Learning to Eat. Week Three

More Playing Ta games during the week. Still not coming naturally and really need to work to get a response. Lots of other babble and vocalisation though.

We bought a blow up lion during the past fortnight and this is fun for a wrestle and something for him to assert himself with.

This week at the speechy it was suggested to go back to fluids only on a spoon. No puree. Stock or other flavoursome liquid only. He seems to like chicken broth and beef stock so that is good. The other suggestion was Wizz Fizz and red skins. The reason for this and the stock is to increase saliva and to get the swallowing action hapening intentionally. He sounds like he is swallowing but he is not pursing his lips closed. He is sticking his tongue out. need to imitate some more lip smacking action. He doesn't seem to mind wizz fizz if we can get it in his mouth. Haven't tried red skins yet.

Teeth cleaning was the other thing we looked at. He seemed to be pretty calm and allow me to stick my finger in his mouth and run it over his teeth. I did this with and without toothpaste. I held him sitting up, holding one arm and having him hold an interesting toy in the other hand, while the musical bunny he was holding sang and buzzed. Still need to work on routine for this and slowly introduce teh toothbrush as he becomes comfortable with sitting and having my finger in his mouth. Ususally teeth cleaning is a terrifying battle for both of us. He has the look of fear in his eyes, we were having to restrain him and I am sure he thought we were going to suction him or put an NG tube in. He would wriggle so much that it must have hurt or been very unpleasant having the brush in his mouth so hastily. He is enjoying holding onto an electric toothbrush and occasionally he'll pop it into his mouth for a bit but he is also using it as a hairbrush.