[blparent] Moms Clubs and Winter Travel
Star Gazer
pickrellrebecca at gmail.com
Wed Nov 19 21:40:26 UTC 2014
Stay low, literally. Remember that these are set up for little kids, and
their head height is different from yours.
-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jessica
Reed via blparent
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2014 11:01 PM
To: Judy Jones; Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] Moms Clubs and Winter Travel
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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