[blparent] challenges with dressing an infant

Wed May 5 03:41:41 UTC 2010

Dina, my husband also sighted, has always said, "mom knows best."  If mom
says something should be done a certain way, then it is.  It's not that he
couldn't do it, but this is my job.  We do and have always done many things
together with Gab since she was born, but the majority of the work
pertaining to her well being was always mine.  No contest here.  He does
some things better and I do them all better. (lol) We are both Gab's parents
for better or worse. V

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Dena Wainwright
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 2:57 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] challenges with dressing an infant

I would agree with this. I end up doing a lot of the tasks that people 
assume my sighted husband does (e.g., administering meds, doing nails, 
etc.). It's not that he has any issue with doing them, but the reality is 
that I am with Elise significantly more than he is every day, and these 
things need to get done.

I think there are a few things he does "better" than me, in that he can do 
them more easily and quickly (e.g., spotting the beginnings of a diaper 
rash, responding when she points and asks what an object is, etc.). But when

it's 3 A.M., and she wakes up because she's gotten sick all over herself, 
and we don't want to turn on the bedroom light to further wake her up, it's 
me who can change the PJs, diaper, and crib sheet infinitely faster than he 
can in total darkness.

The bottom line is that we all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. I 
don't really think it serves anyone to continually point out the things our 
partner does less well than we do. What kind of example does that set for 
our kids? And, since when is parenting a contest? Why not let each person do

the things that come most naturally to him or her (when possible)?

Dena

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)" <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 1:29 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] challenges with dressing an infant

> Interesting topic here.
> How might a sighted person get something done faster like getting a kid
> dressed? I'm trying to understand. Wouldn't it have more to do with
> experience and finger dexterity? Also on how cooperative the kid is
> being at any given moment?
> What about other tasks?
> Finally, why is speed a consideration with regard to dressing? If we're
> supposed to enjoy our kids, why can't we enjoy them, get the little
> monster dressed and have it take as long as it needs to take given any
> number of other factors?
> I agree that "the table, "the dresser" and "the bed" can be very big
> places in terms of finding objects, but that's about all I really
> understand wwith the blind v. sighted and task accomplishment. Insights?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Leslie Hamric
> Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 1:07 AM
> To: 'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [blparent] challenges with dressing an infant
>
> I find the 2 piece a little harder to work with but they're definitely
> manageable.  Sometimes, I too have to remind my husband that while he
> can
> see what he's doing, my hands are also my eyes and things are going to
> take
> a little longer.  It's also easier for folks like us to get frustrated
> since
> we have to concentrate that much harder to get something dome that a
> sighted
> person might get done in 2 seconds.  I remember the first time I changed
> a
> onezie, I felt drained afterwards, as it happened on a day when Michael
> was
> particularly squirmy.  Hang in there.
> Leslie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
> Behalf Of Scott Lawlor
> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 10:07 PM
> To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blparent] challenges with dressing an infant
>
> we have some one piece outfits but there's also a fair number of two
> piece
> as well.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Leslie Hamric" <lhamric930 at comcast.net>
> To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 8:38 PM
> Subject: Re: [blparent] challenges with dressing an infant
>
>
>> Hi Scott.  What about one-piece outfits? I tend to like those better
> than
>> the 2-piece ones but that's just me.
>> Leslie
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
>> Behalf Of Scott Lawlor
>> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 5:50 PM
>> To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] challenges with dressing an infant
>>
>> Hi all.
>>
>> Thanks for the suggestions.  I suggested that Cindy close her eyes and
> try
>> getting Leah's pants on and she just said that since she could see,
> she'd
>> still be able to do it with no problems.  I hadn't thought of putting
> her
>> on
>>
>> my lap.  She's 3 months old so still quite squirmy.  We have a
> changing
>> table and diapering her isn't so difficult anymore but there's no
> safety
>> strap.
>>
>> I've tried putting one foot in and then the other but usually what can
>> happen is she'll kick the foot I just put in out so I have to try it
>> again.
>> Sometimes I'll be able to get the feet through the legs and then pull
> the
>> pante over the knees and then I can pull them up over the diaper but
> it's
>> hit and miss sometimes.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 3:53 PM
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] challenges with dressing an infant
>>
>>
>>> Scott,
>>>
>>> Have you tried holding the baby on your lap facing away from you?
> You
>>> can
>>
>>> reach around the baby and maintain some control with your arms.  If
> the
>>> baby is really
>>> squirmy, you might want to sit on the floor to do this.  Otherwise,
> also
>>> try a changing table with a safety strap which would allow you to
>>> concentrate completely on
>>> getting the clothes on.  You will probably have to remove the safety
>>> strap
>>
>>> to finalize things, but you should be able to get legs and arms
> through
>>> the pants or shirt.  If
>>> none of this works, tell us what you have tried that didn't work and
>>> maybe
>>
>>> we'll get a better sense of what to suggest.
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> Steve Jacobson
>>>
>>> On Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:11:39 -0500, Scott Lawlor wrote:
>>>
>>>>Hi.
>>>
>>>>Are there any good tips you guy can provide on dressing squirmy
> babies?
>>>>It
>>>>seems that putting the legs through the pants is the issue that I
> find so
>>>>annoying and frustrating at the moment.  Cindy thinks it's ridiculous
>
>>>>that
>>
>>>>I
>>>>get so frustrated with something like this and maybe it is.  After
> all,
>>>>it's
>>>>a pretty small thing, but nevertheless, it's not fair for the baby
> that I
>>>>be
>>>>that way, even if for a short time.
>>>
>>>>I've tried to refocus and that seems to help but I'd like to head
> this
>>>>off
>>>>even before it becomes an issue, if that makes any sense.
>>>
>>>>Thanks for the help if possible.
>>>
>>>>Scott
>>>
>>>
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> son%
> 4
>> 0visi.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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