[blparent] Strollers

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Lisamaria and others,

I agree- like most nonvisual techniques, we all develop our own for
different situations. Depending on the terrain, I sometimes will tip the
stroller back while I pull it behind me so Penny is in a somewhat
"laying down" position with the front wheels slightly up. It's not a
dramatic tilt but this position does help me sometimes when pulling it
behind me, and Pen gets a real kick out of being tilted backwards,
smile!

The flip handle strollers are great for those pulling it behind like I
do because I prefer my child still to face me even though I am pulling
them behind me. We also have a Little Tykes jumbo wagon for when we go
to the park or on walks near home.

Lisamaria brought up a good point for public transit users: Be aware of
stroller etiquette on the bus and other forms of public transportation
available in your area. In Omaha, regardless of a child's age, strollers
must be closed up and the child in your lap when on the bus. This sucks
when on your own, though in my experience, the drivers are helpful if
necessary. If a bus is empty or close to empty, many drivers have
allowed me to keep Pen in her stroller, although, now that she's older,
she likes to sit in a bus seat and look out the window and say "Hi" to
everyone on the bus, grin. We just take the stroller for when walking to
a destination. It really is a good idea, though, to be aware of any
guidelines for strollers on public transit.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
 
"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 21
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:58:52 -0800
From: Lisamaria Martinez <lmartinez217 at gmail.com>
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blparent] strollers
Message-ID:
	
<CAKa0n1Ay__yKw6UDnQpa3C1vxjXE9NJRxMr7sGbA49vGdpZg-g at mail.gmail.com>
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Hi All,

I use two different strollers and I've used a variety of carriers.

When Erik was smaller, lighter and less fidgety I put him in the moby
wrap. I know many of you out there dislike it for its complexity but I
know there is at least one mamma out there who knows how awesome it is
to wrap your little one snug around you. And in reality, it isn't so
hard to put on. Obviously though it isn't for everyone.

I tried an Ergo but thought it didn't fit someone my height very well. I
couldn't get the back strap low enough to feel comfortable.

I fell in love with the Beco Butterfly and used it to commute back and
forth to daycare and work with Erik for 2 or 3 months. By the time he
got to be about 21 pounds I had to come up with another solution. I get
lots of headaches and the weight on my shoulders wasn't helping.

I've tried the Kelty once or twice, but not for any long periods of
times. Erik really liked being up high and seemed to be way less fidgety
in that backpack. Also, the straps seemed to put very little weight on
my shoulders.

If we have a second kid I'm going to try and get the Kelty and use it if
I can.

As for strollers, which is the actual topic of this post, I've used two
and love both for different reasons. I am a cane user and I really think
that any blind parent can find a stroller/cane combo or stroller/dog
combo that works for them. It really comes down to how comfortable you
are traveling yourself.

I adore the City Mini Baby Jogger. I think jogging strollers are easier
to use because they turn so easily. They are also much easier to control
with one hand. I don't push from behind, but I do put the sunshade cover
down and place my hand on top of it and simply walk right next to the
stroller. That way, we're side by side. It is harder to do this in a
crowd or a narrow area so if the sunshade is down I can walk ahead of
the stroller and place my fingers, palm up, under the lip of the
sunshade and pull. The only thing is I get my heels banged into
frequently with the front wheel of the stroller.

I also use the McClairen Volo. I use this stroller everyday to take the
little dude to daycare. We go up and down elevators and escalators with
this stroller. It is like a fancier and better quality umbrella
stroller--very popular in Britain I hear. I do stand behind the stroller
and push. I use my cane over the stroller. I purchased a longer cane so
that I could find things before the stroller did. This technique does
require my cane in my hand as well as the stroller handle. However, the
handle curves upward and slightly in so I tend to rest my wrist or lower
forearm on top of the handle and use my cane. When I need to push uphill
I simply rest the very end of the cane handle in my palm, or sometimes
my fingers, and push with the cane and stroller handle in my hand.

I know all of this sounds complicated but it is one of those things you
just have to get out there and get comfortable with on your own. And who
knows, you might come up with something totally different.

all I know is that there isn't one answer. And in fact, I really
encourage everyone to have two ways of schlepping your kid around.I
mean, if you carry your kid how do you deal with the kid at the dentist?
The OBGYN? And if you use a stroller, how do you pack the stroller and
the kid when you board a shuttle or a bus?

Just some thoughts to put out there.

LM