Foods for Oral Development

At our office, we love to promote feeding with a variety of hard, crunchy foods. This is because it is important for the development of the jaw and muscle function. What comes to mind when you think of typical toddler foods? Maybe, applesauce pouches, mac and cheese, goldfish crackers. These foods are yummy and convenient. They may still be good to have in moderation. However, a lot of the “typical” toddler foods are soft and processed foods that don’t put the oral muscles to work. It is important to allow your toddler to get a lot of chewing practice as they grow. This chewing practice can assist with proper oral development which may in turn assist with preventing the need for later intervention (i.e. orthodontic work, sleep apnea, speech therapy). 

We want to provide you with some top foods for your toddler so they can thrive!

Veggies: carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, cucumbers, and peppers are just a few

Meat: strips of chicken, bacon, jerky 

Fruits: apples, strawberries, mangos, pears

Other: chips, crackers - should be consumed in moderation due to often getting stuck in the teeth leading to build up

At Building Blocks Therapy Services, our therapists are equipped with the skills and knowledge to help your child with their feeding skills. Please, visit www.buildingblocksgr.com or call (616) 570-925 to learn more about supporting your child’s feeding development. We look forward to building a relationship with you and your child!

Sources: Begin Balanced-Priya Bhasin

Let's Talk About Sippy Cups!

Sippy cups have become a common item in households with children. We get it, kids are MESSY!  We recognize that convenience is crucial and cleaning up spills is not enjoyable. Before you buy another sippy cup, let’s explore some other options instead that can help your child’s oral development.

Potential Impacts of Sippy cup drinking: 

As your child grows and develops, their swallowing pattern changes. As an infant, the tongue moves from front to back. However, as a baby grows, they develop a more mature swallow pattern where the tongue anchors behind the top teeth. Use of a sippy cup pushes the tongue down and a more advanced swallow pattern will be difficult to learn. This can impact growth of the teeth and can also affect the shape of the palate as well. This can also impact your child’s ability to produce speech sounds. 

Tips for how to transition to a cup: 

• Make sure your child is supported, have them sit in a chair with their feet touching the ground or high chair

• Let your child explore: be patient with them spilling, it’s going to happen. Let them play with empty cups 

• Model for your child how you drink from the cup, children learn best through models from parents, siblings, daycare providers, etc. 

Let’s explore some options that can help advance your child’s development of oral-facial muscles. 

Honey Bear Cup: Straw drinking can strengthen the lips, tongue and cheek muscles! 

Amazon.com: Honey Bear Straw Cups for Babies 1 pack, 8oz straw bear cup with improved safety lid design, honeybear baby cup straw, Leak-Proof & Food-Grade & BPA Free (AQUA) : Baby

Ezpz Mini Cup: Cup drinking is another option for allowing your child to learn a mature swallow pattern. 

Amazon.com: ezpz Mini Cup + Straw Training System - 9 Months+ (Gray) - 100% Silicone Training Cup for Infants + Toddlers - Designed by a Pediatric Feeding Specialist : Baby

At Building Blocks Therapy Services, our therapists are trained to support your child’s feeding and oral facial development. Our therapists can give you and your child the tools to encourage age-appropriate feeding skills. If you are interested in learning more please visit www.buildingblocksgr.com or call (616) 570-925.