A simple ‘baby seat’ can help
the baby hold a good position
while eating. Here is one
idea using an old
plastic bucket.
Bend flaps out some (heat
to bend if necessary).
For other seating ideas, see p. 326.
FEEDING 323
REMEMBER: When feeding a child
with cerebral palsy, giving food from
above often
causes the head
WRONG
to press back and
body to stiffen.
It makes
swallowing
difficult.
Giving food from
in front helps
stop stiffness
and makes eating
and swallowing
easier.
RIGHT
cp
HELPING CONTROL MOUTH FUNCTION
The child may also need help in improving the sucking-swallowing reflex, and her
ability to eat from a hand or spoon and to drink from a cup. Sometimes these can be
improved by using what is called ‘jaw control’.
Jaw control. Before giving the breast, bottle, spoon or cup, place your hand over the
child’s jaw, like this:
if you sit beside the child
if the child is facing you
cp
thumb over
jaw joint
index finger
under lip
middle finger
placed firmly
under chin
(Gently and
firmly pushing
the chin up
is the most
important part
of jaw control.)
index finger
over jaw joint
thumb between
chin and lower lip
At first the child may push against your hand, but after she gets used to it, it should
help her control the movement of her mouth and tongue. Be sure not to push her head
back, but keep it bent forward slightly.
While you feed the child, apply gentle, firm steady pressure—not off and on.
Good positioning together with jaw control will help with several problems common
in cerebral palsy, such as pushing the tongue forward, choking, and drooling (dribbling).
As mouth control improves, gradually lessen and finally stop jaw control.
For more suggestions for controlling drooling and improving use of the lips and
tongue, see the section on developing speech, p. 314.
cp
disabled village children