Cooing over Communication

One minute they are crying, the next they are conversing! 

Communication development begins at birth. From the time your precious newborn gives their first cry, they start learning all about language, communication, and connecting with the world around them. Babies have “conversations” through their cries, facial expressions and body language long before the arrival of their first words. The development of language takes place through the encouraging and loving interactions young children have with the people in their lives. It is through responsive and repetitive processes that young children learn how to communicate. 

Why do baby’s communication abilities matter?

Communication skills that are learnt in the first year of life are what set the bar for success in many learning areas. Communication development is directly linked to the development of reading, writing (spelling) as well as building social skills and forming relationships later on in life.

Language skills are divided into three main areas – RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE, EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE, and PRAGMATIC LANGUAGE. Development of all areas is vital for effective communication, and begins developing after birth. 

Receptive communication involves the ability to receive and understand information. Listening and reading fall into this category.  

Expressive communication is the ability to convey a message to another person. Speaking and writing fall into this category. Expressive skills are more difficult to develop than receptive skills. 

Pragmatic communication refers to social language abilities or the “rules” of language. These are vital for communicating our personal thoughts, feelings and ideas. It includes what we say, how we say it, our body language and whether the communication interaction is appropriate to the given situation. 

Language Acquisition Guidelines

By Maureen Wilson (Speech Language Pathologist)

AgeReceptiveExpressivePragmatic
0-3 monthsMoves in response to sound or voiceShows interest in caregiver

Briefly looks at people

Quiets in response to sound

Excites when caregiver approaches

Smiles and coos

Quiets when picked up

3-6 monthsFixes gaze on face

Responds to name

Vocalizes to expressions and sounds

6 monthsEnjoys being played with

Initiates vocalizing with another person

7 monthsResponds to name

Responds to ‘no’ most of the time

Listens when caregiver is speaking to them

Uses hands to requestDifferent vocalizations for different moods

Anticipates actions

9 monthsBabbles

Vocalizes to toys or pets

Dances to music

Intentional two way communication

Recognizes familiar people

Makes physical contact to gain attention

Shouts to attract attention

10 monthsPlays peek-a-boo

Points to request

Shakes head ‘no’

Waves ‘bye’ when cued

11 monthsRecognizes familiar people and objects when named

Looks at named pictures or objects

Pushes and pulls others to direct them

Reaches to request object

12 monthsIdentifies two body parts when asked

Gives objects upon request

Imitates words to best of ability

Uses 5-10 words (typically names and preferred objects)

Alters behaviour based on others reactions

Vocalizes to respond

14-18 monthsFollows 1-step instructions without cueUses gesture + word combinations

Uses exclamations – ‘uh oh’

Uses ‘Hi’ and ‘Bye’

Can roll toy back and forth

Points to desired objects

Comments

Protests

Acknowledges speakers with eye contact / response

18 monthsNod/shakes head for yes/no

Identifies 3 body parts on self or doll when asked

Understands IN and ON

Vocabulary at least 50-100 words (50% nouns)

Words are understood outside of routine activities

Names familiar objects on request

How can I help?

Communication skills can be stimulated and elicited from birth. It is so important to provide opportunities for your babies to “talk” to you from birth. Conversations with your baby might feel very one sided initially but your baby will still try to join in! You can encourage communication development by smiling, talking, playing, and reading with your baby. It will help them develop the communication skills needed to build meaningful relationships and succeed in school. 

  • Use a high-pitched, sing-song voice. This helps get and keep your baby’s attention while you talk.
  • Play with sounds. Get silly while playing and make sounds that connect with what your child is doing.
  • Use facial expressions and gestures to communicate the meaning of words.
  • Describe your actions throughout the day while performing daily routines such as changing nappies, dressing, feeding, and bathing your child. Pairing the same words with routine activities is a great way to develop language. E.g. “I am changing your nappy, this wet wipe might be cold!”
  • Describe the objects your child walks by when walking around the house / shop / outside. 
  • Encourage two-way communication. When your child communicates with you using sounds, words, or gestures, be sure to respond and take turns in the “conversation”.
  • Read with your child. “Reading” can simply mean describing pictures without following the written words. Choose books with large, colorful pictures, and encourage your child to point to and name familiar objects.
  • Expand your child’s vocabulary by building on the words they already know. For example if your child says “dog” you could say “Yes, that’s a big brown dog!”
  • Reword your child’s phrases. If your child makes a speech or language error, respond with the phrase in the correct form. This helps them learn proper pronunciation and grammar. For example, if your child says “Doggy big” you can respond with “Yes, the doggy is big”.
  • Remember to respect your child’s need to disengage when they become tired. Observe and end the conversation when they let you know it’s time to move on to something else. 

When should I worry?

It is important to remember that language development occurs at different rates and all children develop at their own pace. Guidelines are there to show you the averages, when these skills should be present and observable, but do not have to be necessarily mastered. Having a general guideline for milestone development can help to determine whether there is a language delay present. 

Often, parents want to “wait and see” how things turn out. However, if there is a language delay present, early intervention is the most ideal form of intervention. Early intervention can change a child’s developmental trajectory and improves outcomes for both the child and the family. If you are concerned your child is not developing language skills age-appropriately, a Speech-Language Therapist can conduct an assessment and provide you with strategies to help.

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How Safe Are Teething Gels?

Every baby is different but common symptoms associated with teething include, mild irritability, drooling, low-grade fever and loss of appetite. If your baby is inconsolable or has a high fever chances are this is not due to teething. Teething should not make your baby very sick but rather very unhappy.

It’s terribly heartbreaking to see our little ones in pain and we would do just about anything to help ease their discomfort. As a result, parents commonly resort to various teething gels. Evidence has shown that some of the ingredients in these teething gels can be dangerous and that teething gels or creams actually offer very little benefit since they get washed out of a baby’s mouth within minutes. In this post I am going to unpack these ingredients and explain why they can be so harmful.

BENZOCAINE AND LIDOCAINE 

Both of these ingredients are local anaesthetics and work by numbing the gums to alleviate pain. Whilst there are differences in absorption and duration of action between the two, their side effects are very similar.

One of the most dangerous and thankfully rare side effects is the development of methaemaglobinaemia. This condition basically leads to a reduction in oxygen in the body, which can lead to death. Children younger than two have a higher risk of developing this condition and therefore benzocaine and lidocaine products are not recommended for use in children under this age, unless prescribed by a healthcare provider. 

Another problem with these products is accidental overdose. It is difficult to dose these medications therefore it’s quite possible you can give too much. Inevitably most of the gel you give ends up being swallowed and if too much is swallowed this can lead to seizures, heart problems and even death. Too much of these gels can also numb the back of the throat and inhibit the gag reflex making it easier for young children to choke.

CHOLINE SALICYLATE

Another ingredient found in teething gels is choline salicylate. Teething gels, which contain this ingredient, work by reducing the inflammation and subsequently the pain.

This is the same salicylate found in aspirin and we know that aspirin is not recommended in children under the age of 16 because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but fatal disease. Because of the theoretical risk of developing this syndrome from teething gels which contain this ingredient, the United Kingdom has completely banned their use in children younger than 16.

As I have mentioned before, it can be tricky to dose gels correctly so there is also a risk of salicylate toxicity when using gels with this ingredient.

WHAT ABOUT “ALL-NATURAL” TEETHING GELS? 

With all the hype around the dangerous ingredients mentioned above there has been an increase in so-called “all-natural” teething gels. The problem with “natural” products is that they do not undergo rigorous scientific testing using clinical trials, which aim to identify any potential side effects. Some natural remedies have been around for years and whilst these herbs may or may not be effective for some, they can be dangerous for others.

The FDA has warned against the use of any homeopathic teething gels. The concern has mainly been over compositions that contain the ingredient belladonna, which is extremely toxic in large amounts. Investigations have found that the amount in the teething products exceeds the amount stated on the label. 

Chamomile and Marshmallow root extract are commonly found in natural teething gels. They are mainly used for their anti-inflammatory properties and do have a relatively low risk of side effects. But since you never really know what you are getting with these herbal products it is recommended you simply avoid them. These products are not tested for safety or effectiveness, and you have no way of knowing if the amount of active ingredient is too small to actually have an effect, or too large to result in serious complications.

SO HOW CAN YOU EASE THE PAIN?

There are a few simpler and safer methods you can try to ease your little one’s teething pain:

  1. Massage your child’s gums with a clean finger.
  2. Give your child a firm rubber teething ring that has been chilled in the fridge and not in the freezer.
  3. Give your child a clean and cooled damp washcloth to chew on.
  4. If you need to resort to medicine use paracetamol or ibuprofen (you can read more about these medicines in a previous blogpost of mine: https://www.oneaid.co.za/medications-for-pain-fever-in-children/ ).

RESOURCES

https://www.aappublications.org/content/35/8/32.1

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1009987-overview

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/safely-soothing-teething-pain-and-sensory-needs-babies-and-older-children

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-warns-against-use-homeopathic-teething-tablets-and-gels

https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/oral-salicylate-gels-not-for-use-in-those-younger-than-age-16-years

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/849029_2

https://medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArticles/Topical%20oral%20choline%20salicylate%20gels%20-%20safety%20in%20children%20-%20Aug%2009.htm

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/teething

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Autism: What is it, what are the signs and who can help?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of conditions that affect a person’s social communication, sensory processing, thinking and emotional regulation. It is a lifelong condition that has a spectrum of difficulties. Savannah Senior, Clamber Club Expert and Speech-Language therapist, sheds some light on Autism, the signs and how you can help your little one.

This means that a child with ASD will have small to significant difficulties in each area of the spectrum. Although many people describe a spectrum as a line, a circle can also be used. This can sometimes give one a better idea that a child may function better in one area and less so in another.

Sensory Processing: The ability to process and integrate all your senses and use them in a functional way. For example, to hear the teacher’s voice, seeing her writing on the board, feeling the pen in your hand = processing this information and understanding that you need to copy the teacher’s writing = motor movements of you writing. Children with ASD frequently struggle to process and integrate the sensory information that they receive from their environment.

Social Communication: Communicating with others and sharing joy in social relationships. Children with ASD are impacted in this area of communication as they struggle to understand others facial expressions and body language; are more literal than figurative; struggle to make eye contact; find it difficult to share attention together with someone else etc.

Thinking: Children with ASD may think in a rigid manner meaning that they cannot understand or accept alternatives when they were not expected. Thinking ahead may be difficult and new unexpected situations may be difficult. Routines often help with this. They frequently have fixed interests.

Emotional Regulation: This is being able to monitor and modify emotional reactions to situations that may distress you. If one cannot emotionally regulate, behavioural difficulties can often be observed. When you are well regulated, you can recognise when you need to implement a regulation strategy such as talking to our friends, taking a break when you need it, sleeping enough, exercising etc. Children with ASD find regulating their emotions difficult and this can often result in self-harm, physical aggression, or inconsolable children.

Behavioural difficulties are frequently associated with children who have ASD. It is important to remember that every behaviour is a communication.

The cause of ASD is unknown but it is thought that it is a combination of genetic and environmental components. At one point it was thought that MMR vaccinations caused ASD, but this has been extensively researched and has shown that there are no links between ASD and MMR vaccinations.

What to look for:

ASD comes in all shapes and sizes, in other words, every child is different! Not every child will present with the same signs. Here are a few signs to look out for, but remember that a child usually has a few or many of these signs and may have ones that are not mentioned here:

  • Struggling with non-verbal communication including: eye-contact (receiving and using); understanding and using facial expressions and body language
  • Delayed understanding and use of language.
  • Difficulties understanding figurative language. Children with ASD will frequently take phrases literally i.e. It’s raining cats and dogs. A child with ASD will look up to see where the cats and dogs are.
  • Lack of interest in other children. They frequently prefer to play alone or alongside children.
  • Difficulty understanding their own and other people’s emotions and feeling.
  • Echolalia: repeating words, phrases or sentences (immediately or later) without fully understanding their meaning.
  • Oversensitive to touch, light, textures or sounds.
  • Lack of imaginative or pretend play. Children on the spectrum will frequently play with toys in an unusual way such as lining them up, spinning or opening/closing a toy instead of playing with it as a whole.
  • Enjoying routine and structure.
  • Difficulty moving from one activity to the next or difficulty getting them to engage in an activity (seems as if they have poor attention).
  • Preference for repetitive activities and games such as lining things up, opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, putting things in something and taking them out etc.
  • Arm flapping, self-harm, uncontrollable temper tantrums and other behavioural difficulties.

What to do?

If you are concerned that your child is presenting with signs of Autism, seek help. It is best to contact your child’s Paediatrician who will be able complete a developmental assessment and either diagnose your child or refer your child for further assessments. Autism South Africa can also help you on your quest of answers! They can be contacted through their website: http://aut2know.co.za/.

Some General Tips:

  • Make things visual! Children on the spectrum are usually visual learners. Use pictures to help improve your child’s understanding of up-coming events and situations. This can include photographs, line drawing, visual schedules, showing your child an object/action while speaking etc.
  • When communicating, break things into smaller phrases i.e. instead of saying, ‘Put your coat on and go to the car,’ rather say, ‘Put your coat on’ child puts coat on ‘Go to the car.’
  • Remember that all behaviour is a communication. You can try deciphering what your child is saying by keeping a log of: the behaviour that occurred, what happened before this and how you helped your child become regulated again. Look through them to try find patterns.
  • Avoid figurative language.
  • Copy your child’s actions and play routines to enter their world.
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Sun cream for kids with sensitive skin! The lowdown on keeping your little ones safe in the sun

Covering a wriggling child in sun cream is tricky enough, but when your little one has sensitive skin it can be even trickier– you don’t want to use anything that’s going to irritate. That’s why Childs Farm sun protection products don’t containparabens, SLSs, mineral oils, artificial colours or anything that might make sensitive skin flare up. Plus if you have a super-wriggler on your hands, our spray and roll-on sun lotions make everything easier.

Why is sun cream so important?

Young skin is much thinner than adults’, so it’s more susceptible to sun damage – a risk factor for skin cancer. It’simportant that sun cream offers protection against both UVA and UVB, as well as an SPF of at least 30. In fact, Childs Farm sun lotions go up to 50+ SPF.

What about babies under six months?

Babies’ skin is particularly sensitive, so keep them out of direct sunlight all the time if they’re under six months old. (Anddon’t forget that cute sun hat to protect their head.) When your baby’s over six months, do a patch test before you try a new sun cream.

How else can you protect your child in the sun?

The Eyecare Trust recommends that children wear proper, UV-protecting sunglasses, not toy sunglasses, to protect theireyes from the sun. If your family’s heading to the beach, you can buy kids’ long-sleeved sun protection suits that block UV rays – meaning you only have to apply sun cream to the areas of your child’s body that aren’t covered. And that’sdefinitely less stressful for everyone.

Sun cream checklist

Childs Farm dermatologist Dr Jennifer Crawley gives her top tips on keeping your children safe in the sun:

  1. “Apply sun cream 20 to 30 minutes before going outside.”
  2. “Make sure you’re applying enough sun cream – don’t skimp on it.”
  3. “Don’t forget to put sun cream on those hidden places like behind the ears, and on the neck, shoulders and topsof feet.”
  4. “Reapply every couple of hours – people often forget to do this in the UK – and always after swimming.”
  5. “Try to stay out of the sun in the hottest part of the day, between 11 and 3 o’clock.”
  6. “Dress your little one in a sun hat, sunglasses and loose, breathable clothing.”

Childs Farm new formulation SPF 30 & 50+ sun cream for very high protection, is water resistant and protects young and sensitive skin from UVA and UVB rays, whilst keeping skin moisturised and hydrated. So you can relax while your children enjoy the sun safely.

Suitable for babies and upwards. Dermatologist and paediatrician approved as suitable for sensitive skin and safe for people who may be prone to eczema. Childs Farm unfragranced sun cream is registered with The Vegan Society!

The following Childs Farm sunscreens are available online at www.babiesafrica.com and www.takealot.com from 1 October 2019.

125mlChilds Farm 50+ SPF sun cream – Retail Selling Price: R238.14
70mlChilds Farm 50+ SPF roll on lotion – Retail Selling Price: R197.74
125mlChilds Farm 50+ SPF sun spray – Retail Selling Price: R238.14
100mlChilds Farm After Sun – Retail Selling Price: R111.42
125mlChilds Farm 30 spf sun cream , 125ml – Retail Selling Price: R238.14
125mlChilds Farm 30 spf sun spray , 125ml – Retail Selling Price: R238.14

*RRP is at the sole discretion of the retailer.

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