Sensory System
Maybe you learned the five senses in school: sight, sound, taste, smell, or touch. According to the Sensory Integration approach, there are eight sensory systems that work together in order for us to adapt and respond to our environment. I’ll give you the more obscure three first… so you can get to why you are reading this ;)
Balance AKA vestibular sense
helps us register movement, navigate our environment, align our vision
babies use this sense
to help with head control
play
process position changes
process movement
later in development: roll, transition in/out of sitting, crawl, walk, align vision for grabbing items and attending to objects
Movement AKA proprioception
helps us know where our body is in space and use the right force when moving body or grabbing items, helps regulate us
babies use this sense to
calm withholding/swaddling
learn about their bodies (bring hands to mouth, head control, kicking, etc.)
reach and grab
later in development: sit up, crawl, walk, pull to stand,climb, help with dressing, learning to eat with utensils
Internal AKA interoception
helps us figure out how we are feeling in any given moment through body sensations
babies use this sense to
eat
communicate (hunger, wet diaper, gas)
learn about their bodies
later in development later in development: monitoring need for toileting, eating, and sleeping, identifying emotions, and starting to learn self-regulation
Sight AKA visual system
one of most complex systems
this sense is still developing as baby’s brain forms
helps us navigate our environment, process shape & color, and contrasts edges and shadows for us
babies use this sense to
eat
play
Interact and bond, with caregivers, eventually recognizing caregivers
later in development: reach and grab things, form joint attention,navigate environment as they roll, sit, stand, crawl, and walk
Click this link for a view from your baby’s perspective.
Smell AKA olfactory sense
helps us navigate the safety of food, as well as bond and form memory
babies use this sense to:
eat (breastfeeding and solids)
bond with parents
later in development: enrich memory and sensory experiences, explore food preferences
Taste AKA gustatory sense
Closely linked to smell
helps us navigate the safety of food, establish food preferences, and engage in social and/or cultural activities
babies use this sense to:
eat (breastfeeding and solids)
bond with parents
later in development: eat in a variety of places and situations (with other caregivers, at parties/family gatherings, etc.)
A note about exploring taste in infancy: there is research out there that suggests babies will have a preference for flavors that they were exposed to in utero. However, there is also research that infancy is also a time of exploration: exposure to a variety of flavors during infancy (either indirectly via breast milk or directly as they explore solids) may reduce the incidence of picky eating.
Hearing AKA auditory sense
helps us recognize people, navigate our environment, respond to danger, interact with others
babies use this sense to
play bond with parent/caregivers
later in development: learn joint attention and learning language
Touch AKA tactile sense
helps us safely navigate our environment, learn about it, complete tasks with our hands, connect with others
babies use this sense to
play
bond with parent/caregivers
eat
wear clothes
take baths and experience soaps/oils on their skins
register the feeling of soiled diaper
later in development: walk, tolerate play and care tasks with a variety of textures, learn toileting, learn fine-motor tasks like coloring and buttons
When thinking about your baby’s sensory system development, a helpful place to start can be spending time observing your baby.
Watch your baby eat or play. What senses is your baby using and when? When they go somewhere new, what senses do they use to explore here? Is there a sensory system that they consistently avoid or seek out? How does that compare to a month ago?
When thinking about promoting sensory system development, it’s basically about brain development. The systems are there, but the wiring is still developing for systems to work together. Experiences with different sights, sounds, smells, and textures in safe context gives the brain opportunities to fire and wire systems together. Outside and messy play are great tools for getting those opportunities. Holding baby and introducing experiences slowly are great tools for safety.
Managing your own sensory overwhelm is important for safety too. Babies can be sensitive to your overwhelm and may get the signal from your body that a certain kind of input is overwhelming. So tend to yourself. Take a break or get some calming proprioceptive input for yourself! You deserve the same feeling of safety in your body that you are trying to cultivate for your baby.
If you are looking for ideas on getting these opportunities for sensory exploration, Pathways.org has great sensory activities by age on their website.
Below are some age-appropriate activities from Pathways.org in addition to suggestions from AboutKidsHealth for exploring different kinds of sensory input (with some suggestions or examples from me)
Sight/Vision
0-3 months
Hang a colorful mobile over bed or playspace
High-contrast toys or play space (black-and-white toys or dark toys on light blankets or vice versa)
Show baby family photos or books. Point out the smiling faces to baby in a family photo or magazine picture for visual input on faces. Placing the photo/picture 8-12 inches away is helpful for baby to be able to see it (closer if younger, further if older)
Play in a variety of positions
4-6 months
Walk/play outside at different times to explore light
Offer balls with different textures and colors during play. Baby can watch you roll, drop, and bounce them and try it themselves
Read to baby, leaving time for baby to look at pictures
Play and hold baby in a variety of positions
7-9 months
Encourage focus on objects near and far. One way to do this is by using a favorite toy and placing it further ~2ft from baby to have it slowly move closer to baby or baby’s hand if they reach out for it
Model investigating shapes, sizes, and textures of toys and surroundings.
Hold the baby in a variety of positions and set up play in a variety of positions – lying on back or tummy, sitting, crawling, and standing with assistance. Using a step stool that baby sits at is a great way to encourage baby to explore depth perception as they will eventually knock something off and reach to get it back
Start to point things out to the baby when they are making eye contact with you.
10-12 months
Play peek-a-boo or hide items behind a blanket to make them reappear.
Play flashlight tag in a darkened environment to explore visual memory and vision in low-lighting settings. Your baby can sit on your lap as you direct a flashlight to different art or items hang on the wall
Have the baby look at their reflection in the mirror and tap their reflection while saying their name. You can also point out each body part
Smell and Taste
0-4 months
Give familiar smells for comfort
Keep baby nearby when you’re eating when possible
Anticipate feedings
Exposure to a variety of foods happens through breastmilk*, monitoring for reactions in case of allergies.
*Research suggests “exposure to a variety of flavors during infancy (either directly or indirectly via breast milk) may reduce the incidence of picky eating later in childhood” (Lam, 2015)
4-9 months
Introduce new smells around (babies will have a preference for sweet smells/tastes so starting with smells in that family can help.)
Keep baby nearby when you’re eating when possible, even at tables for meals if possible for exposures to smells and asses baby’s interest
Begin to offer age appropriate purees of iron rich foods, fruits and vegetables between 4-6 mos if baby is showing signs of readiness (SolidStarts is a great resources for telling if baby is ready: https://solidstarts.com/readiness/)*
6 mos: Introduce solid foods as baby is ready, think about adjusted age here vs chronological age (Solid Starts is a great website/app for ideas of foods to offer and how to safely prepare foods by age)
9-12 months
Experiment with softer foods and finger foods
Introduce foods that you and your family loves
Introduce new flavors in a non-pressured setting (like making food art or while hanging out with parents as they cook) or as a part of family mealtime.
Have family-style meals where all the food is on the table and people serve (or ask for help to serve) themselves
*note here: feeding and starting solids could be its own other blog post!l To keep it brief, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding until 6 months of age and delaying the start of solid foods to protect the breastfeeding relationship and a concern for obesity later in life. The most -up-to-date research finds no increased risk of obesity later in childhood from early introduction of solid foods into an infant's diet (Borowitz, 2021). That being said, breastmilk does provide all the nutrients your baby needs.
Hearing
0-3 months
Coo, talk, sing songs to baby
Watch how baby reacts to sounds
Play music at conversation-level volume
Intro squeaky toys or toys that make noise one at a time
When changing baby’s diaper, say the different body parts as you touch them
3-6 months
Imitate their babbles and coos
Engage in vocal play (saying “up, up, up” as you lift the baby up and say “down, down, down” as you place the baby down. MusicTogether classes have great vocal play exercises)
Talk to baby– narrate you are doing and narrate the day.
Point out objects while you talk
6-9 months
Start modeling two-way communication – when reading or talking with your baby, leave time for response.
Keep mimicking their babbles, coos, and vocalizations
Narrate what you are doing (or sing if you’re into that)
9-12 months
Bring in cause-and-effect toys with noise
Keep up two-way communication, taking turns in talking, playing, singing
Dance to music with rhythm, holding hands or hand-over-hand clapping
Touch
0-3 months
Skin-to-skin contact
Provide touch input during daily routines, naming body parts as you touch them
Offer gentle tickles or kisses to hands, feet and forehead while the baby is awake
Watch how baby wiggles or reacts to touch
3-6 months
Provide opportunities to explore several different textures (giving baby a chance to see it first can help when exploring new textures with touch)
Bring in different toys, blankets, fabrics
Allow baby to feel your hands when cooler or warmer
Watch baby is see what touch experiences are calming or soothing to baby
6-9 months
Provide a variety of textures during everyday activities (old kitchen items are great for this or doing a toy swap with other families)
Bring the other hand to an object while they explore it to encourage use of both hands .
Water play with pouring and/or stacking
Practice sitting or crawling outside on grass, sand, or dirt
9-12 months
Provide variety of textures and name them
Name properties of objects baby is touching
Put toys or blocks of different textures/sizes into a basket and let allow baby to explore
Watch to see if baby prefers some textures less/more
Encourage the baby to feed themselves with fingers (let them get food on self and face without wiping off until end of meal). Put different textures together on plate (crunchy fruit next to creamy yogurt)
Play touch-based games like pat-a-cake or tickle monster
Use bubbles to catch or pop
Offer water play in bathtub or water play table
Use shaving cream (or cool whip or foaming playdough) on table or mirror; practice drawing in it with hands, fingers, or feet
Play dress up
Balance/Vestibular
0-3 months
Vary positions
Vary movement such as rocking, swaying, slow bouncing while holding
Watch baby to see reactions to various movements or speeds of movement, which ones help to calm vs. alert (wake up) the baby. Very gentle jiggling can be a fun one while the baby is lying down. Some babies find it wakeful at first and then calming, some babies find it just plain calming. W
Roll baby side-to-side for diaper changes
3-6 months
Lift/bounce gently up and down, swing side to side; slow rhythmical movement
Use rocking to calm vs. spinning or active/vigorous movement to 'wake up'
Give the baby the same verbal cue for movements if you notice they are a little more sensitive to transitioning between laying down and being picked up.
6-9 months
Safe environment for baby to move, explore, without bumping into corners of furniture or walls etc.
Use variety of positions to carry, play with, and take baby outside
9-12 months
Obstacle courses with height changes (needing to crawl up/down an incline)
Encourage various positions, such as crawl, lie, roll
Push-pull toys and toys that call for greater force (heavier blocks or weighted balls for rolling)
Gentle rough and tumble play
Dancing together to music
Linear (front-and-back) slow swinging to calm
Movement/Proprioception
0-3 months
Gently move body arms/legs together and then apart during play and daily routine
Swaddle baby for first 2 months (bring hands to midline at chest vs putting arms down at side)
Play and carry in different positions
Gentle squeeze of joints for calming
Hold or wear baby
Regular gentle massage with oil helps develop body awareness
3-6 months
Lifting baby up and down helps them figure out body in space
Gentle push/pull games with blankets
Hand-over-hand arm movements for dressing or model play (like reaching until they begin to reach by themselves)
6-12 months
Offer more input and heavy work to regulate nervous systems
Obstacles courses with variety of surfaces
Crawling through fabric tunnels
Encouraging play that needs change in body position (moving puzzle or toy pieces so that they require reaching, rolling, crawling, squating, or walking)
Encouraging crawling/walking on items with different resistances (couch vs floor, on grass vs packed dirt)
Internal/Interoception
0-3 months
Attend to and talk about physical needs, cuddle, keep warm
Attend to and talk about environmental input
3-6 months
Follow baby cues to link sensation of need to fulfillment of need (“You’re smacking your lips a lot. Are you hungry? Do you want to eat?”)
Attend to environment to ensure comfort and
Start to establish and talk about routines (“We always eat before bed” or “I can see you’re not
6-9 months
Narrate your body feelings via “Interoception Talk” (this is a concept developed by Kelly Mahlr, some great examples from her website: “My hand feels warm when you hold it; My cheek feels wet when you kiss it; My breathing feels fast when I run with you.”)
Consistent routine when possible to start to link biological needs to the cycle of the day
Offer teethers, chew toys for sensation of oral discomfort
9-12 months
Narrate your body feeling via “Interoception Talk”
Encourage your baby’s “Interoception Attention” (again, Kelly Mahler concept, basically meaning prompting your child to notice their body parts and sensations during an activity or routine)
Try to address discomfort either by talking about it first (how it may feel to their body) or giving options
Sensory play for older children: if you are a parent of multiple kids, here are some ways to introduce sensory play to your older child in low-mess ways you can do while caring for your baby
DIY light table: Older child can play in the corner during nap time since it’s low-light enough to not disturb infant sleep (before 12 weeks)
Light-up wand: older child can use to light different objects in the room, do pretend play, or try putting it against different objects if it vibrates too
DIY sensory blocks: older child can explore different touch input. Can use blocks from the thrift store and use old/damaged items from around the house
Link to instructions with ideas on what to use
Gel-bag art: older child can get exposure to tactile input of moving around gel or foam without the mess/clean-up. For bonus points, you can tape on the wall so they get input for their balance while moving hand to draw/write
Instructions for gel-bag with nothing in it
Instructions for gel-bag with items in it to make art
Rain sticks or tambourine: great cause-and-effect toys that gives input to the hearing/auditory system.
Link to a set of louder ones on Amazon if you have a seeker of hearing input but quieter ones are available
Vibrating wands: these are great for hearing/auditory input, and animals are top are great for children who likes to get tactile input to their mouth via chewing
Link to Amazon to buy online
Homemade aromatherapy playdough: older child (and baby if nearby) can get exposure to smells and mixing them while playing
You could always try to mix the oil in whatever playdough you have now
No-sew weighted tie-blanket: great to use if you or your older child likes a lot of movement/proprioceptive input but needs to stay still for something. Note: use this blanket sparingly and if using for child, it should never weigh more than 10% of your child’s weight
Instructions on how to make
Laundry basket race: great movement/proprioceptive input and you can have older child “race” you back and forth across the room if you’re needing to walk baby to sleep
Link to example of how to do
Fidget spinner: spinning these can fun visual input for older kids and it’s not too loud if you’re trying to get baby down for nap. Older child can change what goes on it for different tactile input
Link to how to make a Lego fidget spinner
Sensory-friendly events: if you are needing an event you can take both your baby and your older child too, sensory-friendly events usually a good option because the noise levels are lower and lights can be dimmer. Also great options for family outing or solo parent-child time with older child who is sensory-sensitive or sensory-avoidant
Birth to 3 Story-time Online: Tuesdays 10-10:30 AM
Multnomah County Library Sensory-friendly Story-time: Tuesdays at 3:30-4 PM online and Saturdays 11:15-11:45 AM @ Gregory Heights library or 11:20-12 PM @ Capitol Hill library Multnomah County Library
Sensory kits for older kids: if you would like to try sensory items, you can by reserving one and picking one up at Brookwood Library or Shute Park Library in Hillsboro. You can also trial one at OMSI by requesting it at Guest Services after buying your ticket
Sensory friendly movie showings: at Regal Bridgeport Village in Tigard on select Saturdays or Regal Vancouver Plaza in Vancouver on select Tuesdays each month, typically the first showing and $5-10 per ticket
Outdoors In Sensory Sensitive play time: Tuesdays 9am-12pm, $6 per child (for non-Hillsboro resident), $4 (for Hillsboro residents)
Mellow Mornings at Kids Club Fun and Fitness: Wednesday & Thursday 10am-12pm in the “Jungle”, $7.75-$15.49 depending on age, non-walkers are free
Sensory Friendly Swim at North Clackamas Aquatic Park: Fridays 5-7 PM, registration required, $4
Sensory Friendly Shows at NW Children’s Theater & School: cost and time depends on show Sensory kits at OMSI through Guest Services
Sources:
Borowitz S. M. (2021). First Bites-Why, When, and What Solid Foods to Feed Infants. Frontiers in pediatrics, 9, 654171. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.654171
Boyd, K. (2022). Vision development: Newborn to 12 months. Tips and Prevention. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/baby-vision-development-first-year
Hancock, E. (2017). This GIF shows what a baby can see every month for the first year of its life. https://www.businessinsider.com/what-a-baby-can-see-every-month-for-the-first-year-of-its-life-2017-1?r=UK
Hansen, W. (2023, February 20). 6 sensory friendly indoor activities for fun without the noise. https://pdxparent.com/6-sensory-friendly-indoor-activities/
Kilroy, E., Aziz-Zadeh, L., & Cermak, S. (2019). Ayres Theories of Autism and Sensory Integration Revisited: What Contemporary Neuroscience Has to Say. Brain sciences, 9(3), 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci9030068
Lam J. (2015). Picky eating in children. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 3, 41. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2015.00041
Mahler, K. (2023, May 10). Interoception and Occupational Therapy: Using the Eighth Sense to Support Meaningful Participation . Getting started - interoception for occupational therapy. https://www.kelly-mahler.com/get-started/interoception-for-occupational-therapy/
Pathways.org. (2022). Sensory activities for 0-18 month Olds: Sensory Development. https://pathways.org/sensory-activities-0-18-months/
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. (n.d.). Newborn senses. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=newborn-senses-90-P02631
The Hospital for Sick Children. (2020). Sensory development and suggestions for babies: The first 18 months. AboutKidsHealth. https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=3881&language=english
Welch, M. (2023). Sensory Integration Intervention[PowerPoint slides]. Creighton University Occupational Therapy Program. https://blueline.instructure.com/courses/1184317/pages/lecture-sensory-integration-si-intervention?module_item_id=12464663
Wistia.com. (n.d.-b). Baby Eye Development gif. https://mvfglobal-1.wistia.com/medias/dlq63g7nft
Contribution from Carrie Miller-Conley
