I've read a previous post on the subject but am desperate for more info!
I'm Jamie and after lots of trying my husband and I are finally going to have a baby! He is a C6/7 quadraplegic and obviously finger movement is an issue when it comes to a lot of things, like holding a baby bottle, etc. I need anyone and everyone's advice on what you did with your baby...lol !!! Anything...bottles, or ANY other baby equipment
Who can I contact or where can I find a crib for the baby that my husband can get his chair under? I've found a few online, but several of them are just pictures of ones that have been modified by individuals for their own family. I am not inclined in the field of carpentry! He's pretty tall, and has a power chair, so the chair sits up pretty high. And what about when the baby gets older and the mattress has to be lowered? Will the modifications mess that up?
THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!

Jamie

I am not sure how much arm strength your hubby has. I had a an idea though, . Those REALLY BIG rubber bands the postal service uses could be used to hold the bottle to his hand. If you place the bottle in his hand, then over the backs of his fingers stretch the band so you put one end of the loop on each end of the bottle. If you use one that is large enough it should not cut off the circulation to his fingers, and the elasticity should keep it in his hand. I was in school with a quad who did that same thing to drink his 20oz soda bottles.....so it should be roughly the same thing I would think. I'm only a para so I don't know if that would work......I'm only assuming that it may. The guy I knew who did that was a C6 so maybe they are around the same function level?


to parenthood......like the peace corps "The toughest job you'll ever love". LOL

[font=Comic Sans Ms][color=#660000]Hi

I was wondering if you have heard of Remap (if you are in England, anyway). It is a charity that make custon made equipment for people - you could try them and see what they say. 0845 1300 456

I've only ever seen their year book, so don't have any first hand knowledge, but might be worth a try.

Chicken Lady

I'm in the US, I wonder if there's anything like that here?? Does anyone know? That sounds very interesting and very useful!! Thanks for your input.
Jamie

Hi

Not sure about similar stuff on your side of the pond. You could Google Remap and contact them to see if they have any links over there.

They are basically a charity of retired / volunteer engineers who have an interest.

Best of luck with everything

Chicken Lady

Hi again

Another thought - if you got an hour glass shaped bottle for the baby, and a glove of some description for hubby, you could stitch some velcro onto the back of the glove so it looped around his hand and the bottle. This wouldn't affect his circulation i suppose. You could stick some velro onto the bottle I suppose too. Could get a bit messy when washing I suppose.

Organic thoughts going on here - you could have a bottle shaped / sized bag with a toggle tie neck. this could be stitched to the palm of a glove so the bottle could be inserted into it and fastened at the neck (a netted bag so you could see how much milk is left). The bottle would then be securely held in place...

All home made ideas I'm afriad. there is always breastfeeding too.

Enough babble for now.

Take care

Chicken Lady

I have found some awesome stuff...IKEA has changing tables that are partially roll under, about 12-15 inches of rollunder room....we are always looking for adaptable baby stuff and this is going to work out perfect...IKEA is everywhere too....here is the link
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http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S19842534

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S19843468


Good LUCK

Check out this hands free bottle holder. We plan on getting something like this when the day comes that we have a baby, so he can give an occasional bottle of breastmilk. Click on the other pictures. It shows a guy in a regular chair using it, but it could easily be a guy in a wheelchair.
http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Butler-Hands-Fr...f=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Have you thought of a frontpack for your hubby to carry bubs around in? It's was the greatest bonding utility I ever had.

Following the link to the Baby Butler, there is also a link to another type of hands free kit. Its called the Podee and its basically a bottle top, tubing and a bottle, which the baby sucks up the milk.

The only thing which would worry me is cleaning the tubing, but I read on the site that they include tube 'scrubbers'. It would be a pain in the bum for anyone with dexterity issues to clean them tho.

Also, baby would still need to be supervised in case of aspiration, something the ads seem to ignore! My feeling is its a good invention for babies who are out of the new born stage, when they are less inclined to fall asleep all the time whilst eating resulting in poor intake, (& wind up always being awake, like mine!) as I am sure that could happen. I breastfed for 8.5 months and 11.5 months respectively so if I had used such a device, I would have done so when they were bigger so probably not an issue for those who wish to b/feed. Its good for colicky babies too I would think as the baby can sit once able to, thus preventing Oseophageal Reflux/GERD/GORD etc.

heres the link so that you can decide for yourselves:
PODEE Hands free feeding system

Take care,

K