[blparent] Stroller Fail!

[Star Gazer]

		My guess is that this is already in the public domain. If it isn't and the writer wants it to be, that's not our lookout. She could have always copywritten it if that was what she wanted to do.

-----Original Message-----
From: BlParent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jo Elizabeth Pinto via BlParent
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 10:19 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jo Elizabeth Pinto <jopinto at msn.com>
Subject: Re: [blparent] Stroller Fail!

I don't see why not.  I didn't write it.  I just passed it along.

Jo Elizabeth

"The Bright Side of Darkness"
is my newly published novel,
available in Kindle, audio, and paperback formats at Amazon.com.
-----Original Message-----
From: Judy Jones via BlParent
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 8:16 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Cc: Judy Jones
Subject: Re: [blparent] Stroller Fail!

Jo, May I forward this to our counselors and home instructors?  Such great advice.

Judy


-----Original Message-----
From: Jo Elizabeth Pinto via BlParent
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 5:12 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Cc: Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Subject: Re: [blparent] Stroller Fail!

Here are some tips I received from my guide dog school about working a guide dog and using a stroller.  I've posted them before, but they might bear repeating now, with new moms on the list.  I, for one, did not like the jogging stroller.  I liked the small umbrella stroller because I found that it was very easy to pull and it was close to my body size.  But different strokes for different folks, I guess.


WORKING A GUIDE DOG WHILE PULLING A BABY STROLLER

Summaries
Project Goal: To research and develop a technique which enables a guide dog user to safely and effectively use a baby stroller while working a guide dog.

Project Results: No fully safe method was identified.  Although workable techniques were recognized, even the safest use has an element of risk for the stroller to leave the sidewalk or tip on uneven surfaces.  Reasonable technique and equipment was identified for a physically capable guide dog user to utilize at their own risk.

Methods
Considerations: While it is generally safer to carry an infant in a Snugli or backpack when working a guide dog, there will be situations where it’s necessary to use a stroller. Example: Guide dog user has back or shoulder problems, which prohibit him/her from carrying a child. Or, the weight of the infant exceeds the limits of the backpack/Snugli according to manufacturer specifications. Pushing the stroller is not an option for a visually impaired traveler, the individual should pull the baby behind the team.
**NOTE: The infant should (at least) be big enough to have developed head-control before being pulled in a stroller. That way, if there is any tipping, the risk of injury is reduced.

Mechanics of pulling a stroller: Depending on the style of stroller, it may be preferable to attach the stroller to the handler’s waist. (For our purposes on campus, we have a leather harness that connects the stroller to the handler.  This harness was custom-made and is not readily available.)

For strollers with a solid bar handle, a belt can be used (a wide, “weightlifting” belt is more comfortable than a standard belt). However, it is possible to simply hold onto the bar handle with the right hand without attaching the stroller to the handler’s body.

For strollers with separate “hook” handles, a support cane can be attached to one side to extend the handle. This allows handler to hold onto stroller and maintain a more natural arm position.

Customized Training Dogs:
            Prerequisite – GW basics must be well established before introducing baby stroller work. Ideally, the dog will respond reliably to verbal commands only. Hand gestures will not be possible as both hands are occupied.

       Custom Training
At down and up curbs, give the “forward” command, immediately followed by the “halt” command. This will allow the handler to enter/exit the street, then stop so that the stroller may be lowered/lifted safely. The dog must be easily handled with only the harness hand for these “curb halts” before progressing to a toleration of the stroller.

            Stroller Introduction  - Training dogs should be allowed to sniff and socialize with the stroller before GW is attempted.
Heel the dog in several environments while pushing the stroller ahead, allowing the dog to see it move and make all it’s noises.
Once the dog has been socialized to the stroller, harness up and pull the stroller behind while heeling the dog for a block or two. This allows the dog to get used to the stroller noise behind them.




Guidework Introduction  - Once the dog is fully comfortable heeling with the stroller in-tow, it is safe to begin guidework. Begin with a long, straight walk.  It is necessary to hold onto the stroller handle with the right hand in order to stabilize it. Otherwise, it may tip over or “fish tail.”
                        Street Crossings: At the downcurb, the “forward”
command is immediately followed by the “halt” command. This allows the handler to enter the street, then stop so that the stroller may be lowered safely to street level. Once this is accomplished, the command “forward,” or “hopp-up” are given to finish the crossing. At the upcurb, the above (“forward, halt”) is repeated to lift the stroller to sidewalk level.
(NOTE: Regular curbs and ramped curbs pose the greatest risk of the stroller tipping over. Caution is advised.)
       Turns:  Mechanics depend on the type of stroller, however, it is usually necessary to hold onto the stroller with the right hand.  No hand gestures are possible, only clear body facing to help communicate to the dog. Turns will be slower and more awkward due to the logistics of maneuvering the stroller. In some cases, it is preferable to tip the stroller onto two wheels (usually the rear, stationary ones).
Full About Turns (180 degree turns) are very difficult to perform with the stroller.  The handler must heel the dog holding only the leash while also stabilizing the stroller with both hands.
Distractions:  Handling distractions while pulling a stroller can be challenging. For this situation, it is easiest when the stroller is attached in some manner to the handler so that his/her hands are free to regain control of the dog.

Student instruction:
First and foremost, any student must be advised of the potential risks (to the child) when working a guide while pulling a stroller. Even with the most capable traveler, there is risk involved.

Review above technique with student and have him/her practice working a dog with the stroller in tow. It is imperative to have the approximate weight in the stroller to demonstrate how the stroller will move with the child in it.
(Obviously, the dog should have been exposed and trained to this experience prior to class.) It is important that the student understand that the dog is NOT responsible for clearance errors involving the stroller. The dog’s job continues to be safely guiding the student/graduate ONLY.

Stroller styles: There are many styles of strollers. Most can be modified to accommodate work with a guide. Here are some comments from GDB graduates currently pulling strollers with their guides.
•           Strollers with reversible handle allows baby to face forward and
makes steering easier, according to one grad. She likes the bigger strollers with the storage underneath for diaper bags, etc. She works her dog on wide sidewalks with the stroller slightly offset to the right. She does not attach the stroller to herself, just holds onto it. She has had no problems with tipping. Recommends that users purchase a “five-point” harness that can be placed in stroller to secure baby, if it does not already have one.
•           Another graduate’s opinion is that the baby and stroller must
face backwards. She recommends all-terrain type strollers with single-hand steering ability.
Note: When we were “test-driving” a three-wheeled, all terrain jogging stroller, we found it to be the most uncomfortable, unstable and unsafe type of stroller. It tipped over easily, was virtually impossible to steer and the wheels bumped into the dog’s hind legs at stopping points. Therefore, we do NOT recommend jogging strollers in conjunction with guidework.

Recommended Safety Considerations and Equipment:
•           Five-point infant harness, if stroller does not have one.
•           Solid knowledge of the routes surfaces.
•           Travel surfaces wide enough to easily negotiate the stroller.
•           Bicycle flag attached to back of stroller to alert
motorists.
•           Red flashing bicycle light or reflectors.


Jo Elizabeth

"The Bright Side of Darkness"
is my newly published novel,
available in Kindle, audio, and paperback formats at Amazon.com.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jolynn Page via BlParent
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 4:53 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Cc: Jolynn Page
Subject: Re: [blparent] Stroller Fail!

Hi,
I have a three-month-old son and I am still trying to figure out how to use the stroller. I have a guy dog and she has learned to compensate for the wider pathway she needs to make for the stroller. What I have done is when going places that I need the car seat or even if I don't, I will put my son in the car seat and snap the car seat into the stroller. Then, I push the handle of the car seat back so that it is behind his head and I will pull the stroller using the car seat handle. It works when they are little enough to be in the car seat. I have not figured out how to use the stroller without the car seat. I was able to buy a Graco travel system that can change configurations depending on how you set it up. Anyways, that is the best that I have come up with so far.

Jolynn and Maraba

> On Mar 17, 2016, at 1:42 PM, Judy Jones via BlParent 
> <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> We didn't even start with our girls in the stroller until they were 
> probably closer to a year old, plus we used our packs most of the time.
> Their preference, wanting to be close.
>
> Judy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlParent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Star 
> Gazer via BlParent
> Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 2:24 PM
> To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
> Cc: Star Gazer
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Stroller Fail!
>
>                Hi Steve. That's why the carseats that snap on top of 
> the stroller are so popular, if it is safe for a car, it's safe for a 
> baby at walking speed. All this being said, I was anxious about having 
> my girls in the stroller when they were tiny. I have no idea why.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlParent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve 
> Jacobson via BlParent
> Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 3:53 PM
> To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List' <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Stroller Fail!
>
> Allison,
>
> Check the wheels on your stroller.  On some of these strollers, each 
> wheel has a lock that keeps the wheel from swiveling left to right.  
> If all four wheels are allowed to swivel, this will cause the exact 
> behavior that you are observing.  You would not want to lock all four 
> wheels because turning would then become very difficult.  I found that 
> when pulling the stroller, it worked best to lock the wheels that are 
> on the end of the stroller away from the handle.  When pushing the 
> stroller, locking the wheels nearest the handle works best.  However, 
> you might want to experiment to see which works best for you.
>
> On the strollers I have seen, the lock is sort of a slide just above 
> the wheel that cam be moved up and down.  The slide will only lock the 
> wheel when the wheel is turned so that the wheel is parallel to the 
> stroller, in other words, oriented as they need to be when you are 
> traveling in a straight line.
>
> I am almost certain this is the problem you are having, so if you do 
> not find any kind of lock, check the instructions in case it is done 
> in a way that is not obvious.
>
> In some ways, though, I might be a little hesitant to wheel a baby 
> that young around in a stroller.  My kids arrived when they were 
> older, though, so I am not a good judge of this.  I only know that 
> when kids are very young, you don't always know what they are doing in 
> a stroller.  If they can be restrained in a way that you feel is safe, this might be an issue.
> However, to have their head at at a bad angle when you hit a bump in 
> the sidewalk might not be so great for a baby whose neck strength is 
> not completely developed.  However, I'm an old dad whose kids are 
> grown, and some of the more current parents here might have better advice.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Steve
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlParent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> Allison via BlParent
> Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2016 10:27 PM
> To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List' <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Allison <allison82 at cox.net>
> Subject: [blparent] Stroller Fail!
>
>
>
> Hi Everybody,
>
> My daughter, Allyssa, is 9 weeks old now. I love my baby. It turns out 
> that I also love getting out of my house sometimes. I had a lot of 
> great plans for this when I was pregnant, plans about how I could 
> successfully get out in the world with my child, and I can now safely 
> say that almost none of them have worked out. LOL.
>
> I tried a bunch of strollers at a local store before my daughter, 
> Allyssa, was born. I bought a Graco Click Connect in the end because 
> it seemed like the best balance of usability and affordability that I 
> could find at the time. It has a stroller with a car seat that clicks 
> right into and out of it. I tested it at the store with my cane and 
> verified that I could in fact pull it behind me. I also tried it on 
> the sidewalk in front of my house when I brought it home. Great, 
> right? Yeah, only great because it did not yet have a baby in it. I 
> tried it with said baby in it last weekend and it was less than 
> successful. The stroller now wobbles and wavers when I try to pull it 
> behind me. It is only slightly less awful when I pull it next to me, 
> but when it's next to me, I worry that my cane arc isn't wide enough 
> to safely cover me and baby both because the stroller takes up a lot of space.
> Moreover, the stroller was nearly impossible to manage when 
> encountering anything other than a 100% flat surface, and turning or 
> changing directions was something like trying to heard cats. As a 
> result, I've mostly been wearing Allyssa in a front carrier when I'm 
> out. I like this option a lot because she's safe, my hands are free, 
> and Allyssa likes it, but I'm worried that my body won't allow me to 
> wear her as she grows heavier. Pretty much every carrier I've tried 
> pulls on my neck or shoulders at least a little.
> Sooner or later, I will probably want to travel with her in a stroller. 
> And so far, the stroller has been a bit of a fail as it zigs and zags 
> all over the place. I could buy a new one, but buying multiple 
> strollers will get expensive quickly. Does anyone have any solutions 
> for this stroller craziness? Does it get better somehow? Will I become 
> that blind mom who never leaves the house alone with her kids? Please 
> please tell me that is not my future. If I start to think that it is, 
> I may be tempted to drown myself in my breast milk. So please share some words of wisdom!
>
> Thanks,
> Allison
>
>
>
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