[blparent] Moms Clubs and Winter Travel

Tue Nov 18 19:08:35 UTC 2014

Hi, First is it is going to greatly depend on the moms if the group to how
it will go. I'm not sure I'd make a place like that my first mom group
meeting. Somewhare smaller whare it will be essier to chace your little one
would probabably be better while you get to know the moms. As once you know
a few you can be more open about how occationally would someone mind keeping
an eye on your daughter when she crawls off so she can have a little more
freedom.

Second as for the snow. There is nothing wrong with cold and babies. Many
studies have shown the cool air to be good for the longues. As long as she
is dressed warmly go about your normal business. I wear the kids and this
helps keep them warm when they are small.

Glad to know you are venturing out. It is important for you, your daughter
and the community.

I just finished a weekly music class with other moms. Some people were very
welcoming, others just didn't interact. I sometimes paid my driver to take
us, and other times took the bus. It depended on how many children I was
taking and if my driver was available. 

Bran

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jessica
Reed via blparent
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2014 8:53 PM
To: 'Melissa Ann Riccobono'; 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: [blparent] Moms Clubs and Winter Travel

Hello All,
I have only written in once, so I probably should reintroduce myself.  I am
a long-time federationist from Fredericksburg Virginia.  My daughter Lila is
7-and-a-half months old.  Though my husband works long hours at times, I
feel extraordinarily fortunate to be able to stay at home with Lila.  We are
fortunate to live in an extremely walking friendly smallish town.  There is
a bus system, but it is far from perfect.   

I am writing with two somewhat related questions.  First, how many of you
were or are currently members of moms clubs in your area?  I am in the
process of joining one, and have procrastinated because of my blindness.
For example, there is an event this week where moms are meeting at an indoor
playground.  I am a graduate of LCB and have had training, but all I
envision in this situation is chaos and moms worried about taking care of me
or even viewing me as a liability.  My worries and apprehensions are many,
so I would love to hear any tips or stories.  I recognize that some of how I
am feeling is normal to all in any new situation, but I do think that
blindness compounds it.   

On a different note, I am also nervous about the approaching winter.
Sighted parents can easily travel from house to heated car to building.  We
don't drive, and either walk more in the cold or wait for a taxi in the cold
or wait for the bus in the cold.  How does this work with babies and young
children?  There are no bus shelters in Fredericksburg.  How does one travel
in the snow with babies and small children in the snow?  Again, any feedback
you can provide would be greatly appreciated.  

Thanks in advance,
Jessica Reed
P.S. Rereading my message I see what a fretting mom I sound like, maybe I
am.  i am my own worst enemy.  Lila and I have already been to the library
and the playground independently, and I fretted about this beforehand as
well.  I just want so badly to give my daughter every opportunity I can.  
-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Melissa Ann
Riccobono via blparent
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 12:17 PM
To: 'Miriam'; 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] To a new mother

This is a great list to start with. I'll add two of my other favorite items.
One you'll want ASAP, and one you can wait a little while to purchase, but
might want to register for.

By far, the thing I have used most with all three of my kids, and continue
to use even though my youngest is now 2, is a comfortable rocking chair. I
went all out and purchased the one I really wanted, with help from some very
nice friends and coworkers who gave me gift cards. I got a glider rocker
that has a foot stool that also rocks. It reclines, and it can still rock
while in the reclined position, which has been a life saver many times when
I have been exhausted and just wanted to lay back, but the baby still wanted
to be moving. My chair also has really nice pockets on the sides which have
been great for storing all types of things over the years. Remember, no
matter whether you nurse or bottle feed, you'll be sitting down a lot
holding, cuddling, and feeding your baby. Also, as your baby gets older, he
or she might want to rock while being read to, want to be held because of
illness... And the list goes on and on. You will want a comfy place to sit
while you do all of these things... Although I know some babies do prefer to
be walked. I usually ended up "compromising" with my kids. I would walk
until I couldn't any more, and then we would sit and rock. This usually
worked. I know not all babies like being rocked. I was lucky because all of
my kids have loved it--at least most of the time. Also, there have been
studies done that show if you rock while you're still pregnant, the baby
might be more likely to be comfortable with that motion and soothed by it
after birth. So, if you are planning to get a rocker, or all ready own one,
you may want to do some resting and rocking while you're still pregnant. I
did this during all of my pregnancies, and this was a really nice time for
me to have a few minutes to talk and read to the baby. Of course, sometimes
I was also rocking my other kids, and this was a nice time for them to talk
to the baby as well. There are lots of rockers out there, so have fun trying
them out, and, if you decide you want one, just go all out and purchase the
one you really want. Think of it as an investment--something you can and
most likely will use for this child, any future children, and possibly even
just as a nice piece of furniture after this baby and any other babies you
might have are too big for rocking.

The other item I always suggest to new moms is a booster seat with a tray
that straps onto a regular chair. This could be used as your main high
chair, depending on what model you get, how much room you have in your house
for a regular high chair, and what your budget looks like. We have a high
chair as well as our booster, but our booster has been extremely useful in
so many situations. To name a few: We often take our booster to friends
houses so our kids would have a safe place to sit and eat, and still be at
the table with us. The booster has straps also to fasten the child in, so it
was great not only to have our kids have a safe place to eat, but also
somewhere they couldn't get down from, or fall from, unless we let them out.
We have also taken our booster to many hotels. Ours has little legs which
come out the bottom, so we can set it on the floor, and the child can sit in
it to eat. Hotel rooms usually have nice chairs, so it's been great to be
able to feed our kids and not have to worry about messiness on hotel chairs.
Finally, we have taken our booster seat to restaurants with us sometimes.
Restaurants don't always have high chairs,  and even when they do, the
chairs themselves are not always the greatest quality. Oh, we've taken the
seat to my husbands work tons as well... And our two year old now sits in it
at mealtimes. It helps her reach the table, although we don't need to strap
her in or put the tray on most of the time now.

I hope this has helped. You may want to hold off on getting pacifiers. Most
of the time, hospitals will give you one to try out before you go home if
you want one. Our first child loved his for about three months. Then he lost
interest, and I was glad not to have to wean him away from it at an older
age. Our second child absolutely hated pacifiers and did not want anything
to do with them ever! Our thir child liked the pacifier for a very short
while. So, you might want to learn if your child likes the pacifier before
purchasing them. 

Oh, one more thing... I got a bouncy seat second hand from my sister, and it
was a life saver. All of my kids liked it, and it was one place my middle
child would sleep well when she was a small infant because she had some
reflux, and the bouncy kept her more upright. Again, not all babies like
these, so you might see if you can borrow one, or buy one second hand in
case your child hates it. The same goes for a swing. All of my kids loved
ours, and it had music and nature sounds, and reclined so we could put even
our tiny babies in it. But, this is an expense, not absolutely necessary,
especially if you're tight on room... But, maybe it's something you put on
your registry and if someone, or a group of people, buys it for you, then
you might have something nice your baby will love. And, if not, you can sell
it to someone else and buy something else the baby needs, or you want to get
the baby.
Thanks for reading this novel! Good luck with your pregnancy!
Melissa Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Miriam via
blparent
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 8:58 PM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blparent] To a new mother

First of all, congratulations. Hi, my name is Miriam. I have never written
into the list although I've been reading it for a while. I have three  young
children. I  was thinking about the most important things to have when
having a baby. And this is what I came up with. Of course, everybody has
their preferences. Also, I am apologizing in advance for this being so long.
1.  A baby carrier this is by far the most important piece of baby equipment
for me. I have found that the most comfortable ones are the soft structure
carriers. I have a catbird pikkolo. They are more expensive but well worth
it..
2. A sleep sack with a swaddle like the halo sleep sack swaddle instead of
wrapping babies in a receiving blanket. It is much easier to get a safe
tight swaddle this way. It also helps to make sure that you dont  keep their
hips too tight. 
3. A medicine syringe with a notch so you know how much medicine to give.
4.  A medicine Passy. This is basically a pacifier that has a place on the
bottom for you to put in Medicine This makes it a lot easier to give them
medicine.
5.  A pacifier clip. This helps not to lose Passy's. Although that happens
all the time anyway.

6.  A bath with a sling. This helps so that you don't have to hold the baby
in the right position. There are many to choose from you have to find the
one that you like best.

7. A saline spray and aspirator. This is to help to unclog their nose. When
they have a cold or I just stuffy. This tends to happen a lot in the first
few months.

8. Bactroban for soreness from nursing. This is if you are choosing to
nurse. This is a little hidden secret that helps the most. It is
prescription but most doctors will give it to you. Also, this is safe for
your baby while nursing. It does not get absorbed into their blood.
9. A cradle. I use the arms reach cradle. This attaches to the side of the
bed and also has a way to put all four sides up. There are many to choose
from but this is what Ilike because I can hear and feel my baby during the
night without getting up.
10. Clothing. Of course. I really like the cotton zip up one piece outfit.
They are really easy and avoid snaps. I just have to be careful not to cut
their skin. To do this, it is helpful to first do the top snap  they all
have and then zipper the rest of it. These are also very cheap.
11. A carseat

Also, I have found that baby Center is the best place to get answers for
questions.one last thing. I think the most important thing is to have
someone to talk to you and run by things with. I would be glad to talk to
anyone directly through email. My email address ismdffeiner at gmail.com
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