Welcome to a special episode of our podcast, 'An OT Mom's Journey with a Premature Baby'! I'm Meg Faure, and today we're exploring the journey of preemie parenthood with Anande, the founder of Play More OT and an experienced pediatric occupational therapist with a special interest in sensory integration as well as playfulness. Anande has worked for 10 years in private practice and has added 'MOM' to her title, now being the mother of a little 6 and a half-month-old boy. NICU Insights and Sensory Development Anande, drawing on her expertise as an occupational therapist, reflects on her experience working in NICU and shares insights into creating supportive environments for preemies. We discuss the delicate balance of adhering to NICU protocols while fostering a soothing home environment. Sensory development and the challenges of parenting in the NICU setting are highlighted. Magical Milestones and Individuality The conversation shifts to celebrate magical milestones, challenging adjusted age expectations for preemies. Anande shares the joy of witnessing her preemie's smiling milestone and the emergence of unique sensory personalities. We explore the potential evolution of sensory profiles over time, emphasizing each baby's individuality. Managing Challenges: Medical Issues and Sleep In our discussion, I provide Anande with practical tips, covering adjustments to awake times, raising the cot, and introducing elements like white noise and weighted blankets to create a more comfortable sleep environment. We delve into the management of challenges such as medical issues, allergies, reflux, and gut difficulties affecting sleep. SENSE by Meg Faure is brought to you by Parent Sense - the all-in-one baby app that takes the guesswork out of parenting. The app will guide your parenting based on your baby's sensory personality. Leaving you much more prepared for challenges around feeding, weaning, sleeping, socialising and more. Get the app now and start parenting with sense.