Speech, straws, and nursing question

[Kaylis]

I'm puzzled by what to do about a suggestion from Mikah's Speech/Eating Therapist. She's been working with him on an oral motor straw hierarchy to improve his muscle tone and movements. He still nurses (after I worked hard to teach him how initially) and she thinks he is getting confused between the nursing type of tongue movements and the straw type of tongue movements (ie. not retracting it when he should). Her suggestion is to wean him so his tongue retraction improves more. His retraction is improving, just much slower than she'd like. I'm hesitant to wean him because he's very attached to nursing and just starting being very definitive and two-ish, and because I enjoy it most of the time. If I push the weaning now I'm going to have a helatious fight I think. On the other hand I don't know if it will get any easier or just harder (as it did with my older son). Help please! Do any of you have any suggestions? Thank you,

Kaylis

[ValerieC]

Although the longest I nursed a child was 15 months, I have to say, stick to your guns. Alethea nursed and drank from a straw for 7 months. She began her straw drinking experiencing at 8 months along with the rest of my kiddies. She didn't have a problem distinguishing between the 2. Actually, I found they were the same type of tongue motion. We began on a long straw tip and then gradually cut the tips back to a typical straw length, but the nursing I truly believe helped her.

Persistence!!!!

Valerie C

[momofrussell]

Does Mikah drink from anything else or JUST nurse and do this straw therapy? From a nursing standpoint, I think you should do what you feel is best. That is something personal between a mom and child. From a developemental standpoint, she might be on to something who knows. Sounds like she maybe iffy about her conclusions? Does she say if this really has happened with other children with tongue thrusts or other babies w/DS? Mikah is around 18 months or so? I think introducing a cup or something and trying to wean might be a good idea, developementally speaking. I would agree that the longer you wait, the harder it may be.

You have to do what you feel is best though! Are you worried about Mikah or you when you wean? I know that bond is a strong one. I nursed 2 of my 3. But, it might be time to go onto the next phase, ya know?!

Good luck!

A.

[Chris]

I say nursing is probably more beneficial than drinking from a straw. If you are sensitive to your son, he will probably let you know when it is time to quit nursing.

Chris

[Kaylis]

Well, Mikah does drink from a cup, though messily with lots of tongue thrust. He can drink from regular straws as well as the straw-type no-flow cups that are out now. The therapist wants him to only use (or at least mainly use) the special straws in the hierarchy for the moment for better results. He's on straw two (if that means anything to any of you). She's had lots of experience with kids with Ds and says this work now should help his articulation later as well as his general eating now. Her comment on the nursing was that it was a great idea and helped him alot initially with strength and coordination. Now though he's ready to go beyond what it can help with.

Continuing the nursing is for both of us, I think. For me certainly since I really shouldn't have any more kids and the bond is quite strong. My body doesn't like pregnancy (Hypertension, Preeclampsia, etc) and I'm almost 43. In a sense weaning him feels like a real end to an important period of my life. For Mikah it's also important for health reasons (he has asthma and allergies, an ASD and GERD) and psychological ones (security). Thinking on it more, though, it's mostly very hard for me to give it up.

I appreciate all the comments.
Thanks,
Kaylis

[Pat]

I nursed John-John for 18 1/2 mths & NO he would not take anything else. Would I stop for the opinion of a Speech Ther. NOOOOO way:o Nursing & drinking from a straw are the same type motion. When he stopped nursing he could drink from a straw in no time. She can't be positive that if you stop nursing, Mikah's straw work will become perfect. So what is she going to say then, oh well? Also nursing takes plenty of muscle work. Just my opinion.

[chrfath]

Veronica is 25 months old - she is still nursing and drinks thickened liquid with a straw. She practices with water in the tub. To me nursing far out weighs everything else. She has shown me with lots of stuff that when she is ready she will do things. Veronica would be super mad if I tried to wean her.

Good luck - I always say follow what your heart is telling you.

[kellyds]

I've nursed all of mine for at least 2 1/2 years. The longest was 3 years, 8 months. I worked REALLY HARD to teach Joshua (our son with DS) to nurse, too, because I understood that nursing was superior to any speech therapy or mouth/tongue exercises. No way would I give up the natural benefits of nursing to facilitate artificial exercises.

I know everyone else has said basically the same thing so far, but figured I'd add my two cents to give you a little more ammo.