Although the Maxi Cosi Pria car seat is highly rated, it has proven to be a difficult product for our family. The arm rests are located very high, making lifting a heavy and immobile child physically demanding for a caregiver.

Training a child to eat is a very messy experience. Full-coverage bibs are very popular, but can hinder a Special Needs child. The rustle noise and material on the arms can be distracting and can bother a child with sensory issues, keeping them from focusing on learning how to feed.

We had an unsuccessful experience with the trip trapp high chair. Not only is the seat difficult to clean and to assemble, but it is nearly impossible to get a Special Needs child in and out of the small and weirdly angled leg holes.

A table top chair is not recommended when feeding a child. There is no leg support for a child’s legs, increasing the risk of choking and the child fatiguing at mealtimes. A chair that offers a straight back, 90 degree knee angle, and firm foot placement is recommended.

From a physical therapy perspective, the bumbo puts stress on a child’s body in the wrong areas. It places a child in a poor position for their hips and legs. There is a similar product called the UpSeat, designed by a physical therapist - which better aligns a child’s hips and back when learning to sit.

Spouted sippy cups are not ideal when teaching a child to learn to drink from a cup. Occupational therapists much prefer a cup called the ‘Nuk Sippy Cup with a cup-like Rim’, which encourages proper jaw placement when learning to drink.