Difference between revisions of "Movement"

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* She also encouraged us to pretend as if our baby was not sick and create the same movement and sensorial input that you would for any baby. Imagine that your PWS baby is cranky and fussy. Rock him and dance him and pat him and do all of the things that he would demand of you if he could.
 
* She also encouraged us to pretend as if our baby was not sick and create the same movement and sensorial input that you would for any baby. Imagine that your PWS baby is cranky and fussy. Rock him and dance him and pat him and do all of the things that he would demand of you if he could.
 
* The Baby Bjorn also provides an opportunity for bonding and improved neck control. The baby receives the stimulation of your movement, feels your body, and is included in your actions. We did not use a stroller for the first 6 months of our baby's life. Instead, we tried to take a daily walk with him in the Baby Bjorn.
 
* The Baby Bjorn also provides an opportunity for bonding and improved neck control. The baby receives the stimulation of your movement, feels your body, and is included in your actions. We did not use a stroller for the first 6 months of our baby's life. Instead, we tried to take a daily walk with him in the Baby Bjorn.
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 +
== One Mom's Story ==
 +
 +
I have to tell you how I made it through Danielle's first year and how I wish that I had enjoyed it more now that she's grown into such a grown-up girl.
 +
 +
I loved snuggling with her and reading to her and we still read two books each night before bed.  She's starting to read now and that is very exciting!  I tried to treat her as if she were normal, meaning that I learned to read her tiniest expression to know what she was thinking and feeling.  When she would get a little frown, I would treat it as if she was having a temper tantrum.  I would put on soft classical music (Baby Genius is great) and walk with her, holding her and soothing her as if she had colic or something.  I wanted her to know that I was there for her just as I would have been if she were screaming her head off.
 +
 +
We got one of those baby gyms so that she could see and play with the toys while she was laying on her back.  I got a really good bouncy seat so that I could have her with me while I did dishes just as if she were sitting on the floor playing with measuring cups,
 +
which is what my son loves too.
 +
 +
I would dispair that she couldn't hold any toys.  I bought some of those wrist rattles and cursed them for being so heavy!  I learned to buy toys for their weight and ease of activation vs. if they were a best seller.
 +
 +
Danielle's three favorite toys:  The first thing we got her that really worked, even before she could hardly move, was a Fisher Price Sparkling Symphony Mirror (
 +
http://www.dmartstores.com/sparsymmirby.html ).  The rolly thing on the bottom activates the lights and music.  I'd get it so that it was so so close to activating and hang it in the bassinet (it's actually a crib toy) so that her arm was next to it.  At the slightest movement it would activate.  I figured that it would show her that she could have an effect on her environment.
 +
 +
 +
When she could hold something, a Bee Finger Puppet was her favorite (see it at http://www.insectlore-europe.com/minbeefinpup.html but this is a Europe URL, we got ours at our local Backyard Bird Shop).  It is very light-weight, has the stringy legs which she would suck
 +
on, the filmy wings which she would rub, and the nose to chew on! I've kept it in her baby box because it was the first time she was able to really play with something.
 +
 +
The most long-term favorite toy we got her was a tiny horsey from Manhattan Toy Company.  It was only 2 - 3" high and very light.  I can't find it on the Net and we got it at a horse show.  The closest thing I can find is at http://www.netequestrian.com/products/product.asp?pId=306&cId=8 .  This is also in her baby box.  I even have a video of her playing with it in her bouncy seat that I emailed to In-Laws in case you'd like to see.  I'm a proud mama and I'll subject anyone I can to my files and files of pictures and videos!!! 
 +
 +
She went through a shoelace and ribbon phase where she would just let them run through her fingers over and over.  I was afraid that it was the start of OCD.  We'd find our shoes with no laces in them all the time.  But it did help me out sometimes because it would keep her occupied for a good 15 minutes or more.  Then after a while she moved on to other things and now David (16 mo) is taking our shoelaces out - so who knows?!?!
 +
 +
Let's see, she held her head up at 6 mo.  Sat up very wobbly at 10 mo I think, started rolling _everywhere_ (too cute) and then crawling at around 12 mo, walked at 18 mo.
 +
 +
Now that Danielle's older, she loves puzzles (of course) and does 100 pc puzzles designed for 7-10 year-olds.  A while back, I went into her room to see what was keeping her so quiet . . . she was doing the 100 pc puzzle _upside down_ so that it would take her
 +
longer!
 +
 +
My biggest thing to remember is that, most mom's say their childs stages go so quickly.  WE get the priviledge of watching our children grow and learn in a bit of slow motion.  She did
 +
everything, but it took her into her 2nd year instead of getting it all done in the first year.

Revision as of 14:54, 31 January 2005

First Steps

  1. Hold baby as much as possible.
  2. Rock with baby in rocking chair.
  3. Use a Baby Bjorn or infant carrier as much as possible and take walks with the baby.
  4. Place the baby on the tummy as much as possible.
  5. Consider passively moving his hands and legs.

Passive Movement

  • We met a wonderful physical therapist (PT) in the NICU who explained to us that putting a baby on your chest (head up) and rocking actually provides the baby with an opportunity to learn about its place in space and make micro adjustments of its body to compensate for the movement. It promotes neck strength.
  • She also encouraged us to pretend as if our baby was not sick and create the same movement and sensorial input that you would for any baby. Imagine that your PWS baby is cranky and fussy. Rock him and dance him and pat him and do all of the things that he would demand of you if he could.
  • The Baby Bjorn also provides an opportunity for bonding and improved neck control. The baby receives the stimulation of your movement, feels your body, and is included in your actions. We did not use a stroller for the first 6 months of our baby's life. Instead, we tried to take a daily walk with him in the Baby Bjorn.

One Mom's Story

I have to tell you how I made it through Danielle's first year and how I wish that I had enjoyed it more now that she's grown into such a grown-up girl.

I loved snuggling with her and reading to her and we still read two books each night before bed. She's starting to read now and that is very exciting! I tried to treat her as if she were normal, meaning that I learned to read her tiniest expression to know what she was thinking and feeling. When she would get a little frown, I would treat it as if she was having a temper tantrum. I would put on soft classical music (Baby Genius is great) and walk with her, holding her and soothing her as if she had colic or something. I wanted her to know that I was there for her just as I would have been if she were screaming her head off.

We got one of those baby gyms so that she could see and play with the toys while she was laying on her back. I got a really good bouncy seat so that I could have her with me while I did dishes just as if she were sitting on the floor playing with measuring cups, which is what my son loves too.

I would dispair that she couldn't hold any toys. I bought some of those wrist rattles and cursed them for being so heavy! I learned to buy toys for their weight and ease of activation vs. if they were a best seller.

Danielle's three favorite toys: The first thing we got her that really worked, even before she could hardly move, was a Fisher Price Sparkling Symphony Mirror ( http://www.dmartstores.com/sparsymmirby.html ). The rolly thing on the bottom activates the lights and music. I'd get it so that it was so so close to activating and hang it in the bassinet (it's actually a crib toy) so that her arm was next to it. At the slightest movement it would activate. I figured that it would show her that she could have an effect on her environment.


When she could hold something, a Bee Finger Puppet was her favorite (see it at http://www.insectlore-europe.com/minbeefinpup.html but this is a Europe URL, we got ours at our local Backyard Bird Shop). It is very light-weight, has the stringy legs which she would suck on, the filmy wings which she would rub, and the nose to chew on! I've kept it in her baby box because it was the first time she was able to really play with something.

The most long-term favorite toy we got her was a tiny horsey from Manhattan Toy Company. It was only 2 - 3" high and very light. I can't find it on the Net and we got it at a horse show. The closest thing I can find is at http://www.netequestrian.com/products/product.asp?pId=306&cId=8 . This is also in her baby box. I even have a video of her playing with it in her bouncy seat that I emailed to In-Laws in case you'd like to see. I'm a proud mama and I'll subject anyone I can to my files and files of pictures and videos!!!

She went through a shoelace and ribbon phase where she would just let them run through her fingers over and over. I was afraid that it was the start of OCD. We'd find our shoes with no laces in them all the time. But it did help me out sometimes because it would keep her occupied for a good 15 minutes or more. Then after a while she moved on to other things and now David (16 mo) is taking our shoelaces out - so who knows?!?!

Let's see, she held her head up at 6 mo. Sat up very wobbly at 10 mo I think, started rolling _everywhere_ (too cute) and then crawling at around 12 mo, walked at 18 mo.

Now that Danielle's older, she loves puzzles (of course) and does 100 pc puzzles designed for 7-10 year-olds. A while back, I went into her room to see what was keeping her so quiet . . . she was doing the 100 pc puzzle _upside down_ so that it would take her longer!

My biggest thing to remember is that, most mom's say their childs stages go so quickly. WE get the priviledge of watching our children grow and learn in a bit of slow motion. She did everything, but it took her into her 2nd year instead of getting it all done in the first year.