[blparent] Moms Clubs and Winter Travel

Wed Nov 19 04:00:45 UTC 2014

Please excuse any typos, it is late and I am dictating.
Have a good night everyone!
Jessica also, even more of a concern to me, is all of the overhanging equipment at these environments. No came in the world would catch it. I could easily see myself getting hit in the head by bumping into something overhead and not knowing it. I have seven nieces and nephews, and this has happened a few times at Parks with them. 

Any feedback you can provide would be greatly appreciated! I sent a note to the local moms club and I am waiting to hear back. Thank you all for the excellent helpful feedback. I have been watching this thread very closely and genuinely appreciate all of your comments and encouragement. I probably should have been more specific and some of my concerns.

These indoor playgrounds, as well as any outdoor playgrounds, tend to be loud. How does putting a belt on a child help even if you are following them? I would think that the noise of the bell would be drowned out immediately.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 18, 2014, at 10:23 PM, Judy Jones via blparent <blparent at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> It could be just me, but for my first time in a moms group, I'm not so sure I would be asking other moms outright to help watch my baby crawling around.
> 
> One thing about a blind mom of a baby-toddler, we move around a lot so we can be aware of our kids in an unfamiliar environment,  albeit unobtrusive. I'd keep it low key, but be in control.
> 
> Of course it can develop naturally that moms watch each other's babies and talking at the same time, but you want to leave the first impression of being able to keep track of your own baby, then relax that as you get to know the moms and they you.
> 
> I wouldn't make it a big issue and play everything by ear.  Just something to be aware of.
> 
> Judy
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Brandy with Discovery Toys via blparent
> Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2014 12:08 PM
> To: 'Jessica Reed' ; 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Moms Clubs and Winter Travel
> 
> 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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