sensory diet when sick?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
sensory diet when sick?
1
Fri, 03-17-2006 - 12:47pm

So, Sylvia is sick again -- this time just with a cold, but WOW are her sensory issues out in full force. It's really been horrible for the past two days -- she's a wreck. I have two questions for all of you BTDT ladies:

1) Her sensory issues are at their worst when she's sick, but she's also not able to accomplish much of her sensory diet because she's not feeling well. What do you all do when your kids are sick? Just wait it out until they're better? Or do you push them to do their sensory diet even when they're not feeling well?

2) When she's having a sensory episode (particularly tactile defensiveness) she's out of control -- screaming and kicking and tantrumming and completely inconsolable. Sometimes this happens in her room but sometimes it happens at the dinner table, or when I'm changing Sebastian's diaper, etc. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to handle it. I know that she's freaking out because she's having HUGE sensory problems, so it's not really her fault, but I still don't know how to deal with it. Nothing seems to help. Sometimes I have no choice but to ignore her for a few minutes because I feel like I'm going to lose it. Then I feel horribly guilty. Sometimes sitting her down with a weighted blanket helps, but sometimes she's so far gone that that doesn't work either. Any advice for me???

Thanks!!!

Jennifer

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 03-17-2006 - 3:44pm

First, I would likely give her a little tylenol. It is possible that she is achy from the cold and if you add aches ontop of sensory issues it would be very bad. I can't even imagine something like brushing when I was achy.

Next, I would do sensory activities but very soothing ones more geared toward being sick. I don't know what her typical sensory diet consists of, but when sick I could picture more things like weighted or just lots of heavy blankets to cuddle under as well as lots of cushions. I would also keep the lights low and some soothing music on or background noise. I would also probably burn lavendar candles.

A warm bath with epsom salts or lavendar may help to sooth her as well. I would try to keep sensory assaults at a minimum, so if she is sensory defensive I would do things that involve lots of touching. I would let her wear her most favorite comfy clothes and not stress over socks or things like that. Let her be undressed and turn uup the heat a bit, same with any other particular sensitivities she has. If she has auditory problems it may not be the time to crank up the silly happy kid tunes.

Hope she feels better soon.

Renee

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