When we first become a parent, we have to navigate challenges we’ve never experienced before. The baby who won’t go to sleep. The one who never seems to stop crying. The toddler who has a tantrum in the middle of the supermarket, at the table, in the car, or all three. However, while all these things test us, we manage to get by and find solutions to such problems.
Another issue many parents face is taking care of children with medical conditions. One common medical condition in children is dysphagia or a swallowing disorder. If your child has been diagnosed with a swallowing disorder and you don’t know how to help them, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve made a list of some tips to help you care for children with swallowing disorders:
Think About the Type of Food You Are Offering
Children with swallowing disorders often struggle to eat certain types of food. If your child tells you they are struggling, it might be an idea to consider finding an alternative food for them to enjoy. For example, if they are struggling to swallow mashed potato, you could offer them roast potatoes instead.
Change the Consistency of Their Food
If you want your child to enjoy any food, then another option is to consider changing the consistency of their food. You can do this by purchasing a thickener such as the SimplyThick dysphagia gel. Food and liquid thickeners not only make food and drinks much easier and safer to swallow, but they also allow your child to continue enjoying their favorite meals.
Don’t Rush Children With Swallowing Disorders
Children often find it harder to swallow food and drinks when they feel like they are being rushed. Thanks to this, it’s important to be patient and ensure your child is not rushed at mealtimes. Choose a time of day that is quiet and relaxed to give your child their meals.
Sit at the Table
Although it can be tempting to allow your children to sit on the sofa in front of the tv at mealtimes, this will not help children with swallowing disorders. Children who slouch at mealtimes are believed to find it much more difficult to swallow their food. So, make sure your children sit at a table when they are eating.
Make Mealtimes Fun
Children with dysphagia often feel anxious when it comes to mealtimes. This can make their dysphagia symptoms even worse. To prevent this from happening, try and make mealtimes fun and relaxing for your child. Get them involved as much as possible, put on some music they enjoy, and talk about your day to take their mind off their condition.
Encourage a Little and Often Approach
Many children who suffer from swallowing disorders find it difficult to eat large meals. If this is the case with your little one, consider trying a little and often approach. As long as your child gets all the nutrients they need, this isn’t a problem.
Looking after healthy children can be challenging at times. So, it’s no surprise that caring for children with medical problems is even more challenging. Thankfully, there’s lots of advice out there to help you care for children with conditions such as dysphagia.
