Category: Parent Talk
Well lets dive right in. I hear that some people put bells on their children's shoes to keep track of them out of doors. And others put baby harnesses on with leashes attached. Which do you prefer? My second question has to do with strollers, verses the pa poose. Don't know if that's the correct spelling but none the less which is the best way to go? Answers please.
The baby sling's probably the best way to go if you want to bond better with a baby and keep him/her close, but strollers/baby buggies're better if you're out shopping and you're carrying loads of bags already. All Graco buggies come with a storage/shopping basket, so I think I'm getting a Graco pushchair for my children, plus a Baby Bjorn baby sling. They're really trendy and comfortable for you and the baby. I think there's a company called Pipsqueaks, something like that anyway, who've invented shoes which have a squeaker inside the shoe so parents can hear their baby or toddler's whereabouts. When my cousin Joe was about six months old, he had these boots with a rattle sewn in the side of each booty so you could hear him jumping up and down in his baby bouncer or whatever, so I think my children would also wear those Pipsqueaks shoes or the bootees with the rattles inside.
Good question. We never used a pappoos carrier (I can't spell it either). However, we did use both a leash and a stroller for our kids.
The leash gave us more control but got caustic remarks from passers bye as to how cruel we were. The stroller gave us controll until we forgot it, but, that's another story..
Bob
I like bells better than leashes. I think bells sound cool. lol. Kids usually manage to take the leashes off some how. Plus, I think it's kind of weird to have your kid on a leash, like they're a dog or something. hehehe. Bells are a good way to keep track of them even when you're not paying much atention. The squeaky shoes are cool too. I like strolers too. It gives the parent a little more freedom to do things and you can pack lots of stuff in them.
Lizzy
i agree with lizzie, i'd never leash my children when i have them. i also agree with jen and lizzie about the strollers. i love the squeaky shoes thing too, that's well neat.
About the strolers. When my brother and I were babys my parents who are boath blind took a normel twin stroler and put a lonmoers handel on the frunt. That way they could poale the stroler and use thair kanes. And if the leash works for you and your child, use it! It's better to get costic remarks then to have your child get hit bie a car or run off. Hope this helps.
Okay, here goes my two cents worth on this topic. My kids are now 23 and 20, so this ggoes back a few years. I used the baby sling that I could wear either on the front or on my back. Wearing it on the front when they were very small, infants was great and also allowed me to breastfeed without anyone knowing. As they got bigger and heavier, I wore it on my back and it gave them more movement. I had acanvas harness, that had small light weight, but sturdy straps that went around their chest and zipped up their back and the leash hooked on the back so they had complete use of their arms. I used the bells on the shoes while in the house, but not when we were out, too many other noises and they can get away from you very quickly. The strollers are very useful in many situations. Use what you are comfortable with and what is the safest for you and your child and screw what anyone says or thinks. It's your child and your not mistreating them.
Carla
I don't have children, but I would prefer using a baby sling to carry my baby, as I think it'd be easier for me to do things, and I know that if I have trouble pulling a rolling backpack or handling a shopping cart while using my cane, I know I'll likely have trouble with a stroller. At least that the way I would feel on it. Also, I think that's a good idea about using a child harness/leash when the child gets bigger when going out and the squeaky shoes at home. It would be hard keeping track of even just one child when in a noisy place and with crowds of people, and also, I know I personally can sometimes get easily distracted/confused if I'm trying to pay attention to too many things at once, but at least with the leash I'd know that my children are right with me. I guess that would probably be the same reason I would use the sling actually as well. *smile*
If anyone is interested in the Pip squeakers Baby shoes, you can call 866-722-4535, or visit www.pipsqueakers.com. I haven't seen these shoes, but I read that the company has won many awards for these products.
me i would use the sling and the leash me and yogi decided on using what ever makes him most comfurtable and who cares what people think
ok, so i don't have any children, but i hope to one day
I don't think i could ever put my children on a leash. I'd feel as though i was taking them out for a walk like a dog. For me, that's a bit...hmm
I can understand why people would prefer to use one though, because at least they know their kids are right there next to them.
Think I'd use pipsqueakers, shoes, a single buggy or double buggy with my children if they were too young to stay close to me if we went out.
My little one is really good at getting out of shoes, so I attach a bell to the back of his shirt with a clip if we're outdoors in the backyard. As for the harness I plan on using it when he gets older. When my husband saved a litttle toddler from getting hit by a car comming out of a restaurant a year or so ago it really put things in perspective for me. We also use a stroller in some situations as well as a sling, Baby Bjorn and a backpack. I find them all useful.
Hi Dragonfire
My mum is blind, and I remember a lot of the things she used to do with me. She still, to this day, uses a sling to carry around my little cousins. She wouldn't have it any other way. Imagine trying to get on a bus, with either your cane or guide dog, a massive stroller, your shopping bags (which are all nicely stowed underneath in the most awkward place to remove quickly. juggling a squirming baby in one hand (never a good move, as they have this annoying habit of throwing themselves backwards when you're least expecting or needing it smile), with your dog/cane in the same one, you need to fold up the stroller, carry it under one arm, and the shopping bags in that hand, get on the bus, somehow using your dog/cane *maybe with your teeth?*, paying for your ticket, finding a seat and then storing all your stuff for the journey.
Or, you could have a baby sling. The baby strapped to your chest, and two hands free for shopping and guiding. Also, I have this innate fear of someone snatching my baby from the push chair, because I can't keep visually checking to see if they're still there. Have a look on www.freedomslings.co.uk. They make really good ring slings, which are very comfortable.
As far as the leash goes, I don't think i'd use one, or not the one which was described here anyway. In the UK, you can get something called a baby rein. This straps round your wrist, and around the wrist of the toddler. this gives them the freedom to walk a little way away from you, but you still have control over the child. Also, because it looks less intrusive, you won't have so many comments thrown at you. If you google Mother Care *it's a shop in the UK* you should be able to access their sight and they'll sell them.
I also don't think bells are a good idea either. you'll get to rely on them, and then what happens if the little man/lady pulls them off or looses a shoe? you're stuffed! The best thing to do is get shoes with rubber grips. That way you can hear them pad as they move.
You could also teach the babby to answer to their name. that way, you'll always know where they are!
If you need help on this, please feel free to PM me.
FM
Um, I like the idea of the baby slings, and clipping the bell on the back of the child's shirt ... until they learn that they can remove it, that is. LOL. I'm not sure I like the sound of the leash. What exactly does it look like, and how is it used?
What's a baby bjorn?
A baby bjorn is a front carrier that you can wear with baby in it from newborn up to about 25 lbs. The leashes which they're talking about at least the one I have which is called a tether is a little harness that wraps around baby's chest with small shoulder straps and the tether attaches on either side of the back of the harness. The one I have you can remove the tether and use the parts that are left to hook on to those shopping carts that have broken straps and in a bind to a chair in a restaurant. I use the bell in the back yard and at play groups and at other people's houses. I use the slings a lot as well. I have 2 different kinds. plus a bjorn and a backpack and if with hubby strollers unless we're in a tight space.
Oh OK ... all those things sound very helpful!
Well I am surprised to see this topic reserected. So many expectant parents on the zone. Well I realized that I didn't answer the questions that I asked. As to bells or leashes, I think a combination of both is in order. The wrist thing, I don't know if I like owing to little smart fingers. The leash that hooks in the back prevents little tikes from undoing the straps. Strollers and the papoose or however you spell it, well I like the combination again. In a single parent home I think the stroller would be best. It leaves your back free for other things. Also you can store things on or underneath it. In a two parent home the p word would work for me.
Well, personally, I think I'd like both of my hands free for other things (like my guide dog and groceries and stuff), as opposed to having my back free. My back is also stronger than both of my hands/arms put together, so I could carry the baby for longer stretches (especially once baby started getting bigger) without getting tired too quickly. At least, that's my logic. LOL.
When I was little I had bells on my shoes.
Troy
I think it's important for people to consider the practicalities of carrying a baby around with you, whilst trying to do your normal activities. Anyone who has had a baby before knows that it's better to have hands free than a back free. And it's easier for a totally blind person to sling a baby rather than push one in a buggy, whilst trying to guide safely! Please, please, please get accurate advice from someone who has been there and done it before. Many helpful hints come from people who may have the best intentions in the world, but who are not blind. It makes a huge difference. Rely as little on specialist equipment as you can, because, if you don't, what happens when the baby breaks or removes it? You can't then say to your child "Don't do that now, because mummy/daddy won't be able to help you when you get into trouble!" because they will take that opportunity to do the thing they've been forbidden to do.
Please talk to someone who knows. I've helped raise around 13 cousins (I have a huge extended family...), i've looked after toddlers and newborns for weeks on end, and not once have I had a need for bells, clips or any other such things. My mum is blind, and raised me (as i've said before), and has passed on a lot of her advice to me for when my baby comes along. If you do need help, please PM me, and i'll either help you there and then, or put you in contact with someone who can.
CM
Instead of attaching a lawnmower handle to the front of a buggy, I'd get a flat fold Graco pushchair, reverse the seat and pull the buggy along with my left hand, while using the long cane or holding the handle of a guide dog's harness in my right hand. There was actually an article where I read about other visually impaired parents who do exactly that. When my Aunt had her first baby, Joe, now 14, she used to reverse the seat in the pushchair so he faced his mum or dad or whoever else was pushing the buggy. Some buses and trains in the UK now have a lower step which is level with the curb to make it easier for parents with baby buggies, wheelchairs, those shopping trolley bags Etc to wheel them on to the bus without having to fold everything away and keep the passengers waiting while you fussed around with the shopping and stuff at the bus stop.
Well Funky Monkey some of us aren't the super baby sitter that you portray yourself to be I guess. I am sorry when I am at play group or at someone else's house or out in the backyard the bell on the back of the shirt is very handy. I do agree getting the baby to answer to his name is very important and plan on instilling that in my child, but that isn't always a guarantee him/her answering.
Sorcha
when you ask for help, why are you disparraging of those who try to give it? Not once did I say I was a super babysitter, and not once did I say that anyone who uses bells is inferior. Get rid of this nastiness, as it serves no other purpose other than to make people not want to help you any more.
I'm disappointed that you are turning this into a bitch fest, as I found this quite an interesting topic.
FM
ok girls, enough of that. so long as your kid grows up to be hwat ever it wants, then you did it the right way ok? all this is advice, and all fm was doing was explaining that she's been there done that. if your sling works, then use it, if your lawn mower handled stroler works, use it. if you want to put your kid on a leash, then goodluck, I've tried it with a cousin, and my brothers also wore one, and they don't work, at least not in my mind. Nem will be using that not me. my kid is on my back till he or she can walk, then they're being responsible and holding my hand or there'll be trouble. they'll have squeeky shoes, they'll ware bells, and they'll learn to answer me when I call them as well, and tell me when they plan on going off somewhere when they're old enough, and know when to come back. it's all about setting your bounderies and sticking to them. I am one of these people who loves cuddling my baby, or at least will when I have my own, at the moment I borrow friends babies *grin* so I want to have my baby with me as much as possible, that means free hands, and bub in a sling on front or back. This is important for bonding too. I believe that very much. I don't like draging cases or carts when I am working my dog, so the pram or stroller is out of the question. Although there are times baby might need to sleep, then we will use one. it's all about finding what works for your family individually. Oh, one mroe thing, I have heard that guide dogs can be taught to work along side a handler who is pushing a pram. does anyone know about this?
Hey all. Well, up until now I've been carrying Hannah around everywhere with her just in her arms. She been light enough for me to do that. But now we've started pushing her in the pram because she's about 12 pounds and too heavy to carry long distances. lol. James and I have enough vision to travel without a cane so it is easy enough to push the pram but it is awkward to drive. lol. I also have one of those things to put on your shoulders so you can carry them in front, like a sling. Only thing is, we can't figure out how to get Hannah in it properly. lol. Why are things like that so difficult and hard to assymbol?hehehehe. I really want to use it so we can all go grocery shopping. Not sure yet what we'll do when she starts walking. Holding there hand just wont work. lol. We still have a little time to figure that one out. I like the squeaky shoe thing but will have to have backup plans when she starts taking her shoes off. hehehe.
We're going to do a big shopping thing online for stuff for Hannah so I'll check everything out and see what I might find useful in the means of keeping track of her, carrying her, and toys! My favorite part! Toys! lol.
Lizzy
Yeah, toys're my favourite part of shopping for babies too. Lou and Richard've just bought a combination pram/buggy for Robbie. It's extremely robust and heavy-duty, so Lou can ensure Robbie gets a comfortable ride down their dirt track road to the woods near their house. She's hardly ever used a sling, simply because she's so skinny that she has a bad back whenever she's pregnant, because the baby +bag of waters +everything else to go with the pregnancy puts so much weight on it, so she's got through five different buggies and two prams with the other three children, mainly because of all that rough ground and some of them haven't been able to take all that wear and tear. This pushchair though, came with both the seat and a carry cot where at the moment, Robbie's spending a lot of his time, either parked at the end of the kitchen table or a short distance from the house in the back garden, so in our family, the pushchair rules OK.
That's a lot of push chirs. lol The squeaky shoes sound really cute, nbut not while the child is in school. Could you picture the reactions of teachers and students?
I don't have any children, yet, myself, but two experiences stick out in my mind. The one time I attempted to use a stroller I was pulling it along; using my cane so the stroller was revursed, and it got caught on the ramp or something and tumbled over...I freaked; I was so afraid my baby brother was hurt, but thank goodness he wasn't, but to say the least, I never tried that again...Also, as far as the name thing. Back in February, right after my nephew was born, I was trying to get his older sister, who is 2 and a half, so her diaper could get changed...Anyways, I called her name, but she decided to go completely still and not answer. Yes, she knows her name, and has never refused to answer before. My theory is that she is starting to realize I can't see her unless there is sound from her, so, she simply went silent...Anyways, after a couple of minutes of trying to find her I got smart. I brought my hand down across her highchair tray so loud that it startled her, and from behind the highchair and drapes I heard, "No!!!". LOL, got her and she got her diaper changed.
i never used bells and the time i used the leash it was a disaster. my son showed his extreme manual dexteridy by wriggling out of his hand holder when he was 15 months old. the box said noone under three should be able to do this. what did they know? anyway Michael nonchallantly headed out in front of a blue van. I dove out and grabbed him and collapsed on the curb. the poor driver about had a heart attack. He didn't see the kid but saw this enormously pregnant woman fling herself in front of him.
I'd go with the squeky shoes when they're starting to walk.
I think the bells are better
okay
I might use a bell on the shirt, pipsqueekers or booties with rattles in them when my child is crawling and first walking, but doing so any later than that with other kids present would make my child feel singled out and would not be good for their social development. I have always planned on using slings, baby backpacks and frontpacks, (which I gather are the same things as Baby Bjorns?) and then a stroller once the child is too heavy to carry in any of those manners. You can use a stroller with a guide dog and do so safely, although you should consult your guide dog school for this if you've never done it before. I give much more detailed hints on this on another board topic, so I won't repete my self. Now, pardon me if you have a different training method at your particular school, but, guidedogs work on the left, not on the right. A few schools will train a dog specially for someone who needs a right hand dog, such as an amputee or someone with weekness in or an injury to their left arm, but it is not the norm. Like I said, maybe your school does work that way, but if you don't have a guide dog and were simply assuming the right side harness travel you should be informed so you won't look foolish in future. I used to have a leash when I was two to four or five or so. It was a wrist to wrist leash not the more elaborate baby harness and leash, (which I have never seen before, but which I may be interested in). I loved it, dancing around out at the end of my leash and my mother took me everywhere that way, including downtown, shopping and so on, with no sighted assistance whatsoever.
Looking back it this topic now that I am expecting I find the links that a few people posted for spacific products and companies very helpful. So, thanks again.
We use a stroller for our son when walking, but we've also used the front pack too, which worked really well. I know, I know, I'm about to sound really dumb, but I hate the qought of annoying squeaker shoes/bells around people. It's embarrassing, it makes you look blind, nd it's very easy for a little two-year-old to disassemble in a matter of seconds. I prefer the leash idea, although the one I got as a baby shower gift seems quite nice. It's a monkey that the little one wears like a backpack, with a wrist strap on it that the adult can wear. It's fashionable, cute, and it makes the kid think they have a buddy that goes along with them when they go out. I may use the bell idea in my house clipped on the child's cloqes, but probably not in public. I am also a big fan of making the child responsible for answering to their name, coming when called, etc, although I'm also aware qat it's a lot of hard work to establish that. I may change my opinion, and I may not.
Hey, bells will stay on with zip ties!
You get me a child who can disassemble a zip tie, and I'll be amazed. I find it hard to pull apart myself. You usually have to use scissors to cut it off.
lol allie you'll be going through a lot of zip ties. and thoughs little monkey things are cute. I used one iwth my friends daughter she's 2 and she trailed along behind my guide dog. was great. I'll be using them.
see? changed my mind about leashes already. so long as it has a monkey on it hehe jk.
Going through a lot of zip ties? I'm not sure yet if I'll be using bells. I have trouble hearing them, particularly in loud places.
Hehehehehe. Yeah. They have some inconspicuous harnesses/leashes, like the monkey. I've heard of other cute little animals like a bear or a dog, too. I'm definitely getting one.
My sister uses the monkey when she goes to big places like an air port, she is not blind. It makes her feel more safe.
I think it's interesting how a person's views can change over time. I didn't like the sound of the leash before, but now I love the one we have. Sure beats having to chase a three-foot midget down the aisles in Best Buy!
i would use a leash in public. It is easier then bending down to hold their hands and gives them more lattitude to run around.
actually 20 years ago, i used a harness. for my son, i had something called a hand holder. the box assured me that no one under three could get out of it. Well, no one told michael. My kids are 15 months apart in age. When my son was 14.5 months old we decided to try this crazy thing. So we went out and he took it off and ran in to the street. A big huge blue van came roaring down the road. Not even considering that I had the opportunity to kill three people i dove off the curb, grabbed him and collapsed in the grass. The car missed me by six inches. My dear friend and neighbor terri came out and said the guy was sitting in his vehicle crying. You better believe me, it was a very short time until i went out and bought a harness that hooked in the back and that he could not reach. I never bothered with bells. My kids were too busy making noise and were easy to follow.
oh yes, i used a stroller and a snuggli or whatever they are called now. it depended on the age and the circumstances. our grand baby's parents don't drive and walk her everywhere in the stroller. they say that it is so much more fun because they have more time to stop and show her stuff etc.
We tried bells and they never worked. Nathaniel always found a way to take them off, and we were afraid he would eat them so we did away with them. We too found that Nathaniel is noisy enough without them. The leash works really well in public.
I'd say that leashes are great for when out in public, and bells should be worn around the house. I hope that this helps.
i'd put a bell on the back of the child's shirt where he or she can't reach it to pull it off. Or, better yet, just get a pair of squeaky shoes for him or her.
lol we don't need bells for Robbie, now 28 months, as he either bangs or crashes everywhere, pushing or pulling with him various ride on toy cars, diggers and lawnmowers, keeping up a constant babbling commentary at the top of his lungs, lol. Mind you, having said that, i'm sure he'd love his own pipsqueaks to jump up and down and squeak all day in them, lol, not to mention the above-mentioned bells to add to the 24 7 commotion he creates. The only time he is quiet, is when he's got one of his brothers or sisters' full attention and he's occupied with them, lol.
Jen.
Well, I have a delemma. We are thinking of taking Nathaniel to Chuck E. Cheese on the 14th. Our church is putting together an event there for families to go and take their kids. I don't think my husband will be going as he has to work that day so it will just be him and I. I am planning to bring the leash, but I want him to have a little freedom. He lovesto run and explore and he's aware that because of my cerebral palsy and also being eight months pregnant, I can't just go running around with him where ever he wants to go. Are there alarms or super-noisy bells I can use? Or, should I just suck it up and ask someone to help mewatch him? Or, should we just not go? Help please!