[blparent] use of equipment and devices for blind parrents

Sat Aug 30 03:43:38 UTC 2014

Hi,

My husband and I are both blind.  For the newborns we used snugglies, which 
are front packs that support the back, neck and head of the newborn, and the 
baby is worn in front.  Frame packs were not advised until a baby can firmly 
sit up and hold himself erect.  Both our girls LOVED their frame packs, and 
the only reason they gave them up was because they got too tall to sit in 
the pack when the frame was placed on the ground.

I used to carry my youngest in her frame pack and she would fall asleep 
while I exercised on the rowing machines at the Y.  She would also take her 
naps in the pack while I worked as a volunteer in my older daughter's 
preschool classroom.

Changing diapers is convenient on any flat place where a baby can be safe. 
We did it on countertops, on the floor, on the changing table in their room, 
on the couch, and when we got good at it, we could change them on our laps. 
My husband turned out to be the best diaper changer.

For medications if the baby or toddler needs it, you can use a notched 
syringe or a large dropper.  Pediatric medicines are generally liquid, so 
this makes it easy.  Tell the doctor you can measure the medicine from a 
syringe.  Example, if the baby needs half a teaspoon, have the doctor or 
pharmicist notch the plunger at that mark.  When you give the medicine, put 
the tip in the medicine, pull the plunger up slightly past the notch to get 
rid of any air bubbles and make sure the syringe is sucking liquid.  Then 
lower the plunger back to the notch, and you have a perfect dosage.

Also don't forget to investigate the different types of talking thermometers 
available.  Our daughters are grown now, but we still have the old 
thermometer that bares the teeth marks.  (Memories Hahaha!)

One peace of equipment we bought is the umbrella handle stroller, and they 
liked that as a change from the pack.  This stroller is narrower than the 
regular stroller, and a blind person can successfully pull it behind him 
while walking with a cane or dog guide.  We used to  tip it slightly so it 
was on its back wheels.  The front wheels would only be slightly off the 
ground, allowing for more maneuverability.

Our youngest daughter was one who we were constantly having to pull out from 
under places or out of places.  Sometimes we used a hand holder when out and 
about.  It is a stretchy coily cord, like a telephone cord, about 2 feet 
long when stretched.  One end goes around the wrist of the parent, the other 
around the wrist of the toddler.  That allows them to run, jump skip walk, 
sit down for a minute, freedom of movement, yet in your vicinity in an 
unfamiliar place.  You can always reel the cord in when you need them close 
by, but it is important to let them move around as much as possible, and you 
on your feet with them.

When both girls started crawling and definitely walking, we tied bells on 
their shoes so we could keep track of them.  Once I lost my daughter in a 
cafeteria, but quickly found her again when I heard her bells, and the 
sighted people around me couldn't see her because she was so little.

The best advise I can give you is to be mobile yourselves.  Don't depend on 
the toddler to come to you when you call.  Don't say things like, "Where are 
you?"  Instead, go find him yourself without saying much; then say something 
like, "oh, there you are."  They will learn to think you knew where they 
were all the time.  Otherwise, the toddler will get the idea they are in 
control of their whereabouts, not you.  Remain their loving authority 
figures.  Being a blind parent means being on your feet a lot more with an 
active toddler, especially when not in your own home, so you can keep tabs 
on them, whereas a sighted person can see what the little one is doing 
across the room without moving out of their chair.

I know I strayed a bit from baby issues, but it sounds like you have done a 
lot of planning.  Best wishes and keep us posted.

Judy

-----Original Message----- 
From: Star Gazer via blparent
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 2:37 PM
To: 'Jesper Holten' ; 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Cc: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] use of equipment and devices for blind parrents

Steve gave you excellent advice.
What sorts of physical changes are you thinking about? It's hard to answer
this question without knowing what you're thinking about.
Gather data from different sources, but also remember to use your own head
and heart and judgement. I thought of using slings with both my girls. When
they were born, I just couldn't. The inner voice we all have just told me
no. So I didn't use them. If you and your wife are ok with slings, then use
them.
You have common sense, intelligence and life experience. That doesn't go
away when you have a baby. You also have love, so you may do things that
make sense for your family. My older daughter needs to unwind when we come
home. The time of day doesn't matter, it could be 5 p.m. or it could be much
later. The wind-down process is the same, she needs to walk around, talk,
sometimes draw, and it's clear if you know her, she's getting ready for
sleep. It probablhy would look like a kid stalling about bedtime to anybody
but us, and I'm sure it sounds like that to some of you reading.
You'll get it all figured out I'm sure.

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jesper
Holten via blparent
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2014 4:22 AM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blparent] use of equipment and devices for blind parrents

Dear all.
I and my wife are expecting our baby in December and have started preparing
for the addition to our Family. We are both completely blind and we would
like to get input on what some of you have been buying, when it comes to
equipment and devices games, changes to the house etc?
1. We will be living in a house with a ground floor and a first floor
containing bedrooms and the master bathroom. And we plan to install a gate
at the staircase later when the Little one starts to move around on his own.
Changing dibers will most likely happen in the bathroom but what kind of
setup have you been using?
2. We are planning to use a baby carrier for longer transports maybe a
backpack. We are also consdering a baby sling but would like input on what
type. THere has been some concerns about the use of baby slings especially
for newborns, and we would like som input on this as well.
3. If you have ideas on any physical changes we should consider making or
ways to prepare for the baby all suggestions are welcome.

4. We will get consultancy from a professional at the Institute for the
Blind here in Denmark Here in Denmark there are a few totally blind couples
but we imagine that there are a larger Group in the US where both parrents
are blind.
Thank you in advance,
Best regards, Jesper

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