[blparent] use of equipment and devices for blind parrents

Sun Aug 31 15:56:50 UTC 2014

			Also, and I can't stress this enough, you as mama
know when your kid needs to see a doctor. It doesn't much matter what the
thermometer says. Just give the nurse on the phone the temperature as 101 as
that's the cut-off for school, daycare, and also the in gate for admittance
to the doctor. When they check the temperature (which they always will do)
and it's lower then what you told them, just say "It must have dropped on
the way over". By that point, you're in, you're past the control gate, and
the doctor is happy to see you. 

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Judy Jones
via blparent
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2014 11:53 AM
To: Jo Elizabeth Pinto; Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] use of equipment and devices for blind parrents

I think that is right about not needing too many blindness-specific
products.

We also had moved each time before our daughters were born and had had the
chance to learn the areas.  The frame pack for kids was a blessing, as each
girl loved riding high on our shoulders.  But they liked their packs, and
not all babies may like that mode of transport.

We did not use our umbrella handle stroller that much, as the girls liked
the closer body contact, and it was easier for us to know what they were
doing when closer to us.

I remember that sometimes going through checkout lines, when one is in the
pack, you can tell when that little arm is reaching out for something. 
Hahaha.

Judy

-----Original Message-----
From: Jo Elizabeth Pinto via blparent
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2014 10:34 AM
To: Jesper Holten ; Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] use of equipment and devices for blind parrents

Hi.  I had a Snugglee and also a Baby Bjorn backpack, but honestly, I didn't
find either one very useful.  I suppose it just depends on your lifestyle
and how everything plays out for you.  My baby was born at the beginning of
March, and I had moved to a new neighborhood during my pregnancy when winter
was upon me, so I hadn't learned to go very many places on my own yet.  I
found the Snugglee awkward to get into and out of, and my baby didn't seem
to be comfortable in the Baby Bjorn.  Thankfully, I had bought both of them
used and didn't spend a lot of money.  My advice would be to go to a store
where you can try different items on before you buy so you can figure out
what works for you and what is cumbersome from the start.

By the time my child and I hit the road together in earnest, she was
toddling, so I made good use of a child harness.  It consisted of a stuffed
animal backpack that she wore and a soft leash that I held in my hand.  I
found the leash to be too short, so sometimes I lengthened it by addingone
of those retractible dog leashes just for length by clipping it to the soft
leash and then holding the handle of the retractible leash in my hand so I
had control of how far my child went.  I know it might sound bad, using a
dog leash, but she liked the freedom, and I only used it in environments
where people were understanding, like at a church gathering where I knew
everyone.  On the street, it was always the child harness alone.

Now my daughter is six, and we love going on outings together.  The early
structure has paid off.  She is a great traveling companion.  I wish you the
best in finding what works for your baby.  To tell the truth, my advice
would be not to overdo it on specialized gadgets for the blind.  More often
than not, you'll find that an ordinary household item will do the trick.
Other than a talking thermometer, which I've only had to use a handful of
times, I'm not sure I've gone out and bought anything blind-specific.  I did
get a set of nested measuring spoons so I'd have a teaspoon, a half
teaspoon, and so forth, but I think I just bought them at Target.

Jo Elizabeth

Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may
kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at
evening.--Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jesper Holten via blparent
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2014 4:07 AM
To: Judy Jones ; Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] use of equipment and devices for blind parrents

Hello Judy

and stargazer!
thank you so much for your experience. We will defenately use our common
sense bringing up our child but it is also good to hear other blind parrents
ways of doing things, so thank you very much for your inputs.
Best regards, Jesper.

On 8/30/14, Judy Jones via blparent <blparent at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> The unwind behavior pattern sounds so familiar, so true.  Parents know 
> their
>
> children best, in spite of what friends or family think.
>
> Our daughters were both so different.  The eldest was the giggly baby 
> you could take anywhere, slept through the night after the first 
> couple weeks, a
>
> very easy baby.
>
> On the other hand, daughter 2 was just as lovable, but never slept 
> through the night for the longest.  As a newborn, she would get 
> over-stimulated in busy environments such as stores, noise of any 
> kind, or groups of people, and start screaming.  I would have to go to 
> a quiet place to calm her down,
>
> then she would be fine.  We called her our "high needs" baby.  Today 
> she is
>
> a lovely independent 24-year-old, so being there for her when she was 
> little, no matter how inconvenient, paid off.  I remember hearing that 
> the more you cuddle and meet a baby's needs as they grow into 
> toddlerhood, the more independent and self-directed they will be as 
> children and adults, because they learn you are always there for them 
> no matter when they cry, if
>
> they cry, whatever the need is, you pop up.  It's a lot of wear and 
> tear on
>
> the parent, but definitely worth it when you see your adult children.
>
> 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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