Description
Sensory Integration and Trauma-Informed Perinatal Care
Building Shared Language and PracticeSensory experiences play an important role in early development, parent–infant relationships and participation in everyday activities. Understanding how sensory processing and trauma may influence these experiences can help professionals provide more responsive, individualised care.
This course explores the integration of Ayres Sensory Integration® principles with trauma-informed, family-centred approaches in perinatal and infant care.
Exploring Sensory-Informed Perinatal Practice
Participants will examine the foundations of sensory integration, including the eight sensory systems, and explore how sensory processing influences infant development, feeding, sleep, play, caregiving routines and parent–infant relationships.
The course introduces a shared vocabulary for recognising infant cues, understanding co-regulation and considering sensory fit. Practical frameworks, including the PEAR Map and Sensory Ladders, are explored to support observation, communication and collaborative care planning.
Participants will also learn about safe, trauma-informed sensory assessment, including respectful observation, gathering sensory histories and involving families in identifying strengths, needs and supportive strategies.
The course examines how to develop and evaluate microinterventions, using small, individualised adjustments to environments, routines and interactions to support regulation and participation.
The course also explores trauma-informed parent–infant dyad care, including safety, trust, consent, attunement and co-regulation. Participants will consider escalation thresholds, risk management and appropriate referral pathways, alongside approaches to communicating sensory hypotheses clearly with multidisciplinary teams.
The course addresses outcome measurement, meaningful documentation and continuous service improvement, bringing together practical approaches to support collaborative and sustainable sensory-informed perinatal care.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
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Describe the foundations of Ayres Sensory Integration®, including the eight sensory systems and their influence on early development, parent–infant relationships and everyday occupational participation.
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Recognise and describe infant sensory cues and regulation states, explaining the importance of co-regulation, attunement and environmental fit in perinatal care.
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Explain the purpose and application of the PEAR Map and Sensory Ladders, including their use in organising observations, supporting shared communication and developing collaborative support strategies.
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Identify principles of safe, trauma-informed sensory assessment, including consent, respectful observation, sensory histories, family involvement and the use of collaborative assessment tools.
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Explore how to select, implement and evaluate sensory microinterventions, considering small adjustments to environments, activities and interactions that respond to individual needs and family routines.
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Recognise the impact of trauma on sensory processing and parent–infant co-regulation, and identify trauma-informed approaches that support safety, trust, choice and relational connection.
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Identify escalation thresholds, risk factors and appropriate professional responses, including the importance of safeguarding, timely documentation, multidisciplinary communication and following service protocols.
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Develop an understanding of sensory hypotheses and referral communication, including how to summarise observations, describe participation needs and communicate recommendations in clear, respectful language.
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Explore outcome measurement, documentation and collaborative service improvement, including approaches to monitoring meaningful change, incorporating family feedback and supporting sustainable sensory-informed practice.
