Through the years I’ve tried and tested out several bed ideas as well as sippy cups, utensils, utensil grips, bowls and more. My daughter has developmental delay, she is deaf, nonverbal, has cerebral palsy and she is 17 so trying to find products for her that aren’t specifically for a baby can be super difficult. Many products that are somewhat adaptive are made too small and when you have a teen, a baby or toddler spoon for example just does not scoop enough food on it. Anyway I hope this helps you because the search is real and it can be super frustrating when you can’t find what you need. I also like to keep things affordable because with our kids going to school, summer camps, or just getting out for the day with respite care, things can easily get lost or misplaced.
Utensil grips:
Ableware Universal Built-Up Handle
I have bought these multiple times and while they don’t fit the utensils I buy perfectly, they are close to what I need and great for smaller hands. They also have a rubbery grip and are a little weighted or feel that way at least. You can add them to the dishwasher although after several washes they can take in some of the soap smell so I now hand wash these by hand (keeping the utensil inside).
Scoop Bowls:
Dreambaby Scooper Bowl
While the ones I purchased are no longer available on Amazon, I did find this one and looks similar. Because my daughter sits in an activity/adaptive chair and tray to eat, the tray is plastic so I add a little water to the bottom of the bowl to make it stick.
Sippy cups:
Reflo Smart Cups
I have bought these several times. I love that they are smaller cups for smaller hands and the slow flow concept works great but I keep losing the plastic thing/slow flow thing that goes inside because they are clear. My daughter can also get a little fiesty at times so if she chucks the cup, water goes everywhere. Otherwise again I appreciate the thought with these and will most likely keep using these at times and just keep wiping the floor.
Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cups
I’ve been buying these for the last few years because my daughter doesn’t understand how to use straws or can’t squeeze some of the water bottles out there so being able to tilt and sip works better for her. I did end up cutting the rubber top on the edges a little to give her the ability to sip more water at times but with this, it takes away the non-spill concept so just a heads up. These cups are also smaller and easier for smaller hands to grip although they can get slippery if your childs’ hand gets wet while feeding. With this, when Birkley first started using these, I added a koozie to them to help give her a better grip.
Forks:
Humangear Gobites (I use these inside the utensil grips)
I keep buying the larger version when in need because the fork is curved and helps with scooping food. They are the perfect size for her mouth and since they are a heavy duty plastic, I don’t have to worry about them poking the sides of my daughters mouth if I’m helping her eat or if she’s trying to feed herself. These are also dishwasher safe but because I keep these inside the utensil grips, I started to hand wash these too. If you’re also needing to add these to a grip, I ended up cutting off the spoon sides with strong scissors so I could slide it in the rubberized grip.
Spoons:
Mayberry Tech Toddler Spoons – Amazon
(I use these spoons inside the utensil grips)
I’m so sad that these are now unavailable on Amazon but you may want to check back. The spoon and grip of the spoon works great for us and they’ve been the only ones that have been big enough yet grippy with yogurt and thick stews or bowls.
Safety bed (DIY safety bed – baby gate and mattress):
Summer Infant Custom Fit Walk-Thru Extra Wide Pet and Baby Gate
I posted about this a long time ago because so many were interested but since then, I have pulled down my old blog, Special Living Today, so I’m posting this again. (We are however still on Facebook and Instagram.) Anyway I came up with this when Birkley was around 4-5 years old and when she couldn’t sleep in her toddler/baby bed anymore. Living in Colorado and doing little mountain getaways at times or when traveling, I needed a bed for her that I could collapse easily and take with me in the car or on a plane. I also knew I needed the same bed for all scenarios because Birkley is a creature of habit like most of our kids are and forcing her to use something different just didn’t work for us.
With this idea, when you put up and attach the 2 panels together, you can create a single-size mattress rectangle so you can then add a single mattress inside. For travel, I use a single air mattress. On the bottom, for a little more safety or to make the bed a little more solid, I also use a bungee hook which I hook an both sides of the bed (on the gate) with the mattress on top. There is also a door on the one side making it easy for your child to climb or crawl out.
Again, I hope this helps you and your family and I’ll be adding videos to my social channels soon so be sure to follow us!