Little Sensory - Support Page

How to Use Little Sensory

Getting Started

1. Select your baby's age using the slider (0-12 months)
2. Toggle sound on/off depending on your preference
3. Enable/disable touch interactions if using on iPad
4. Tap "Start" to begin the sensory experience
5. The experience will automatically end after 3-5 minutes (depending on age setting)

Best Practices

• For newborns (0-3 months): Hold iPad about 12 inches from baby's face during alert periods
• For tummy time (3+ months): Place iPad on floor in front of baby
• For Apple TV: Position baby where they can comfortably view the screen
• Always supervise your baby during screen time

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Little Sensory different from other baby apps?

Little Sensory adapts its content based on developmental research for each age group. The shapes, colors, movements, and sounds are specifically designed to match what babies can perceive and what they find engaging at each stage of development.

Is screen time safe for my baby?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding screen time for children under 18 months, except for video chatting. Little Sensory is designed for very short sessions (3-5 minutes) with parental supervision as a supplement to other sensory activities, not as a regular form of entertainment.

Why do the shapes move at different speeds?

Each shape moves at a slightly different speed within an age-appropriate range. This mimics natural movement in the real world and helps develop your baby's visual tracking skills. Younger babies see slower movements, while older babies can track faster objects.

The screen turned black - is this normal?

For 0-3 month babies, the background is intentionally black with high-contrast white shapes. This is based on research showing newborns can best perceive high-contrast edges. As you increase the age setting, more colors will appear.

How do I exit the app during a session?

Tap the home button at the bottom of the screen. You'll need to solve a simple math problem to confirm you're an adult. This prevents babies from accidentally exiting the experience.

Troubleshooting

No sound playing?

• Check if sound is enabled in the app settings
• Verify your device isn't on silent mode
• Make sure your device volume is turned up
• Close and restart the app

App running slowly?

• Close background apps on your device
• Restart your device
• Make sure you have the latest version of the app
• Ensure your device meets minimum requirements (iOS 14+ or tvOS 14+)

Touch not working on shapes?

• Verify touch interaction is enabled in the settings
• Clean your screen for better responsiveness
• Try restarting the app

Age-Specific Content

0-3 Months

• Visual: High-contrast black and white patterns, simple faces
• Movement: Very slow with frequent pauses (helps developing eyes focus)
• Sound: Gentle heartbeat rhythms and simple lullabies
• Session limit: 3 minutes

3-6 Months

• Visual: Primary colors, circles and squares
• Movement: Moderately slow with occasional pauses
• Sound: Sweet simple melodies with gentle harmonies
• Session limit: 4 minutes

6-9 Months

• Visual: Varied bright colors, more shape types
• Movement: Medium-paced with more animation types
• Sound: Rhythmic patterns with more varied instruments
• Session limit: 5 minutes

9-12 Months

• Visual: Full color spectrum, complex shapes including animals
• Movement: Natural varied speeds with multiple animation styles
• Sound: Rich musical compositions with complex harmonies
• Session limit: 5 minutes

Alternative Sensory Activities

Try these screen-free activities between app sessions:

• 0-3 Months: Black and white picture cards, gentle nursery rhymes, textured fabric exploration
• 3-6 Months: Colorful objects to reach for, soft rattles, crinkly toys
• 6-9 Months: Stacking cups, sensory bottles, musical instruments
• 9-12 Months: Shape sorters, textured board books, hidden object games

Contact Us

Having issues or questions not covered here? We're happy to help!

Email: littlesensory@ryanmcdonough.co.uk

When contacting support, please include:

• Your device model
• Operating system version
• App version (found in settings)
• A description of the issue

We appreciate your feedback and are continuously improving Little Sensory based on parent suggestions!