My sister suggested I share some of the things we had to adapt and invent when I was pregnant because she still finds it “fascinating”. Not sure if you will too but it is kind of cool I guess ...
When we found out I was pregnant it was an exciting and scary time - as it usually is the first time around. When I began researching everything we would need to have I realized I was kind of screwed. There were so many necessities that we never even thought of that were not going to work for us - the crib, the stroller, the car - I’m sure I’m forgetting a lot but these were definitely the most challenging and the most memorable.
We’re not rich and famous so having a full time nanny was not an option and I would be home alone with my baby most of the time. I ordered an adaptive equipment catalog and it was AWFUL. There was nothing useful to us and the things we could use were so basic and poorly designed, they were more dangerous than anything. We needed to get creative. Luckily my husband is very handy and I’m super smart 😜 so I was able to throw some ideas at him.
First was the crib. Never thought about that, right? Me either. Usually you have to reach down into the crib and pick up your tiny little baby. Guess what? The top of the crib was about head-high for me so that was not going to work. We designed a crib with a solid bar connecting sliding doors and push locks that my husband was able to build out of an existing crib. It was pretty cool and still exists in my parent’s attic - I hope (right, ma?)
At my baby shower we were gifted one of those awesome fancy strollers and I was able to somewhat maneuver it around if I didn’t need to get it in and out of my car. Essentially, I get around on my own stroller which got our wheels turning. Again, we got to work and designed a baby carrier that my mother-in-law was able to help make out of an existing carrier that we purchased. It allowed my son to securely sit on my lap so I could use both arms to push us around and not worry about him falling.
Once we were mobile I wanted to hit the road. At the time I drove a regular car (I had learned to get my chair in and out by then). But I couldn’t manage to lift and hoist my baby into the backseat in a rear facing car seat. It took away a lot of our independence but once he was able to face forward, I traded my car in for a fully converted minivan. I hate driving it but I still do as it makes my life so much easier.
We had our second son when our other was five so I still had to get him to school and activities with a baby in tow. Even with the van, I wasn’t able to get my newborn into a rear facing seat. This was a tough one to figure out but my husband knew of a local guy who built race cars. We went to talk to him and came up with the plan to install a “jump seat” in the non existent middle row (it’s removed from the minivan during conversion) so I could roll in with him on my lap and right up to the single middle row seat and throw him in there - usually while he was kicking and screaming because that second one was a nightmare for a while 😅-but it was life changing. (**For the record it was tested and 100% safe**)
When my boys were old enough to walk but just toddlers, I wasn’t able to control them so well since I needed my hands to get around. I used a leash for a short time - which, for the record, I think is a ridiculous contraption but after being unable to stop my son from running into the street one time, became a necessity. My husband made a swing out bar that he added onto the side of my chair. This allowed the boys to ‘hold my hand’ and stay next to me while I pushed myself and lead them around.
I miss those days ❤
These are just some of the MANY adaptations we had to come up with. I’m sure we’re not the only ones but the available options are few and far between. We’re lucky that we’re both inventive and creative enough to come up with the ideas and equip to carry them out. So are my kids - or they might still be stuck in their cribs today :-)
** I wish I could share some pictures but this was before the days of smart phones. I’ll dig around and see what I can find so you can see for yourselves
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