Needs ideas for oral sensory input for DS please!

[APToddlerMama]

Our OT is suggesting that we need to provide DS who is 2.5 some things to eat/chew on for some sensory input.  She wants things like licorice, taffy, etc.  We do a GFCF diet, plus yeast free, no corn, soy, artificial colors/flavors. Does anyone have any suggestions on food that could provide this that isn't colored bright red or filled with high fructose corn syrup?  Thanks in advance!

[lillianava]

Perhaps try tough meats...   My thoughts are along the lines that you can prob make some type of sticky candy without the added foods that your family does not eat.  Perhaps look into some type of candy making sites Im sure that there may be something you are seeking along those lines

[lillianava]

ive been giving this alot of thought....  what about jerky?

[theresa1]

small pieces of dried fruit, mango, papaya, etc.

[Tigerle]

Does it have to be food? How about chew toys and chewing tubes? using an electric toothbrush for oral stimulation? 

DS likes to chew up uncooked spaghetti. Your DS might be a little young still for that one, but I'm sure there are gf options.

[anj_rn]

There are tons of oral stim things out there for chewing, Beyond Play and especialneeds.com both have a ton of stuff.  For chewy, I think dried fruits like apples, peaches, nectarines.  Can you plan an afternoon to wander through your local whole food store?  I have found a ton of ideas just meandering through looking for something  (although I am usually looking for foods to blend).

[APToddlerMama]

Lots of good ideas that I hadn't thought of!  Unfortunately, I went to the grocery store today and all the dried fruit had either sulfites or some sort of oil that DS is actually allergic too.  Same with the jerky--he is allergic to soy which was in everything.  I think if I look hard enough though, I should be able to find some place that sells this all plain, or maybe I will buy a dehydrator.  The stainless steel ones are just super expensive and I don't want to use the plastic ones. 

Oh, and he does have the vibrating toothbrush, chewy tubes, etc., but she wants this to be actual food for some reason.  Chewy tubes, etc, don't seem to keep his interest.  Thanks everyone!  Any other ideas would be appreciated too!

[Bird Girl]

You don't have to buy a dehydrator in order to make dried foods--you can use your oven. Just set it to the lowest possible temperature (mine is 200 degrees, for example) and put the food in for a few hours. If you have a convection setting that blows the air around, that will speed the drying time, but you don't need that, either. I often elevate the food off the baking sheet by putting a cooling rack in the baking sheet, then setting the food on top of the cooling rack.

Hope that helps.

[APToddlerMama]

Originally Posted by Bird Girl 

You don't have to buy a dehydrator in order to make dried foods--you can use your oven. Just set it to the lowest possible temperature (mine is 200 degrees, for example) and put the food in for a few hours. If you have a convection setting that blows the air around, that will speed the drying time, but you don't need that, either. I often elevate the food off the baking sheet by putting a cooling rack in the baking sheet, then setting the food on top of the cooling rack.

Hope that helps.

Really?  That is great news!  What have you made?
 

[Bird Girl]

I've dried apple rings and coconut pieces, (and tomatoes, but they're not really a snack food) but really, any fruit would be easy to do. If you cut it into rings or slices, it will dry more quickly.

A friend of mine made beef jerky--I think she just googled for a recipe--and it was very good, but I haven't made it myself.

Just keep checking to see that it's the dryness/consistency that you want, and you are good to go.

[APToddlerMama]

Thanks Bird Girl! I will give it a try!