytelling, and language-rich interactions with their peers. This fosters vocabulary development, language comprehension, and communication skills. Emotional Regulation: They learn to regulate their emotions, manage frustrations, and navigate social interactions with peers. Overall, group activities provide a rich and dynamic environment for toddlers to learn, grow, and thrive socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically. Follow for more 🥰😍😘   ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀   #momsoftiktok #childdevelopment #occupationaltherapy #pediatricoccupationaltherapy #pediatricot #earlydevelopment #sensoryplay #socialskills #sensoryintegration #sensoryprocessing #playbasedtherapy #selfregulation #emotionalregulation #parentingtips #mommyandme #playdate #toddlercooking #heartpizza #раннееразвитие #чемзанятьребёнка #развитие2года #детиразвития #детиигры #развивашки #сенсорнаяинтерграция

Make your own maracas! Maracas are beneficial for infants and toddlers for several reasons: 1. Sensory Stimulation: The sound and vibration produced by maracas provide sensory stimulation, which helps in developing their auditory and tactile senses. 2. Fine Motor Skill Development: Holding and shaking maracas requires the use of fine motor skills. Infants and toddlers can practice grasping and manipulating the instrument, which strengthens their hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity. 3. Cognitive Development: By shaking maracas, children learn cause and effect relationships. They understand that their actions produce sound, which enhances their cognitive development and sense of control.   ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀   #momsoftiktok #7monthold #2yearold #diycrafts #sensoryprocessing #occupationaltherapy #infantdevelopment #pediatricoccupationaltherapy #pediatricot #sensoryplay #childdevelopment #openplay #раннееразвитие #чемзанятьребёнка #развитие2года #детиразвития #детиигры #развивашки #моторика