so milo's birthday is coming up soon and im hoping it will be a chance to get a few much needed things that i have been putting off for financial reasons.
i have a general idea of what im looking for but am sort of lost on where to find what i need, what works best, etc.... so, here's what im looking for:
we need a high chair that is going to work for a one year old with very limited head control and so so trunk strength.
we would like to find a stroller that milo can sit upright in, or at least an attachment or something to put in the stroller that will help hold his head and body upright.
we need a really good, really comfortable, really supportive baby carrier...kind of like a snugli, or baby bjorn...but better.
that's all i cant think of right now, but i would also love suggestions on any equipment, activities, toys, whatever, that made life easier at this age...(keep in mind that milo has very limited vision as well). thanks!
i have a general idea of what im looking for but am sort of lost on where to find what i need, what works best, etc.... so, here's what im looking for:
we need a high chair that is going to work for a one year old with very limited head control and so so trunk strength.
we would like to find a stroller that milo can sit upright in, or at least an attachment or something to put in the stroller that will help hold his head and body upright.
we need a really good, really comfortable, really supportive baby carrier...kind of like a snugli, or baby bjorn...but better.
that's all i cant think of right now, but i would also love suggestions on any equipment, activities, toys, whatever, that made life easier at this age...(keep in mind that milo has very limited vision as well). thanks!
16 comments:
i wouldnt buy anything specialized until OT & PT have given chance to provide or recommend assistive devises. xox Poppy
im not buying anthing yet....just starting to research and am trying to get an idea of what i want. :) but thats good advice, thanks.
Hey Jamie,
Here's what we use for Caleigh...
Her head control isn't great too..
High Chair, we use it on the floor and it has three reclining settings:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10099840
Stroller, It has a mesh back, Caleigh gets hot easy so this was a plus. It also has a 5 point harness and very light weight...I think 8lbs. You can get a 20% coupon at babies r us....
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2887343
This is the head support that we use in the car seat and stroller. It keeps her head from falling to the right. Yea, she looks like princess laya, but it works!
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2580937
We don't use a carrier. I've tried many and they just don't work with Caleigh's button and central line and now I think she is too big.
Anyways, Hope all this helps! Can't wait to see what all you pick!
Holly
thanks holly!
My only suggestion would be this feeding seat that we got at Target. It's cheap, and we take it EVERYWHERE--grandparent's houses, restaurants, you name it. He uses it when his instructor and speech therapists come to the house. I've considered buying a second one to keep in the car. My therapists tell me that many of their patients have the same one and I've seen Eden sitting in one at micropreemietwins.blogspot.com
I'm no good on the stroller. We still use the same one we've always had. We used the five-point harness until recently adn now just the waist strap.
I've heard that a lot of parents go for the backpack carriers for their young, non-mobile kiddos. I've considered buying one, but haven't taken the plunge yet since they're kind of expensive.
How did I forget to leave you the link?
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-9310088-4516650?ASIN=B0012VY11A&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B0012VY11A|The_First_Years_NewborntoToddler_Reclining_Feeding_Seat&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B0012VY11A&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001
It's The First Years reclining feeding seat. We LOVE it and I've even gotten compliments from waitresses on how handy it is.
Gavin has a kid kart express, which allows him to sit completly upright. It's a bit on the extreme end as far as seating goes but I am totally in love wtih it. Ever since we got him out of a stroller and all "scruntched up" we noticed a big change in his development. Our children's hospital has a seating clinic, which basically picked out all the equipment best for Gavin.
Good luck -- I know it can be very overwhelming! Your family is beautiful!
Trying sitting him in a monster truck.
Jamie- I've just spent the last week looking into carriers. We used a Bjorn when O was just a few months old - because of his reflux and overall fussiness, it just didn't work. He hated it. He now LOVES the Ergo and I just bought a mei tai last Friday which he also absolutely enjoys and which is so supportive for him. Check out the forum at thebabywearer.com (they have a subforum on special needs which is where i posted most of my questions). Most mamas with kids like O suggested a mei tai, an Ergo, a Baby Hawk or a Beco Butterfly. O has little head control and NO trunk control - the mei tai and the Ergo have worked best. I am borrowing a BabyHawk from a friend next month. I have been LOVING carring O around these last few weeks - even with a six month pregnant belly. Our PT strongly encouraged the carrier both to stretch the adductors and to increase head control. - Stacy
You may not be ready for this yet but when Ben was about 2 1/2 we moved into the Hip Hammock http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2267627 . His head control was poor but I was pregnant and needed my hands. I loved it because I could snug him in close, had a wider range of motion, and could support his head with one hand and have the entire other side of my body free. If he fell asleep it was just like a supported hip hold sleep. It was just like putting him on my hip without the effort. Loved it and have now miss-placed it and am about to get another for my 2 1/2 year old daughter who still wants to be held when she is tired at the zoo.
thanks everyone so much for all the advice :)
One last suggestion... this is similar to the feeder seat (which Owen did not like - too slippery): http://www.adaptivemall.com/sosiwitiweki.html. The Special Tomato seat is soft, incredibly supportive and attaches to any chair back.
Hi Jamie and all, Jim mentioned that you were going to share a want list with us soon as well as where we can find them. We love your insight and all on the site. You all are in thoughts and prayers always. Love, Nan & Gramps
I wouldn't rely upon PT and OT's for equipment or assistive devices. Around here they have absolutely no idea and nothing they have ever suggested has worked any good. You are doing the right thing by researching stuff yourself ;-)
We relied heavily upon the bumbo in Moo's first couple of years although it may not be so good if head control is lacking. Other favourites have been the seat-2-go and the back-2-go by wenzelite. We have a high chair that at 4, he still uses, which reclines and has a pole between the legs that serves as an adductor.
The one thing that I haven't ever bought new (thanks ebay) but would, is a special tomato chair. We use this for everything around the house. Can be strapped to a stroller if needed. And is great for head support and different positions.
I've never liked baby carriers so can't help there.
Hope this helps.
Jacqui
I should clarify that when I am talking about special tomato chair, I am talking about this one - http://www.adaptivemall.com/sptososi.html
I know that there are quite a few.
Great work.
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