#293 - Sensory Processing Red Flags in Infants and Toddlers
by Jessica Hill, COTA/L & Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, ACJanuary 31, 2024
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Sensory Processing Red Flags in Infants and Toddlers
What are some things that we often see in infants, toddlers, and school age children that indicate sensory processing challenges?
We list out our top sensory processing red flags for infants, including colic, missed milestones, and challenges with feeding.
We then list out our top sensory processing red flags for toddlers which include avoiding playground equipment, covering ears for everyday noises, and avoiding messy play.
Finally, we provide our top sensory concerns for school age children, including any of the previously mentioned challenges plus big emotional outbursts and difficulty with reading at age level.
And of course we leave you with our tips and strategies at the end!
Your Top Sensory Baby Questions Answered by Pediatric Therapy Experts!
Toddler Sensory Q&A
Sensory Processing Red Flags In Infants And Toddlers
Experiencing occasional sensory processing challenges is a normal part of development. However, when these challenges become persistent and significantly impact a child's functioning, it could be a sign of a sensory processing disorder (SPD). Early identification and intervention are crucial in helping children with SPD overcome their challenges.
As parents and caregivers, it can be challenging to distinguish between typical sensory quirks and potential red flags. Below are some examples that can help you better understand the difference:
Sensory Quirks: Minor behaviors that do not significantly impact a child's daily life. For example, a toddler who likes to touch different textures or a baby who is sensitive to loud noises.
Sensory Challenges: Behaviors that may interfere with a child's ability to participate in daily activities, such as getting dressed or eating. For example, a toddler who refuses to wear specific clothing textures or a baby who cries excessively when exposed to loud noises.
Red Flags: Persistent behaviors that significantly impact a child's daily life. For example, a child who refuses to wear clothing with tags or seams or a baby who becomes extremely distressed and irritable in noisy environments.
Infancy To Early Toddlerhood
From birth to 18 months, children often show sensory cues. Here are important signs to watch for if these behaviors continue beyond the 18-month milestone:
Struggles with latching during feeding, commonly linked to issues like tongue tie or lip tie.
Frequently gagging or spitting up due to specific food textures.
Necessitating a particular sleep sack, precise room temperature, total darkness, or a sound machine set at a specific volume for optimal sleep.
Sensitivity to specific fabric textures.
Heightened reactions to sudden touch and noise.
Expressing distress with loud cries and tears during hygiene routines, especially when reclined for bathing or diaper changes.
Strong aversion to being held or reluctance to be set down.
Experiencing discomfort during messy play activities, like a strong need to wash hands after each touch.
Not reaching key developmental milestones like rolling over, sitting up unassisted, and crawling.
Early Toddlerhood Through Preschool
This stage of development is crucial for children as they explore and develop sensory preferences. Look out for these typical signs of sensory processing issues in toddlers:
Frequent hesitancy or fear when engaging in climbing, swinging, or sliding activities.
Scooting on their bottom or attempting a clumsy crawl with one leg raised instead of using all fours to crawl.
Feeling anxious or fearful when lifted off the ground or tossed in the air.
Engage in high-risk activities like intense exercise and rock climbing.
Spin without experiencing dizziness for an extended period.
Engaging in vigorous spinning or swinging may lead to complaints, vomiting, or extreme discomfort.
Self-injurious behaviors include hitting, biting, pinching, hair-pulling, and kicking.
React strongly to loud noises like the vacuum or blender, or actively seek out or create loud sounds for pleasure.
Prone to being easily startled by ordinary events like entering a room, closing a door, or even a light touch on the shoulder.
Avoiding social activities despite repeated exposure or clinging to you at social events without growing more at ease.
Eating with mouths overly full and storing food in the cheeks can increase the likelihood of choking.
Persistent drooling and difficulty controlling saliva.
Maintaining the W-position while playing without shifting postures.
Persistent mouth breathing, snoring, or nighttime teeth grinding.
Struggling to differentiate hunger, thirst, and wet diapers.
Difficulty with toilet training beyond the age of three.
Experiencing frequent balance issues and falling off chairs while seated.
Sensitivity to bright lights or sunlight.
Putting non-food items in their mouth or persisting in chewing objects past age two.
Refrain from engaging in messy activities like hand painting, finger painting, or any task that may lead to wet clothes or a soiled face.
School-Aged Children
Children's sensory processing patterns may shift or expand as they enter school age. Here are some red flags to look for during this stage:
Reading and writing skills are below the expected age/grade level.
Frequent disciplinary matters at school. Do they find it challenging to manage their talking? Are they fidgety? Do they frequently drop items from their desk?
Difficulties forming or maintaining friendships and engaging in social events.
Frequent intense emotional outbursts happen over minor incidents, like breaking a pencil or spilling milk, lasting a long time.
Bedwetting persists past the ages of 5, 6, or 7.
Struggles with following multi-step instructions in noisy settings, often requiring frequent reminders to finish tasks.
Challenges with self-regulation and transitioning between activities or environments.
Intense aversion or intolerance to particular textures, smells, tastes, or sounds.
May avoid physical activities like using playground equipment, running, jumping, or climbing due to fear of heights, motion intolerance, or balance issues.
Difficulties with fine motor skills: gripping a pencil, cutting with scissors, tying shoelaces, and buttoning clothes.
Persistent difficulty with motor planning and praxis, leading to struggles with activities like riding a bike, tying shoes, or using utensils.
Needs assistance with personal hygiene tasks like brushing teeth, grooming, dressing, and using grooming tools.
Overreacting to minor head bumps or falls or refusing physical contact due to hypersensitivity.
Next Steps
Monitor your child's sensory preferences as they grow, and don't hesitate to seek professional assistance if necessary. Understanding sensory processing disorders can empower you to effectively support your child's overall well-being.
Early intervention and therapy offer the best chance for managing sensory preferences and promoting quality sleep. Remember, each child is unique and deserves to reach their full potential with love, patience, and caregiver support.
Watch Our Infant Q&A - Your Top Sensory Baby Questions Answered by Pediatric Therapy Experts
BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double check all of our facts but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science and art. One doctor / therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views and opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health related difficulties and what we have found to be beneficial that will be as evidenced based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.
Jessica Hill, COTA/L & Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, AC
Rachel Harrington, COTA/l, AC, CPRCS, and Jessica Hill, COTA/L, CPRCS are Harkla's in-house Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA) and Certified Primitive Reflex Clinical Specialists. They have been working with children for over 6 years in outpatient settings. They specialize in creating easy-to-digest, actionable content that families can use to help their child's progress at home.
Jessica and Rachel are the in-house experts, content creators, and podcast hosts at Harkla! To learn more about Jessica and Rachel, visit the Harkla About Us Page.
Make sure to listen to their weekly podcast, All Things Sensory by Harkla for actionable, fun advice on child development.
