Our mission
Sensory Steps exists to give parents clear, safe, and honest guidance on sensory tools for children with sensory processing differences, autism, and ADHD. Every recommendation is grounded in manufacturer specifications, occupational therapy practice, and real-world use.
How we research
- Identify the parent question. We start from questions parents actually ask — not from products with the highest affiliate commissions.
- Gather specifications. We collect manufacturer data, safety standards (ASTM, EN, FDA compliance), and published occupational therapy guidance.
- Hands-on testing. Where a guide recommends a product category, it has been used in a real home with real children. We note what works, what does not, and why.
- Clinical review. Our occupational therapist reviewer reads every clinical claim before publication and flags anything that overstates the evidence.
Accuracy standards
- We cite specific numbers — decibel ratings, weight limits, age ranges — not vague claims like "highly rated" or "popular choice."
- Where evidence is thin or debated, we say so. We do not dress up uncertainty as certainty.
- Safety information is never softened for commercial reasons. If a product is unsafe for a stated use, we say so.
- We distinguish between what an occupational therapist recommends, what a manufacturer claims, and what our author has observed in practice.
Independence
Sensory Steps participates in affiliate programs. Some outbound product links earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations:
- Commission rates never affect which products we recommend or how we rank them.
- We do not accept payment for placement, ranking, or positive reviews.
- We recommend against products we consider unsafe or badly matched, even where they pay well.
- Where the honest answer is "you do not need to buy anything," the guide says that instead of manufacturing a purchase.
Read our full affiliate disclosure.
How we update
- Every guide carries a visible "last reviewed" date at the top of the page.
- We revisit every guide at least annually, or sooner if safety information changes, a product is recalled, or a reader flags an error.
- When we make a substantive change to a guide's clinical claims or recommendations, we note the change and update the review date.
- Minor corrections (typos, broken links, price updates) are made without changing the review date.
Corrections
If something on this site is wrong, we want to fix it. Email hello@sensorysteps.site with the page URL and the correction. We will review it and note any substantive change on the page.
Related pages
- About Sensory Steps — who writes and reviews our guides.
- Affiliate disclosure — how we make money and the rules we follow.
- Medical disclaimer — this site is educational, not medical advice.