SPD?

[CakeOClock123]

I'm worried about my 1 year old. For months she has always been on the go. Non stop. She can't really sit still.

She's always got to be touching, chewing or kicking something and likes going through my legs when I'm stood up. Also constant fidgeting. Even when bf to sleep she fidgets and kicks and nips me.

I looked up about spd previously but put it out of my mind after dp said there is no issue.

However I'm well and truly exhausted looking after her and I know you shouldn't compare but her behaviour seems different to other babies at baby group.

They are content to sit with a toy where as my dd has got to touch and chew everything, sometimes repetitively.

Am I barking up the wrong tree here and being a neurotic first time mum or is this normal toddler behaviour.

Many thanks.

Thanks very much. I've had a quick look through and I'm worried. I'm seeing the hv soon so I'm going to speak to her about it. Although sadly I think she will brush my concerns away.

Can be pretty normal for a child this age as they maybe cuttting theyre back teeth and they like things to chew on.

They might brush you off because your dd is young still.

But keep a diary of what concerns you. It will be good evidence in the future, if there is more going on. 'Out of Sync Child' and the Fact Files linked to on the SPD support thread are good resources to help you identify things that are out of the norm.

Thanks. I think I'll order that book. I've nearly read through the support thread and have been adding products into my Amazon basket in case they might be useful as she gets older.

Please could anyone tell me how the spd presented itself in their toddler?

SPD doesn't usually present on its own so it's sometimes difficult to untangle the SPD behaviour from the other co-morbids and at that age, whatever is just the usual infant and toddler behaviour. This is from memory because it's just over 20 years ago (where does the time go?) and in those days I just was spun the fussy/overprotective/helicopter mother line by everyone and she wasn't dxd with SPD by an OT until age 11.

The sensory behaviours were mostly:-

• When put in the cot, she'd put her foot between the bars and rock herself to sleep.
• Terrified of loud noises like being in the buggy beside a lorry or a diesel car with their engines running or if we had the music on fairly loud at home or used the vacuum cleaner near her, she would put hands over ears and scream. Later that would turn into bolting away from the noise in a blind panic.
• Couldn't bear her hair being brushed or combed, a Tangle Teezer bought when she was 19 was the first time she didn't flinch or cry when I brushed her hair.
• Always wanted cuddles.
• Very reactive to food tastes and textures.
• Hands always busy, fidgeting, stroking, touching.
• If queuing anywhere in the buggy, she'd kick the person in front.
• When walking, she'd hold her arm out to try to touch anyone who walked past.
• In shops she'd touch everything she could reach.
• Never thumb-sucked but used index finger to suck and chew.
• Irrational fear of all men except her Dad, I wondered if it was their deeper voices.
• Extremely irritated by labels, seams and scratchy clothes.
• Loved all sorts of hats, perhaps it reduced scalp sensitivity?
• Would cover a soft toy's eyes with its fur, never liked to see their eyes. If a toy "looked" at her, she'd cover her own eyes and be distressed. Took me quite a while to work that one out!
• Hated being barefoot outdoors on grass or sand.

Sensory issues can be hard to spot as some are seeking and others are defensive.

Thank you very much for that information. There are a few things I can identify with regarding my dd.

I went out to the shops today and felt really sad watching a lady and her baby, who just sat there in the trolley. I have to strap my dd down with reins, give lots of distractions and even then she's still trying to get out and touch everything. It's stressful trying to keep her safe all the time.

When you're looking at that 'perfect' toddler, I'm sure her Mum would tell you it's not so rosy on her side of the fence, maybe she's been up all night with her screaming

There's a table somewhere online for weighted blankets which can give sensory input, i.e.what weight to use per weight of child. I'd be tempted to take some of the stuffing out of one of your dd's soft toys and replace with a cotton bag containing rice or lentils or dried beans of some description so the toy weighs about the same as an age/size appropriate weighted blanket, then pop that toy on your daughter's knee when she's in the supermarket trolley. The new filling would hopefully settle her a little because of its weight and its noise when squished could be a distraction. A strap to keep it on the trolley may be a good idea too.

You're lucky that there's so much info and support available these days, when my dd was your dd's age, Google didn't exist

Sorry for late reply.

Yes indeed, the Mum's probably been up all night with the 'perfect' toddler screaming I'll have to try remember that!

Thanks again for your advice - I've found the calculation online to work out how much weight of beans etc to use to put in a toy. It's quite a lot actually! Around 1.3kg for a 18lb baby! I'm hoping that it makes her a bit happier to sit still in her high chair for meals and in the shopping trolley.

Yes we are definitely more advantaged now with the Internet and all the information available. It must have been really tough for you and your dd when it wasn't like it is nowadays.

How is your dd doing? Has she adapted and adjusted to accept the spd as part of her life?

I'm a bit worried about my dd going to school, with her not being able to sit still and wanting to touch everything. Also she doesn't seem to know her own strength and has hurt me, other babies and the cats. Worried about her socially I suppose, I'd hate for kids not to want to play with her because she's too rough.

It isn't necessarily a problem n school. My ds has SPD and is able to sit still in class, he is like a whirlwind at home to compensate mind you!

And if you have poor social skills you can be taught, there are lots of good childrens books about being a good friend, sharing, saying sorry etc. Lots of exercise, trampolining etc helps to get the rough and tumble out.

Thank you that's good to know.

Do you mind if I ask what your ds was like as a toddler? Sometimes I think I'm over anxious and my dd's behaviour is normal toddler behaviour. Yet other times I feel her behaviour is extreme.

As well as other things, she constantly pushes into me with her body and head and has to touch everything.

There's no middle ground either; she's either asleep or awake and on the go. Straight away when she wakes up. I'm exhausted but I'm not sure if this is how toddlers are.
Many thanks.