From Rattles to Writing: A Parent’s Guide to Hand Skills [Book Review and GIVEAWAY!]

Posted on May 5, 2013 by christiekiley

This month’s featured product is a handy book called From Rattles to Writing: A Parent’s Guide to Hand Skills, by Barbara A. Smith. Not only am I reviewing this book because I think it’s AWESOME but I am also giving away FIVE FREE COPIES between now and this Wednesday, May 8th! Read on…

Barbara is a fellow occupational therapist who has worked with children for many years and is passionate about giving parents the tools they need in order to promote their child’s overall development. I first heard about this book several months ago and was hoping to get my hands on it, so when her publisher (Therapro, Inc.) offered to provide me a promotional copy of the book for review, I was ecstatic! I knew I would love this book before I even got my hands on it.

In the introduction, Barbara states that From Rattles to Writing is written to help parents and educators foster the skills children need in order to read and write (p. v).

But don’t kids just learn those skills on their own? you may ask. Good question. Barbara acknowledges this and suggests that educating parents and developing kids’ foundational developmental skills are more important now than ever due factors in our modern society such as the difficulties associated with seemingly infinite options for toys and educational products, advances in technology, higher expectations for gross motor development and competitive sports at younger ages, the push for academic achievement and handwriting at younger and younger ages, and the changes in kids’ learning environments in general.

It’s true. As a pediatric OT myself, I see this so clearly as I work with “undiagnosed” three-year-olds who don’t have a pincer grasp (a 1-year-old skill), first graders who can’t efficiently hold a pencil (a 3 to 5-year-old year skill), or second and third graders who have difficulty reading, writing, or participating in ball play because their eyes are unable to visually track objects without moving their head (a pre 1-year-old skill).

I often find myself so frustrated by the fact that many of these difficulties likely could have been prevented if parents knew what to look for and how to help in those early years!!! Why isn’t there a go-to resource for parents when it comes to fine motor development??? I often ask myself in desperation.

Now there is — it’s called From Rattles to Writing.

From Rattles to Writing is like the What to Expect When You’re Expecting of fine motor development for ages birth to five years.

Here’s what I like about this book:

1. It’s easy to navigate. At just about 200 pages in length, this book is designed to be used as a reference tool and is not necessarily meant to be read in one sitting. Much like What to Expect, It’s divided into age groups with one chapter per age group: Infants (divided into 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months), Toddlers (divided into 12-18 months, 18-24 months), Two Year Olds, Three Year Olds, Four Year Olds (with teaching methods and adaptations to help the almost-5-year-old who is ready to read and write prior to Kindergarten), and a concluding chapter that provides some suggestions for children as they move into Kindergarten and First Grade. I’ll admit, as soon as I received this book in the mail, I immediately opened to the 18-24 Months chapter so I could read up on my own son’s development and get some ideas for the home. I then flipped back to the Newborn chapter and found some great ideas to use when Baby Number Two comes along this summer! Like I said, this book is easy-to-navigate and can be conveniently picked up for just a few minutes at a time.

2. It’s holistic and well-rounded. Of course a book written by an OT would be well-rounded! Because fine motor skills do not develop in isolation from other developmental skills, Barbara also incorporates discussion and activity ideas involving cognitive, sensory, visual-perceptual, social-emotional, language, and gross motor development. I absolutely LOVE this and it is probably one of the main reasons why I will be recommending this book to everyone I know who raises or works with kids.

3. It’s informative without being too “heady”. Sometimes developmental resource books can get too little technical as they spout off scientific jargon. But because this book is written first and foremost for parents, it provides solid scientific and developmental information in easy-to-understand language. I like how Barbara incorporated technical terms (such as “crossing midline” or “motor planning”) into the text while clarifying them both in context as well as in definition boxes to the side of the page. I can imagine parents reading each chapter (especially the Infant chapters) and saying, “That’s so interesting!” or, “I never knew that!” Infant and child development really is so complex, yet fascinating.

4. It’s full of good ideas. The author provides sub-sections throughout the book related to Suggested Toys (developmental toys to purchase to encourage visual, sensory, and motor skills), Make Your Own (toys you can make or adapt using household materials), Fun Activities (play ideas to teach specific skills for certain ages), and Music (songs and dances to teach developmentally-appropriate motor and language concepts specific to certain age groups). Barbara inspired me to immediately create two items mentioned in her book: a VELCRO® bottle for fine motor skills and slimy spaghetti for sensory play (using this recipe).

5. It provides additional developmental info and resources in the back of the book. At the end of the book Barbara provides a quick chronological reference of visual motor skills developed in the first five years; an at-a-glance page with proper letter formation for capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers (based on the Zaner-Bloser approach); a glossary of terms; and a list of additional resources for everything from baby sign language, kids’ cookbooks, books with more ideas for sensory and motor development, pre-writing books, visual motor skills, and more. The learning and idea-sharing doesn’t have to stop just because the book ended!

Doesn’t this book sound AWESOME?! Great for new parents (Mother’s Day is coming up!!), new OT grads, special education teachers, or childcare providers who work with kids on a daily basis. Don’t you want to get your hands on it?

Well, you’re in luck because Therapro, Inc. has agreed to partner with Mama OT to give five lucky winners a free copy of the book as part of a From Rattles to Writing giveaway!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE “FROM RATTLES TO WRITING” GIVEAWAY! Enter this giveaway by clicking on the “Enter to Win” tab in the box above and then following the directions. Please let me know if you have any difficulties entering. It’s made to run smoothly, but sometimes there are hiccups in the system, and I don’t want anyone to be left out due to technical difficulties!

This giveaway will run from 12:00am PST on Monday, May 6, 2013 to midnight Wednesday night (12:00am PST, May 9, 2013). You can read the terms and conditions of this giveaway by clicking on the appropriate link in the entry box.

I really hope you’ll check out this book. It is an invaluable resource for anyone who works with kids. Best of luck in the giveaway!

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, so if you click on them and wind up buying something, a small percent of your purchase will help Mama OT buy more diapers (at no extra cost to you).

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How to know if your child is ready for potty training

Posted on April 17, 2013 by christiekiley

Don’t you ~~secretly~~ wish child-rearing came with a manual?! Like how to know when it’s time to start potty training? And how to actually go about teaching a tiny, impulsive human how to direct their inner recycled goods into a tiny throne several times a day?

While I can’t tell you exactly how to potty train your little one (there are soooo many approaches), I certainly can try to help you understand the telltale signs of when your kiddo is ready for potty training.

Did you know that, developmentally speaking, the transition from diapers to big kid undies actually follows a fairly predictable progression?

Many kids become mostly potty trained between 2-3 years of age, with boys typically achieving the feat later than girls. However, it’s not about starting at a specific age, it’s about starting when your child is physically and emotionally ready. So tune into your toddler and see where she’s at with this progression. You may end up starting earlier or later than you thought.

Signs your child may be ready for potty training:

• She experiences discomfort when wet or soiled. She may walk with a wide-legged waddle or tug at her diaper when it’s soiled. Kids with low sensory awareness may lag on this one because they are less likely to feel the extra junk in their diaper.

• She indicates or communicates when she has a dirty diaper. Kids will often do this by patting or pointing to their diaper in the presence of their caregiver. Yours may even use words or signs to communicate if they are old enough and know the appropriate words to use.

• She has regular bowel movements on a fairly consistent basis. Many kids are able to be trained to poop in the toilet before they are actually “potty” trained, so this is an important one. In my experience as an OT, kiddos who have restricted diets due to picky eating and/or who experience constipation due to diet or medications often struggle with this one, and this typically affects their ability to learn to use the toilet.

• She can sit on a potty for a short time when placed on it. Make sure the potty is situated so her feet are supported rather than dangling from the porcelain throne. This is especially important for children who have low postural muscle tone (such as those with Down Syndrome, Autism, or a generally weak core) or postural instability. Foot support is also important for little ones who are afraid of being off the ground. Some examples include the Fisher-Price Cheer for Me Potty, Fisher-Price 2-in-1 Portable Potty, and the Sesame Street Elmo Adventure Potty Chair (which is what we have, pictured in the cover photo at the top of this post).

• She demonstrates a pattern of being able to stay dry for about two hours or more at a time. This means her bladder muscles are mature enough to hold potty for that long.

• She can pull down her pants and even remove her diaper fairly independently. Not totally necessary, but extremely helpful in moving toward toilet independence.

• She demonstrates interest in watching and imitating others’ bathroom-related actions. This translates into MOTIVATION, which is a huuuuuuuge part of potty training.

• She can follow basic directions.

*The above-listed skills tend to develop between 1-2 years of age.

• She communicates the need to go before it happens. This can be done through words, posture, or facial expression. Many kids I’ve worked with will often hide in a corner or turn away from others when they feel the need to poop (just before they start grunting and working hard, if you know what I mean!). It’s really cute and pretty amusing. However, some children with sensory or developmental issues lack the internal physical awareness that sends the signal from the bladder to the brain that the bladder is full and needs to be emptied. This lack of internal communication makes these kiddos very accident prone in the potty domain; they may need a more regimented potty schedule as opposed to relying on them knowing and communicating when they need to go.

• She wets her diaper at consistent intervals.

*The above-listed skills tend to develop between 2-3 years of age.

If you nodded your head in agreement to most of the above-stated milestones, then your child may be ready for potty training! Try your best to choose a potty training time frame that is relatively stable and calm (do those even exist in the parenting world???). What I mean is, avoid beginning the potty training process just before or during a big transition such as a move, right before or after the addition or return of a family member, etc. This will help you and your kiddo maintain as much consistency and follow-through as possible.

Here are some additional milestones to keep in mind as you continue on your potty adventures:

• Seats self on toilet and uses it independently.

• Attempts but may need help with wiping, fasteners, and difficult clothing.

• Independent toileting. She can tear the toilet paper, flush, wash hands, and manage her clothing on her own.

*The above-listed skills tend to develop between 3-5 years of age.

Still unsure about whether your child is ready for potty training? Take a quick online quiz measuring your child’s potty training readiness by clicking here.

Looking for more info on exactly how to potty train your kiddo? Check out these resources:

From the Mayo Clinic – Potty Training: How to Get the Job Done
From Baby Center - Developmental Milestone: Toilet Training
From Growing a Jeweled Rose – How I Potty Trained My Daughter in 3 Days!

If you are really struggling with potty training, be sure to mention it to your child’s pediatrician. He or she may have some recommendations for you, especially if the issue is related to constipation and the need for a supplement to “get things moving”, so to speak.

Keep in mind, too, that children with developmental, sensory, or communication difficulties may struggle with potty training more than their typically developing peers. Occupational therapists and Speech therapists can be hugely helpful during this challenging time and can assist with the development of the motor, communication, and cognitive skills necessary for your child to succeed. And if your kiddo is working with behavioral therapists they, too, can also be a highly effective part of the potty training team. While I wouldn’t recommend seeking out OT, ST, or Behavioral Therapy for the sole purpose of potty training (we are not necessarily potty training experts!), I do think it is appropriate for these disciplines to address potty issues through goals that can be applied to situations related to potty training (such as following commands or routines, initiating communication with an adult, requesting help, managing clothing and fasteners, improving balance or postural instability, etc.).

For those of you who have already potty trained kiddos: What are your suggestions for identifying readiness and actually potty training children?

*This post contains affiliate links.

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Mama OT’s One Year Anniversary Giveaway!

Posted on March 17, 2013 by christiekiley

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{This giveaway is now closed}

MamaOT.com turns one year old this month!

It has been QUITE the year, filled with fun posts, new bloggie friends, and important real-life lessons learned along the way. I truly believe this blog has made me a better mom and pediatric therapist over the course of the past year. I am more more observant, aware, and passionate about my dual roles than ever before, and I have you, dear readers, to thank for that.

So, in honor of Mama OT’s one year anniversary and as a big THANK YOU! to all of you supporters, I want to give you free stuff! That’s right, Mama OT is offering a special One Year Anniversary Giveaway!

You can enter to win ONE of the following giveaway packs (but not both):
1. Baby Pack: for infants to young toddlers
2. Big Kid Pack: for toddlers to preschoolers

Both giveaway packs consist of items that have been mentioned or promoted throughout the first year of Mama OT via blog, Facebook, or Twitter. Some items in each pack are pretty unique, and all are designed to further your child’s development in one way or another. I hope the contents of each giveaway pack will benefit any of you who work with and care for children (parent, therapist, teacher, childcare provider, etc.).

The Baby Pack consists of:
-Plastic Links: featured in this blog post
-Rattle OBall: featured in this blog post
-Ring Stacker: featured in this blog post
-Reusable Baby Food Pouch (2-pack): featured in this tweet/Instagram
-Mesh Fresh Food Feeder: featured in this blog post
-Pullover Bib (2-pack): featured in this blog post

The Big Kid Pack consists of:
-Gymboree Bubbles with Wand and Tray: featured in this blog post and this one and also this one
-Kiddie Tongs and Colored Poms: featured in this blog post and this tweet/Instagram
-Beads: featured in this blog post and this tweet
-Pipe Cleaners: featured in this blog post and this Facebook post
-Dry Erase Crayons: featured in this tweet/Instagram
-Play Dough (4-pack, also includes play dough scissors, rolling stick, and shape/number stampers): featured in this blog post and this one and also this one
-Scissor Tongs (2-pack): featured in this tweet/Instagram

CLICK HERE to enter Mama OT’s One Year Anniversary Giveaway.

Be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of this post stating which giveaway pack you would like to win. And, hey, if you want to say something nice that you like about the blog, that would be okay too!

Mama OT’s One Year Anniversary Giveaway begins at 12:00am PST on Sunday, March 17, 2013 and ends at 12:00am PST on Tuesday, March 26, 2013. So what are you waiting for?! Enter for your chance to win, already!

Pssst, don’t forget to tell your friends to enter so they have a chance to win, too. Spread the love by sharing the link to this blog post (http://wp.me/p2GnLU-Jm) or sharing the Facebook link (http://bit.ly/WrR5HT).

Terms and Conditions: Entrants must be at least 18 years of age, possess a valid mailing address within the contiguous United States, possess a valid email address, and may only enter to win ONE (1) giveaway pack. Note that specific colors and brands of products may vary depending on availability. “Mama OT’s One Year Anniversary Giveaway” begins at 12:00am PST on March 17, 2013 and ends at 12:00am PST on March 26, 2013. Entries are not considered official if entrant has only commented on designated blog post but has not submitted entry via Rafflecopter. Entry is official when it has been submitted via Rafflecopter. Only one (1) winner will be selected. Winner will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. If winner has not indicated giveaway pack preference by commenting on designated blog post prior to giveaway deadline, winner will receive giveaway pack of MamaOT.com’s choice. Please be responsible — follow manufacturer guidelines for each product and provide appropriate supervision when allowing child to engage with products included in giveaway pack. MamaOT.com is not responsible for any injury (or worse) that may occur as a result of engaging with products included in giveaway pack. If you have any additional questions, feel free to send an email to mamaotblog [at] gmail [dot] com. Thanks, and best of luck!

Don’t forget to leave a comment stating which giveaway pack you’d like to win, then CLICK HERE to enter the official giveaway site.

*This post contains affiliate links.

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Diaper Rash Home Remedies

Posted on February 17, 2013 by christiekiley

Diaper rash is miserable. It’s a totally common irritation of the skin in the diaper region that can be caused by a number of factors such as a too-tight diaper that inhibits air flow, a soiled diaper left on too long, antibiotics being taken by baby or nursing mother (which is then passed to baby), too many acidic foods/drinks that irritate the skin on their way out, sensitive skin, etc.

Our 18-month-old recently experienced an unfortunate encounter with the worst diaper rash of his life and, after several days of treating with our go-to diaper cream, it became apparent it wouldn’t be going down without a fight. I decided to reached out to our community of Mama OT Facebook fans and asked people to share their best diaper rash home remedies.

You guys really delivered. What a thread of suggestions! And some even sent MamaOT private Facebook messages so you could go into more detail. Love it! Thanks to you all, our little guy is now rash-free and back to his silly old self.

So, you wanna know what people shared about how to cure bad diaper rash without using traditional diaper cream? I’ve listed them below, looked into why they work, and have even found a few twists to throw in there. Keep reading to the bottom to see all the great (and some totally unique) ideas. Be sure to like MamaOT on Facebook so you can participate in our community and, please, if you have any other suggested home remedies for diaper rash, leave a comment so we can learn from you!

Please remember this is NOT medical advice. These suggestions were provided by readers. Each individual is responsible for doing his or her own research before implementing any home treatment program. Keep an eye out for diaper-area yeast infections or other secondary infections. Follow common guidelines for home treatment and contact your pediatrician if you are at all concerned about your child’s diaper rash.

Diaper Rash Home Remedies:

» 2 Tbsp Baking Soda in the bath: Combats acidity.

» Plenty of time with a bare bum: Allows skin to breathe and eliminates moisture.

» Lanolin: Acts as skin/moisture barrier, has healing properties, can be applied to broken skin whereas diaper creams cannot.

» Coconut oil: Soothing properties, apparently can also be used to treat yeast because it kills the Candida yeast cell’s nucleus (can also be used for cradle cap and at least two dozen other things).

» Breast milk: Fights infection, soothes skin, can be used in nearly five dozen other ways as well. Watch out for yeast infections though.

» Culturelle: A probiotic that basically neutralizes the gut, combats acidity.

» Oil (olive, grapeseed, etc.): Creates protective barrier, soothes skin.

» Cornstarch: Absorbs moisture. Can mix with petroleum jelly to create paste to block out moisture. However, recent knowledge discourages the use of cornstarch on diaper rash because it can allow bacteria to grow. Look into it more before trying this one.

» Oatmeal in a nylon stocking in a bath: Put it in the bath like a teabag, soothes irritated skin.

» Regular flour (not enriched): Sprinkle it on the rash, combats acidity. Use browned flour to really knock it out.

» Motherlove diaper ointment: Contains olive oil and beeswax, safe for cloth diapers, also good for nursing moms.

» Boudreaux’s Butt Paste: Unique skin protectant formula.

» CJ’s BUTTer: Soothes skin, can also be used for eczema, rug burns, healing of circumcision, and more.

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Use a Pullover Bib to Practice Pre-Dressing Skills

Posted on January 15, 2013 by christiekiley

Yesterday morning my 17-month-old son was wearing a pullover bib (something I had never heard of until my mother-in-law gave us one) and, all of a sudden, he pulled it up and over his head just like he was taking off a shirt. As soon as I saw him do this, a light bulb went off in my OT head and I thought, Aha! What a perfect way to teach kids to pull a shirt up and over their head! Check out the video below to see what I mean (please excuse the mess!).

We pediatric occupational therapists often work on self-care skills with young children who struggle with them, including tasks such as feeding, grooming, and dressing. I’ll be honest, teaching kids pre-dressing skills such as learning to take off their shirt is not my favorite goal to work on in therapy because it can be really, really tough! For kids who have developmental delays, language delays, attention difficulties, or overall difficulties with coordination, sequencing, and body awareness, taking off or putting on a shirt probably feels like trying to wrestle an octopus. They can barely see what they’re doing and there are a lot of parts to keep straight — literally.

But by giving them a pullover bib (which can also be used as a pretend superhero cape!), you are naturally breaking it down into simpler parts so they can be successful one step at a time. Brilliant! And I have to say, just a few hours after I took this video, my son all of a sudden started trying to pull off his own shirt…it really works! Pullover bibs can be found for purchase online by clicking here.

Has anyone else tried this before? What are other ways you’ve learned to help children to learn to put on or take off a shirt? I’ve tried using visuals, including this one, but I don’t feel like they’ve been too effective. Please share your wisdom with us all!

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Hide Puzzle Pieces to Promote Fine Motor Skills {Photo Friday}

Posted on December 29, 2012 by christiekiley

Welcome to Photo Friday, a place where I share photos of therapeutic tools and ideas that can help boost your child’s development. Please give me feedback on my ideas — I love hearing how they go over with other kids!

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Looking for a way to make puzzle time more engaging and challenging for both you and your toddler? Try hiding the puzzle pieces in a pillow case or small box with a lid.

By hiding the puzzle pieces partly or fully from sight, you are kicking puzzle time up a notch by challenging your child’s tactile perception, tactile discrimination, and visual memory skills.

Tactile perception is challenged when your child reaches into the container without looking, and he must feel around to locate the puzzle pieces.
Tactile discrimination is challenged when he begins to feel around and try to identify the differences (a.k.a., “discriminate” the differences in shape, size, etc.) between puzzle pieces without looking. For example, the elephant piece is kind of round and fat, while the giraffe piece is relatively tall and skinny, and he must be able to remember and identify all of that through touch alone. Tactile discrimination is a HUGELY important part of the development of fine motor skills such as fastening buttons, coloring, and writing.
Visual memory is challenged when you ask your little one to “Find the elephant.” He must remember what the elephant looks like in order to know whether or not he found the matching piece once he pulls it out.

As we played this game earlier this week, my 16-month-old correctly selected seven out of eight puzzle pieces from the box or bag. At first I thought he was just lucky, but then he kept getting them right! You might be amazed at how proficient your toddler is at this challenge…I know I was.

You could increase this challenge for preschoolers and older by placing the puzzle pieces in a bucket filled with dry rice, beans, or pasta and then burying them so they are partly or fully out of sight. This challenges their tactile discrimination skills even further and is great for both the child who is sensitive to touch input as well as the child who craves it.

Try it out and have fun!

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Toddler Fine Motor Skills: Pipe Cleaner Colander {Photo Friday}

Posted on December 21, 2012 by christiekiley

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Looking for a way to work on fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination with your toddler? Or, here’s a better question…looking for a way to keep your toddler busy? Give them a colander and some pipe cleaners (both of which I found at the Dollar Tree), demo how to use it if needed, and let them go to town. You might be amazed at just how entertained they will be.

This activity is an ideal challenge for the child who is able to grasp objects with their whole hand or with thumb and index finger, but isn’t quite ready for more refined fine motor activities such as lacing beads on a string. As with many activities, taking the pipe cleaners out is easier than putting them back in, so it provides a natural grading of challenge for kids at a variety of skill levels. However, you might be surprised at how interested your little one may be at trying to place them back in the holes after they have been quickly ripped out.

Putting the pipe cleaners in encourages precise hand movements and higher level hand-eye coordination than lower level play skills such as stacking two blocks or placing pegs in a board. Encourage your child to hold the pipe cleaner with their fingers pointing toward the tip (toddlers aren’t expected to have a mature tripod grasp like the way adults hold a pencil at this point), as opposed to grasping with their fist and turning their arm in so the thumb-side of their hand is facing down.

Depending on your child’s age and skill level, you can add all sorts of educational challenges to this activity by involving your child in identification of colors, sorting and matching colors or sizes, and more. Try this activity out, save it for a rainy day, and prepare to (hopefully) be amazed by your toddler’s newfound fine motor skills!

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Reusable Baby Food Pouches: Squishy Snak Paks! [Product Review]

Posted on December 12, 2012 by christiekiley

I love baby food pouches! They are practical, healthy, and easy-to-use. I first discovered them when my son was eight or nine months old, and it made picnics in the park and coffee dates with Mommy so much easier…and less messy! Not only that, baby food pouches also taught him how to drink from a straw (he never mastered the bottle or sippy cup, so that was a huge accomplishment). Like I said, I love baby food pouches. You can read my review of them here for more info and ideas on how to use baby food pouches to promote the development of baby’s feeding/oral motor skills.

The bummer about baby food pouches though is that, at $1-$2 per pouch depending on where you get them, they can get expensive over time (although WIC does cover the ones that are 100% fruits and veggies, which is most of them).

So you can imagine my excitement when I received an email from Michelle at Squishy Snak Paks, letting me know she has created REUSABLE baby food pouches!! Michelle — a stay-at-home-mom to four little ones (the two youngest being twin boys) and self-proclaimed “Mompreneur” — created this product to allow her toddling twins to be able to enjoy her homemade purees while still being able to be independent. She graciously agreed to send me a free two-pack so I could try them out and let you, dear readers, know what I thought.

First, the specs. Squishy Snak Paks:

are made of non-toxic plastic and are free of BPA and Phthalates.
are durable and safe for freezing.
are dishwasher safe (place opened end on a prong on the top rack and put the cap in the silverware basket).
hold up to 1/2 cup puree.
come with a heavy duty zip seal (Michelle has had no reports of Squishy Snak Paks bursting open while being used or transported in, say, a diaper bag).
fit perfectly with baby food dispensing spoons, which are little spoon tips that screw onto baby food pouches so you can have portable puree-on-a-spoon (read my post about them here). You have to make sure there are no lumps in the puree, though, so that it will dispense through the little hole in the spoon without clogging.

Next, ideas for use. You could use Squishy Snak Paks with your infant (at least 6 months old/able to eat Stage 1 puree) or toddler by:

filling with store bought puree (Stage 1 or 2), yogurt, applesauce, etc. for increased convenience when eating with your little one outside the home.
filling with homemade smoothie if baby is not ready to drink from an open cup.
filling with homemade puree that is just straight-up fruits and veggies (recipe listed below!) in an effort to help your little one get more fruits and veggies without all the flavor they dislike. Hello, blueberries, apples, and broccoli! Have you seen those crazy combinations in the store?. You could even throw some quinoa or oats into that blender/food processor to give it some protein/added fiber. Just be sure the freshly-made puree gets consumed within the hour or goes in the fridge in a sealed container and is consumed within 24 hours. This may be a REALLY good option for those of you with kids who are picky eaters. You could send them to daycare or Grandma’s house with this and know they’ll still get fruits and veggies.
making a large batch of puree and freezing portions in an ice cube tray, much like you can do with regular homemade baby food or expressed breast milk. When you are ready to use, simply place two frozen cubes in the Squishy Snak Pak, set it in a bowl of warm water to defrost, or just put it in your diaper bag and go. This is definitely the most efficient and cost-effective way to do it!

Michelle shares three quick and tasty recipes on the Squishy Snak Pak website (Apple & Pear with Cinnamon, Avocado & Banana, Blueberry & Banana), but I was excited to experiment with my own basic recipe.

Mama OT’s Pear Spinach Puree for Squishy Snak Pak

All I did was toss a pear, a handful of spinach leaves, and a tiny bit of water into the food processor to help keep it smooth. I pulsed it for several seconds until it was smooth enough to dispense (much like a Stage 2 puree) and then went to work scooping it out. I scooped with a spatula from the food processor to a baby-sized bowl, then to the Snak Pak one spoonful at a time until the bag was full.This recipe made about one and a half bags full, and my 15-month-old LOVED it!

I knew he liked it because he kept signing for “more”!

I was brave enough to try some and, I’ll admit, it was good. Tasted like pear applesauce and I couldn’t even taste the spinach or feel its texture. Would definitely recommend this combo!

Three critiques of Squishy Snak Paks:

I wish there was a cleaner or more efficient way to get homemade puree from the blender/food processor to the bag. Not sure if a funnel would make things easier or trickier at this point.
I wish they stood up like the store bought ones when they are filled. This is a minor critique, but I like being able stand them up when I put them in the fridge as opposed to laying them on their sides. Like I said, a minor issue.
The Snak Pak does include a “fill line” so you know how much puree to put in there. However, my husband and I both missed it the first time because it is pretty faint and kinda blends in with the pattern on the bag. I also found that my bag overflowed a little even though I respected the fill line. Maybe it depends on how thick your puree is. So just be careful when filling and zipping your Snak Pak.

Would I recommend this product?

YES! Whether you are savvy enough to make your own puree, or you throw in something that’s store bought, I think Squishy Snak Paks could be a great addition to any family who wants their baby or young toddler to be able to eat healthfully while minimizing mess and maximizing portability. You can add on a dispensing spoon for the baby who can’t yet suck from the spout, you can use a Snak Pak to teach your baby or toddler to drink from a straw without spending a fortune on individual baby food pouches, and you can freeze large batches of puree in order to increase both the variety and volume available to you.

You can order Squishy Snak Paks by visiting Michelle’s website, http://squishysnakpak.com. They come two-at-a-time and would be a great gift for stocking stuffers, baby shower gifts, or even baby birthday gifts. Stop by and check them out!

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Fine Motor Skills for Toddlers: Scarf in a Box

Posted on November 28, 2012 by christiekiley

Toddlers are all sorts of curious, aren’t they? Opening cupboards, pulling books off of shelves, and digging through piles of freshly sorted laundry. Ahhh!

Enter: Scarf in a Box.

It’s not rocket science. And it’s not super original. But it is great for A) keeping busy little hands occupied and B) working on fine motor skills!

Pulling a scarf out of a wipes container is a great introduction to bilateral coordination (coordinating the use of two hands) and working on hand dominance (something that typically develops in the toddler to preschool years). While one hand pulls the scarf out of the opening, the other “helper” hand must push against the container and generate enough force to be able to keep it in place. If the helper hand doesn’t do its job, then it becomes much harder to get the scarf out of the box…of course, my little one figured out how to bypass this rule by using his little monkey feet to keep the box in place!

For this activity, all you need is a thin scarf and an empty container of baby wipes. I like the Huggies container because it has the rubbery opening to provide some resistance on the scarf.

You can teach your toddler to isolate the index finger to press the button and make the top pop open.

Ready. Set. Pull!

Time for a refill. Let’s put it in!

In addition to providing opportunities for practicing fine motor skills, the scarf box has also provided an incredibly natural, easy way for us to work on vocabulary and action words such as open/close, in/out, and pull. Plus, it’s been good practice for following one-step directions (such as, “Put it in!”).

This has become one of my 15-month-old’s favorite go-to activities in the past month. In fact, just the other day I found him sitting in his room — fussing and whining — because he had opened his own wipes container and pulled out at least 30 baby wipes in an attempt to find the “end” of them like he does with the scarf, to no avail. He was left surrounded by two huge piles of wipes and, well, it was hilarious.

Give this a try and see what your little one thinks of it!

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30+ Holiday Gift Ideas for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers!

Posted on November 24, 2012 by christiekiley

Well, the holidays are officially here! Are you excited? Or are you dreading the idea of trying to pick out gifts for kids?

Earlier this week I published three posts to help you out with lots of holiday gift ideas that would also be helpful for promoting the development of the babies, toddlers, and preschoolers in your life. For those of you who will be shopping for multiple age groups, I thought it might be nice to have all the ideas in one place. So, here you go!

Gifts for Babies (Birth to 12 Months):
(Click here for original baby post, links to specific products, and the reasoning behind those recommendations)

1. Baby gym

2. Play tunnel

3. Sophie the Giraffe

4. Busy ball drop

5. Books

6. Spinning suction toy

7. Ring stacker

8. Baby play table

9. Rolling drum

10. Baby push toy

Gift for Toddlers (One to Three Years):
(Click here for original toddler post, links to specific products, and the reasoning behind those recommendations)

1. Baby doll

2. Shape sorter

3. Mega Bloks

4. Puzzles with knobs

5. Nesting blocks

6. Books

7. Ride-on toys

8. Snap-lock beads

9. Potato Head

10. Stack and Sort board

Preschoolers (Three to Five Years):
(Click here for original preschooler post, links to specific products, and the reasoning behind those recommendations)

1. Beginner multi-piece puzzles

2. Easel and supplies

3. Pretend play sets

4. Tricycle

5. Toys for bouncing on

6. Lacing beads

7. Gymboree bubbles

8. Fine motor games

9. Books

10. Play dough kit with accessories

Happy holidays to you and yours, and best of luck with the kiddie gift shopping…feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

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Mama OT

Tips and tricks for those who care for children

Tag Archives: toddlers

From Rattles to Writing: A Parent’s Guide to Hand Skills [Book Review and GIVEAWAY!]

How to know if your child is ready for potty training

Mama OT’s One Year Anniversary Giveaway!

Diaper Rash Home Remedies

Use a Pullover Bib to Practice Pre-Dressing Skills

Hide Puzzle Pieces to Promote Fine Motor Skills {Photo Friday}

Toddler Fine Motor Skills: Pipe Cleaner Colander {Photo Friday}

Reusable Baby Food Pouches: Squishy Snak Paks! [Product Review]

Fine Motor Skills for Toddlers: Scarf in a Box

30+ Holiday Gift Ideas for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers!