Hesperian Health Guides
Self-Feeding Suggestions for the Child with Cerebral Palsy
HealthWiki > Disabled Village Children > Chapter 36: Feeding > Self-Feeding Suggestions for the Child with Cerebral Palsy
The less-used arm pulls up and back or moves about.
Head twists to side and back.
Child has a weak, awkward grip, and poor control of arm movement.
Whole body stiffens backward.
| SUGGESTIONS | ||
| Help the child to control arm at shoulder. | Help him learn to hold the spoon firmly. | |
 Have the child hold his hand, first on a post, later on a dish. |
 |
 |
| WRONG | BETTER | |
 | ||
| Straighten his hand by turning it out gently from the base of the thumb. | ||
| Sometimes you can help her with head control by gently pressing one hand flat against her chest. | Raising the table may make it easier for some children. | Where the custom is to eat sitting on the floor, a child may be helped by making a low table out of a box. |
 |
 |
 |
| A child who has difficulty controlling her hand for eating may gain better control by resting her elbow on the table. | Sometimes you can help the child avoid twisting to one side by bending the less-used arm across the belly, and turning the palm up. |
| When head and body are difficult to control, it may help to sit on a bench or log in a ‘riding’ position. | A child who has trouble controlling a cup with one hand can often do better if the cup has 2 handles. | ||
| If he sits with a rounded back, it may help to support the lower back. |  |
 |
 |
| Ask a local potter to make one. | |||
This page was updated:04 Apr 2024