DownSyn Forum

Gracies mom · Posted: May 27 2012, 4:54 PM Post subject: Help! Is this a sensory issue?

Hi everyone, we're having afew issues with Grace at the moment and wanted your valuable opinions:-)
Grace is nearly 18mths old. She's always been a touchy feeling baby especially when having her bottle or is sleepy. She reaches up and touches your face or neck, and obviously gets a lot of comfort whilst doing this. The problem is this can and does quite frequently turn in a pinch, a hard pinch and she won't let go under any circumstance. This has lead to lots of tears from my other children and red marks and bruises. We've tryed all the usual forms of reprimanding, sometimes they work, but mostly not!
But now Grace has started to do this to herself and it's getting worse as every day passes! She will pinch herself in the face really hard, pull her own ears untill they go purple, she pulls at her lips! She seems really frustrated and it's terrible to watch. It can be when she's been told off or doesn't get her own way, also it happens more when she is tired. But it also happens totally out of the blue when you least expect it.
I'm started to think it may be sensory but to be honest don't really understand much about sensory issues or how I can help her!
She also occasional stims when pinching?
Anyone's advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Cheryl

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Cheryl mom to Hannah 10/11/94, Grace 30/11/10 ds, Stepmom to Ethen 30/06/00 and wife to John married Aug 06

TheBradyBunch · Posted: May 27 2012, 5:28 PM Post subject:

It falls under the category of "self harming". I would bring it up to your pediatrician.

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Mom to: Nicholas (May/02), Nathan (April/04), Charlene (June/06), Noah (DS, ASD) (May/07), Jesse Lynn (July/08 ), Tessa (Apr/10), Kaitlyn (Jun/12)

"Sometimes the things we can't change end up changing us"

lespring · Posted: May 27 2012, 6:40 PM Post subject:

One thing that comes to mind is the touching/feeling is developmentally appropriate around 6-12 months old. Now she's added the pinching part. Since you know she does it at certain times I would be proactive and set up those times so she can't do it. You could face her away from you when having a bottle. Or you could put a blanket over her to 'cuddle' but preventing her arms from reaching you.

When reprimanding, remember her developmental age and discipline appropriately.

When she does it to herself, what kind of reaction does she get from those around her? Do you run to stop her (giving it attention?) Because she's doing it at certain times I would be inclined to guess she did it a few times out of frustration or whatever, and got a fantastic reaction for it. I would, without saying anything about it and not giving it ANY attention, move her hands away and put something else in them. Something that is MUCH more fun than pinching herself. This will be a fine balancing act though, because if you give the wrong attention at the wrong time, she will be quick to put together than "If I do this, somebody gives me something really cool!" I would also tell your other kids that ONLY Mom and Dad deal with this and not anyone else. If they see it happening they should walk away from her without saying a word.

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~Leah~

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