5 replies to this topic

[snaggs10]

I work 24 hours shifts with the fire dept. meaning I work 24 hours on 72 hours off. Me and Sarah need Ideas what to do when the baby comes about what to do when I work. If the baby needs her it will take her a while to get to the baby. Our parents are out of the ? they both live in our hometown which is about a 3 hour drive from us. Durning the day she will be fine it is a njght which is her concern. Would like to know what others have done. One my days off I am home at night so we are ok then it is just when I work we need help.

[Muskie]

First let me say congrats to your soon to becoming new addition. Secondly I am an AB but I worked rotating shift for 13 years and am a father of 4. Thinking this through if your wife is breast feeding have the baby stay in the bed with her on those nights. Have a little supply station with in reach diapers, wipers, and other supplies she may need. If she is not breast feeding a small cooler with premade bottles of formula and a bottle warmer. You could also put the bassinet or crib right next to your bed. Hope this helps.

K

Edited by Muskie, 07 August 2012 - 01:03 PM.

[Dovely]

Hey there snaggs,

heartfelt congratulations to you and Sarah. I do not have any children on my own (yet ) but if you are mostly worrying about the nights and your wife not being able to get out of bed in time it might be worthwile looking into purchasing a bedside cot. Unfortunately I seem to lack a certain amount of iq points to add pictures in here so I will just post 2 links to diffrent styles. I especially like the bednest cause its height adjustable and has a more polished look to it.

http://www.bednest.com/index.php
http://www.armsreach...Path=cPath=3_18 (They offer quite a few of those bassinets)

It might also be an option to have a cooler/heater for bottles and necessities like diapers in reach.

I wish you all the best.
Dovey

[ClaraTaylor]

Has she thought about co-sleeping? You don't have to have the baby in the bed with you there are plenty of cots that will butt up the the bed with minor adjustment if you don't want to buy a special one i.e. http://www.amazon.co...44348926&sr=8-1

Which will allow Sarah to comfort and get to the baby quickly and also to breastfed without getting up if she is doing this. Also if you keep the baby in your room you just need a small table to keep nappies and other baby equipment (bottles etc.) so there is less distance for Sarah to cover (if she doesn't like the idea of keeping them on the bed side table and changing the baby on the bed (using a towel for protection!)

It's perfectly do-able on her own. Many parents opt to keep baby close by especially for the first few months so that they can enjoy the security of being able to see and hear them all of the time.

[wheeliebear75]

1st off congratulations on your upcomming arrival!

I've had 4 kids since I got hurt. Just out of curiosity.....what's different about night time vs. daytime taking care of the baby?

ALL new parents are "scared" or "nervous" about if they'll be able to handle everything a new baby can throw at them.....but 99% of parents do just fine & you'll be no exception to this rule here having an SCI or not. I'm sure you've already learned that doing anything with an SCI takes some PLANNING.....& becomeing parents will be no different......you'll just have an extra learning curve to deal with.

A crib that has rails that drop down to where she can still get the baby in/out even while sleeping, a carrier (the kind you strap the baby to yourself with) & I used one that was a sling style at 1st (my "baby" is 14 now) & it was a good way both to carry AND breast-feed then moved them up to the style where they can face forward sitting on my lap as they got to around 3+ mo or so, and a swing that is at an easy hieght for her to reach the baby & (VERY important) that the tray lifts since from a chair it's much harder to lift UP & clear baby's legs. When the baby is ready for a high chair make sure it's one that she can lift him/her in & out of safely. My sister-in-law barrowed a 20lb sack of fertilizer from lawn-garden section & we used THAT to see what high-chairs were best for ME to use to SAFELY get a toddler in/out of.

Anything you're unsure about; myself & others have all had kids post-SCI, & will be more than happy to help you overcome as many obsticles as we pssibly can.

Edited by wheeliebear75, 08 August 2012 - 11:47 PM.

[snaggs10]

Things have there way of working out. One of the guys on my shift wife said she will help out Sarah on the nights I work for the first few months we are good firends with them and there will be having a baby in early spring of next year so it will good practice for her plus it will give her someone to hang out with when me and her husband both work.