Sensory Kidz Universe

  Picture this: it’s been one of those days . The kids are bouncing off the walls, you’re two minutes away from hiding in the bathroom with a family-size Dairy Milk, and you just need something — ANYTHING — to calm the chaos. Enter: the humble DIY calming sensory bottle. Cheap. Easy. Magical. And honestly? More effective than telling your child to “take a deep breath” for the 47th time today. These bottles are a sensory parent’s best friend: calming, sparkly, and so hypnotic that even you will find yourself shaking one just for the peace of it. 🍼 What You’ll Need 1 clear plastic or glass bottle  Warm water Clear glue or baby oil (slows the glitter down) Glitter, sequins, confetti, beads — go wild ✨ Food colouring (optional but gorgeous) Superglue/hot glue (to seal the lid, because… kids) ✨ How to Make a DIY Calm Bottle (Step-by-Step) Step 1 – Fill with Water Fill your bottle about halfway with warm water. Warm = easier mixing. Step 2 – Add Glue...

  😴 Why Sensory Kids Struggle to Sleep (And 10 Weird Hacks That Actually Work) It’s 2am. Your child is bouncing off the walls because the moon is “too shiny,” the tag in their pyjamas feels like a chainsaw, and you’re seriously questioning whether humans actually need sleep or if that was a cruel myth invented by child-free people. If you’re a sensory parent, you already know bedtime is less “calm routine” and more “WWE Smackdown meets hostage negotiations.” But here’s the good news: there are some surprisingly weird, cheap, and genius hacks out there that actually help sensory kids wind down. Forget the boring advice you’ve read a million times — here are 10 real-life tricks parents swear by. 🌙 1. The Sock Hack For some kids, slightly damp warm socks work wonders. The strange sensation is regulating, almost like a mini weighted blanket for their feet. Weird? Absolutely. Worth trying? 100%. 🥪 2. The Pillow Sandwich Don’t want to fork out £100 for a weighted blanket? G...

Hi world. Hi blog peoples out there (all 3 of you — hi mum 👋). I thought I’d start making this blog a little more personal . Less “10 autism tips” and more “here’s the unfiltered chaos of my life.” Because honestly, if I don’t laugh about it here, I’ll cry into my wine later (and I’ve just realised I’m out of lemonade for it — send help). So, here we go… Today Was Hard. We’re knee-deep in the 6 weeks holidays . You know that point where the kids are bored of everything? Yeah. That. Soft play? Done it. Park? Over it. TV? They fight over the remote. There’s only so much I can take before I start Googling “Is boarding school a thing for toddlers?” Nobody wants to get dressed, but I’m like, please let me leave the house before I lose my mind. Except… then they don’t want to leave the house either. Catch-22. Isaac the “Gamer” 🎮 Isaac (he’s 5) has decided he’s a gamer . And by gamer, I mean he’s seen my friend’s son — who is actually a gamer — and decided to copy him. So ther...

Daytime potty training nearly broke me. The puddles, the bribery, the mop permanently glued to my hand — and then someone said the words that made me want to cry: “So, when are you starting night-time potty training?” Excuse me? I’m still traumatised from the day shift. Here’s the thing: for autistic kids, night-time potty training is a whole different beast. Sleep struggles, sensory overload, and the simple fact that their bodies might not be ready yet make it a marathon, not a sprint. Now, my Sensory-Friendly Potty Training Guide focuses on the 3-day daytime plan (because honestly, that’s enough chaos for one mum), but I wanted to share some real talk tips for surviving the night shift. 🌙 Why Night-Time Potty Training Is So Hard Bodies just aren’t ready yet. Night dryness is more about biology than behaviour. Some kids’ bladders just need more time to mature, and no sticker chart in the world can speed that up. Sleep struggles. Autistic kids often wake easily, or th...

Haircuts. Two innocent little syllables that fill me with dread. Some parents get “first haircut” photoshoots — we get WWE wrestling matches in the living room and a child who acts like I’ve just announced I’m chopping his ears off. I’ll be honest: I hate it. He hates it. We all hate it. The word “haircut” in our house sparks instant panic. Isaac bolts, I’m sweating before we even start, and the whole thing ends with me questioning my life choices. 💇‍♂️ Why Haircuts Are a Sensory Nightmare For autistic kids, haircuts aren’t “just a trim.” They’re a full-on sensory assault. Clippers? Forget it. The buzzing around his ears is like torture. He screams, thrashes, refuses — headphones don’t help because he won’t wear them. Scissors? Slightly less awful, but still chaos. The snipping sound makes him flinch, the feeling of hair falling on his skin drives him wild, and sitting still is basically impossible. Hairdressers? Hahaha, nope. That’s a hard pass. And let’s not forget ...

Ahhh potty training. That magical stage of parenting where you question your life choices while wiping pee off the carpet and googling “can a child go to university still in nappies? Spoiler: yes, they’ll get it eventually. But in the meantime, there are a few common mistakes that make potty training way harder than it needs to be—especially with our sensory kids. Let’s save your sanity (and your carpet) by avoiding them. 1. Starting Too Soon 🚽⏰ We’ve all been there—your mate Karen brags that her little angel was dry at 18 months, and suddenly you’re panicking. But pushing before your child is ready just leads to meltdowns, resistance, and stress for everyone. 👉 Fix it: Look for readiness signs, not age. Can they pull their pants up and down? Do they notice when they’re wet? Are they showing interest in the toilet? Wait for their signals, not Instagram’s. 2. Expecting It to Happen Overnight 🌙✨ Sorry love, this isn’t a Netflix binge where you power through three days and BO...

 So, you thought you’d cracked it. Your autistic child was happily using the potty, you were high-fiving yourself, and maybe even dared to whisper “we’ve done it!” to your partner. And then… BAM. Out of nowhere, accidents. Puddles. Tears (yours and theirs). Welcome to the wonderful world of potty training regression. First things first: you didn’t fail. Your child didn’t “forget” everything. Regression is actually really common — especially for autistic and sensory kids. Let’s dig into why it happens (spoiler: it’s not because you’re rubbish at parenting), and what you can do to get things back on track. 💡 Why Potty Training Regression Happens in Autistic Kids Sensory Overload Toilets are loud, bathrooms echo, the seat feels weird — sometimes kids just get overwhelmed again. Even if they managed it before, a change in environment can trigger resistance. Big Life Changes Starting school, moving house, new sibling, illness — any of these can rock the boat. Our kids thri...

 Potty training a sensory/autistic child is… a whole different ball game. Forget the glossy parenting books that say, “Just put them in pants and they’ll figure it out in three days!” Nope. If only. With our kids, it’s about patience, puddles, and preserving your sanity (and your carpet). That’s exactly why I wrote my Sensory-Friendly Potty Training Guide & Toolkit — it’s got of trackers, visuals, and reward charts made for autistic kids and the parents who are just trying not to cry into the mop bucket. But if you’re after the quick version — because, let’s be real, your toddler is currently hiding naked behind the sofa — here are my 4 top tips for making a 3-day potty training plan less stressful and a lot more doable. 💡 1. Day 1 = Prep is Power Don’t just plonk a potty down and expect magic. Day 1 is about getting familiar. Put the potty somewhere calm and predictable (not in the middle of a noisy kitchen). Show your child visual supports (pictures, schedules...

 I always knew the day would come. One day, my son was going to look up at me and ask the big one: “Mummy… what’s autism?” And honestly? I didn’t want to be caught fumbling for words. I didn’t want to make it a heavy, sit-down, serious “talk” that made him feel different. I wanted it to feel normal, everyday, no-big-deal. So I did something a little sneaky… I wrote a book. Why I Wrote It I knew I’d need a way to explain autism in a way kids actually get . Not a medical definition, not a lecture — but something joyful, simple, and familiar. A story they could see themselves in. A book they could giggle through. A tool that worked for me, and maybe for other mums like me too. That’s how Flap, Spin, Zoom! My Brilliant, Bouncy Autistic Brain was born. The Quiet Plan 📖 Instead of waiting for The Big Conversation, I left the book lying around the house. On the sofa, in his room, wherever he might pick it up. Because sometimes kids learn best when you don’t make a big deal...

Tried-and-tested tips, visual tools, and survival strategies for SEN parents Day 3: We both cried. The carpet didn’t make it. I am not okay. Sound familiar? If you're potty training a sensory-sensitive or neurodivergent child, you deserve a medal, a hug, and maybe a glass of something strong. You're not alone, and no, you're not doing it wrong. Potty training sensory kids can feel like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded, in the dark, with one hand tied behind your back. But fear not, because I’ve got tips, tools, and a whole lot of real talk to help. 1. First things first: Are they even ready? Sensory kids often have different developmental timelines when it comes to toilet training. Look out for signs like: Staying dry for 1-2 hours Showing awareness of wet/dirty nappies Hiding to poo (yep, it’s a thing) Fascination with flushing EVERYTHING down the loo Not seeing these yet? Don’t panic. You’re not behind. You’re just on a different timeline. 2. Set up a senso...

  Not Another Pinterest Project… Let’s be real for a second. I didn’t create a calm corner because I saw it on Pinterest next to a photo of a colour-coordinated beanbag and a £400 cloud lamp. I created one because my sensory child was having daily meltdowns, and I needed a safe space that didn’t involve crying behind the fridge or hiding in the loo with biscuits. Turns out, you don’t need a sensory room the size of Tesco to help your child regulate. You just need the right vibe and the right tools. This is your no-fluff guide to creating a calm corner that actually calms — not overstimulates, not overwhelms, and doesn’t cost your entire mortgage. 🧘‍♀️ What Is a Calm Corner Anyway? A calm corner (also called a regulation station, safe space, or chill zone) is a small area in your home where your child can retreat to regulate their emotions , process sensory input , and feel safe — especially during overwhelm, transitions, or meltdowns. Let me be super clear: ❌ It’s...