Love at first, Bite.

Does your child deal with an Under, Over, or Low Processing Sensory Disorder? Have you heard of such a thing? Or maybe you have and quickly think…Autism! Well, while certain sensory processing difficulties can be seen in autistic children. It doesn’t quite mean they are on the autistic spectrum. “So why am I mentioning this?” Well, because I am a Mom of an Oral Sensory Under-Processing child…

…“Gah, it all makes SO MUCH sense now!!” These were my exact words after a long 6+ months of trying to understand my child.

The over-excessive licking, biting, and chewing on non-food things. The random blank stares. The introvert personality. The temper-tantrums. Burying herself underthings. So many foreign actions that seemed to progress more and more every day. That there were so many moments where it brought me back to her colic days and I found myself questioning once again. Why can’t I soothe my baby?! What is making her uncomfortable?! What am I doing wrong?!

For six months I’d been so lost and confused. Dealing with this by myself and feeling so overwhelmed, but little did I know. She was feeling just as overwhelmed! Dealing with a world that’s so over-sensory. Trying to manage and process everything that’s going on. Oh, My sweet baby girl! I am so sorry YOU had to deal with this for so long by yourself!

So what is Oral Sensory? Specifically Under Sensory Processing. It’s where a child continues to put things in their mouth after the age of two, commonly reported alongside sensory issues, autism, developmental delays, and learning disabilities. They might continue to chew or suck on non-food objects. They might suck or chew their sleeves or collar, or constantly have a toy or pencil in their mouth. In some cases, they may also eat non-food items. So children with developmental delays may continue to use their mouths to explore objects as an 18-month-old would. So, despite on paper being older, their brains are still processing information at a much younger age level. Where they are still working in the sensorimotor stage of development and this is why they still put things in their mouth.

When this all started, I used to brush certain things off. While also correcting Sofia. I mean, I knew little kids like to put things in their mouths so to me it was “typical 1 1/2 yr old behavior”, but then after a while, it started to become NOT NORMAL. A few months in and watching her munch, eat or chew on the most bizarre things as if she almost enjoyed it. It was SO WEIRD! And when she wasn’t chewing on something, she was licking something else or biting me. So I really started to question her actions. Questions then became frustration. Frustration then became tears. Deep down I knew something was off.

There were so many “questionable signs” that it just didn’t feel right and noticing how it affected her speech in minor ways, appetites, and the way she would react, because of overstimulation. I got more anxious to talk to her pediatrician and when that ‘talk’ happened, Mama finally had some answers. I never heard of Oral Sensory before though. So as I dug more into this ‘Sensory World’. I learned everything I could. I even listened to podcasts and connected with other Moms and as I paid more attention to Sofia, everything started to make sense! I finally understood my daughter! I was filled with mixed emotions of gratitude yet guilt. I felt horrible yet relieved, but now that I understand. I am now able to move forward and in just a few short days we’ll be meeting with a pediatric occupational therapist. Sofia will be seeing her twice a week, so we can help that extra stimulated mind/mouth of Hers!

So as this new normal takes place. I continue to learn and adapt. I begin to understand her triggers and what calms her. We have our good days and bad ones, but one thing I am grateful for. Is that I couldn’t have found this out at a better timing, because even though I’m dealing with the anxiety of Zoe being in K4. Her starting school allows me to focus on all things sensory one on one with Sofia. So it’s safe to say God knew what he was doing.

Now, does this make my daughter any different? Absolutely not! She is still as beautiful and smart as she can ever be. Lately, her vocabulary has gotten a little bigger and she finally tries to say “I love you.” 🥺 She is simply amazing and this is only a speed bump in her life that I am glad to nip in the butt at such an early age. As this is something she should hopefully grow out of with lots of prayers and the help of her OT.

So this is my mom life update to you.

From my Mama heart to yours 🤍

I’m sorry I’ve been a bit M.I.A with the blogs, but thank you for tuning in and I hope to talk to you all soon!

⁃ Mama K.

Calming Techniques that Sofia loves:

• Being wrapped in a weighted blanket snuggled in Mama’s arms

• Crawling under a big stuffed animal

• Mounting tons of pillows over her. Honestly, anything that gives her some sort of snug compression seems to calm her soul and of course, keep mommy sane.

• Oral Sensory Chew Toys

• all the French Fries!