Tiny Bloom

Tiny Bloom is an early intervention to support parents in recognising very early signs of autism in their babies. It aims to assist parents with any concerns regarding their child’s developmental milestones, promoting stronger parent-child bonds, greater understanding of infant needs, and the cultivation of a nurturing neuro-affirmative environment.

Aims of the programme

1. Support parents to connect and attune to their babies

2. Support parents through the different stages of their baby’s development

3. Support parents with any early concerns about their baby’s development

Over 11 weeks, a specific topic will be discussed with the Lead Psychotherapist and an Occupational Therapist depending on the subject. Parents will explore subjects such as breastfeeding, infant sleep training, weaning, play development, sensory processing, and more.

The group provides a supportive network to share experiences and concerns, observe child development, and access individual support if needed.

Sessions encourage sharing routines and challenges, facilitate parent-child activities, and focus on empowering parents to support their child’s growth independently.

Delivered over 11 weeks with a maximum of 6 families, the group provides peer support through sharing experiences and life stories.

Tiny Bloom Stages

Families will be offered a one-hour consultation before the course starts to ensure suitability for the program. Each group will consist of a maximum of 6 families to ensure the environment remains intimate whilst allowing families to bond. All stages will involve an introductory session which covers the following:

– Getting to know the group and introducing the programme

– Discussing Autism, grounding autism in research, introducing Transforming Autism’s strengths-based view of autism

– Listening to individual thoughts/concerns and guiding parents to support

– Introducing the Tiny Bloom diary; myth busting; case studies

– Identifying topics of particular interest to the group

Then, depending on group need:

1. Post-partum recovery for parents with newly born babies

Designed for Autistic parents, families with an Autistic child, or any families seeking support and reassurance around concerns connected to autism.

The Psychotherapist and Occupational Therapist will assist with issues including colic, wind, crying, and head shape asymmetries. Parents will connect with their babies and observe potential early signs of autism.

Topics covered will include:

– Post-birth concerns

– Parent-baby attachment

– Feeding including latching on – Sleeping

– Babies’ reflexes

– Parent health

– Preparing for infancy

2. Infancy from 6 months

Designed for families already on the programme and those referred by Family Hubs, networks, or self-referrals.

Early autism-focused support will include motor and sensory development, communication, sensory play, feeding, and parent-infant interaction.

Supported by an Occupational Therapist, workshops will include:

– Baby’s motor development

– Baby’s sensory development

– Baby’s feeding including weaning

– Baby’s communication

– Parent-baby interaction

– Parent neuro-affirmative responses

3. Early toddlerhood from one year

Designed for families already on the programme and new referrals. Families engage in activities focused on communication, play, nutrition, and establishing healthy routines.

Sessions will focus on: – Play-based, child-led interventions: including role-play, sensory play, obstacle courses, and nature sessions to support communication and social interaction, with parents encouraged to create similar experiences at home

– Sensory-motor regulation: OTs will introduce sensory profiling, techniques, and sensory props to help children regulate

– Diet: supporting parents whose child follows a mainly beige diet, therapists will demonstrate how using play and mealtime routines parents can encourage toddlers to expand their dietary preferences

– Parent coaching: therapists will model strategies for managing meltdowns, teaching parents tools like emotion narration and timed turns

– Family inclusion: playing with siblings and peers and ways to strengthen family bonds

– Moving on from the programme: including ongoing support by joining Transforming Autism’s Parent Portal and introducing families to ongoing support services and activities in Essex. Families requiring individual support will be referred to First Steps.