Helping You to Care for a Disabled Relative
Caring for a disabled relative can be tough; in many cases you’re relied upon 24/7 to care for someone who is unable to care for themselves. Even caring for someone part time can be physically and mentally draining.
There is no denying that this amount of devotion to someone is something admirable and a clear sign you love and care for them greatly, but even the best of us need space to relax, unwind and have some ‘me’ time. Many organizations are set up for carers to help them take care of their disabled relative or else give them a place to stay while the carer spends some time alone. It is about choosing what is right for your situation, and allows each member of the family to live happily.
There are two general types of care: supported living and residential care. Both of these can adapt and work with your situation as well as they can to make you and your family happy and comfortable. There are also a number of aids available that can help with everyday duties. Let’s look at these types of care in a bit more detail.
• Supported Living – Supported living is a type of care where the patient is cared for at home by professionals. If you’re caring for a family member in their home, then you yourself are offering a form of supported living.
Professional carers usually work as part of an organization or business where they come in once or twice a day to help out; this could range from getting the patient out of bed, dressed and washed, cooking meals for them or taking them to the toilet.
If you’re finding it difficult to cope with caring for a relative and are considering placing them in residential care, professional supported living may offer a solution. In the case of many patients, remaining in a place where they feel at ease helps their condition; those with physical impairments, learning difficulties or mental illness may need a familiar environment to feel safe.
• Residential Care – Residential care is given to patients in a residential house rather than in their home. There are many different kinds of residential care available; some provide care around the clock with a range of different carers on hand to provide help. Others offer a form of independent living where the patient does not need care 24/7 but cannot live on their own completely.
Residential care offers a social aspect as well, allowing patients to interact with people they can identify with and have something in common. It is also great for those whose relatives live too far away or in an unsuitable place where they cannot care for them properly. Residential care allows those to live as independently as they like, depending on the condition of their disability.
Some residential care units accept patients only during the day or even for just a couple of days a week. This can allow the full-time carer the space they need, while also potentially, allowing the patient some much needed socialization.
• Assistive Technology and Disability Aids – assistive technology refers to pieces of equipment designed to help those with a range of disabilities such as deafness or blindness to cope with tasks that we take for granted.
Disability aids often refers to mobility equipment such as scooters, wheelchairs and devices to help with bathing.
Both assistive technology and disability aids can help relieve some of the duties associated with looking after a relative as they ease the difficulties associated with day-to-day living.
Understand that you do not have to look after a disabled relative alone. There are many options and organizations available to you that will do everything they can to make sure everyone is happy and comfortable. It is important to do careful and detailed research into facilities you are interested in to make sure your disabled relative gets the best care they can.
Mothers 3rd Arm was developed for parents but we pleasantly surprised how it helps the disability and special needs community. We are glad to help and thank you for supporting us. Please share this article with your friends, family and check out our Bottle Holders.
This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of Voyage, who offer supported living services and access to activities for adults with learning disabilities.
Filed Under UncategorizedTop 5 Christmas gifts for baby twins
Top 5 Christmas gifts for baby twins
Are you looking for a fabulous Christmas gift for a loved-one’s baby twins? In the baby stage, the most important quality of a gift is making parents happy. Parenting infant twins can be rather stressful, so items that make caring for two babies easier will delight any mom and dad. Here are the Top Five gifts guaranteed to be a success!
1. Baby swings
In the first few months, baby swings can be a true life-saver for twin parents. If you want to make twin parents really happy, two baby swings will almost definitely make it happen. There are many different kinds of baby swings on the market. Most have several different settings for swinging, and play songs. Baby swings allow a tired twin mom to put her babies down in a safe place and take a shower once in a while, or even read a book while they nap if she’s very lucky.
2. Wooden blocks
For older babies – past six months or so – durable toys that will keep the them busy for a long time are great. Wooden blocks start to be fun for young babies, and can remain a favorite until well past the toddler stage. Wooden blocks that are non-toxic (like those made by Plan Toys, for example) can also serve as teethers for babies with painful gums. Best of all, there are enough blocks in a set so that twins can share this gift without fighting.
3. A one-baby stroller and one baby carrier
We’re sure that the twin parents you are going Christmas shopping for have already got a double stroller. These may seem essential to any mom pregnant with twins, but they are not always all that practical. Double strollers can be hard to drive about, and don’t always fit through doors. In some situations, a single stroller and a baby carrier make a much more practical way to get twins from A to B. We like a mei tai or Ergo baby carrier, and a light stroller (make sure the back can be flattened for when the baby naps).
4. Baby bottle holder
With the Mother’s 3rd Arm baby bottle holder, twin parents can spend one-on-one time with one baby, while the other enjoys a bottle. The Mother’s 3rd Arm bottle holder can be attached to a stroller or car seat, so it can be used inside the house or while the twin parent is running errands. Of course, this baby bottle holder can be used with formula or breast milk – if your twin mom works outside of the home, her nanny will especially appreciate this easy feeding aid.
5. Tableware sets
If the baby twins you are playing Santa Claus for are going to start solid foods soon, tableware sets make a beautiful gift. You can get two similar crockery and cutlery sets in different colors or with different prints. Make sure any tableware you buy is of a good quality, that it can go in the dish washer, and is able to withstand some rough handling.
Share this post with your friends:
Guest blog written by:
Trying To Conceive is a blog for women who are hoping for a baby, already have pregnancy signs and symptoms, and beyond. With their free ovulation calendar , women can pinpoint their most fertile days.
Bottle Feeding Tips for Professional Moms
Here are a few words from one of our writer moms…
As a working mom, I am face with a hard decision every day. When I decide to go back to work, after having my baby, I use to worry about my baby, I use to worry about my child’s development. I use to worry if the nanny or babysitter was holding my baby properly during bottle feeding. Sometimes I was too tired from working all day to hold my baby with the proper support sometimes. When I later discovered improper support doing bottle feeding can lead to underdeveloped fine motor skills and could stunt my child’s development, it was time for a change.
That’s when I stumble upon Mother’s 3rd Arm bottle holder in the search engine. I was searching for something to aid my child’s development. Mother’s 3rd Arm bottle holder can handle, glass baby bottles, plastic baby bottles, Sippy cups for toddlers and many other cups.
Studies show babies with support when bottle feeding become independent self feeders earlier than babies without support doing bottle feeding. I am the mother five kids and a single parent. As a single working mother of five kids, my schedule is very busy. I am not always around for every detail of my baby’s life. When I am working, my kids are left with the nanny. Still, the kids are a hand full for the nanny. I worried my baby may not be still getting the proper support doing bottle feeding times. As a concerned parent, I purchased the Mother’s 3rd Arm baby bottle holder.
Mother’s 3rd Arm has been a joy and blessing in my life. I did not have worry anymore if my baby getting the proper support doing bottle feedings. Now, bottle feeding does not mean stop everything I am doing. With Mother’s 3rd Arm baby bottle holder I can multi-task without worrying about sitting down to hold a baby bottle.
My nanny thinks Mother’s 3rd Arm is the best child’s development tool ever invented. Now, my nanny does not have to take up a lot time with the baby. The nanny can focus a little more attention on the other three kids.
Mother’s 3rd Arm grows with your child. If your baby no longer using baby bottles, the baby bottle holder not alone is a baby bottle holder but it can hold Sippy cups. That’s right; toddlers may need support with holding their cups.
The baby bottle holder keeps toddlers and babies from contaminating their baby bottles or Sippy cups. Whenever, a child is done with a Sippy cup or baby bottle their natural reaction is to throw on the floor. Most of our floors are full germs. Just because a home look clean does not mean the floor does not have germs.
Germs are responsible for many days missed at work taking care sick kids and many missed school hours from your kids being sick. Germs can be passed on from face to face contact. That why it is important to purchase Mother’s 3rd arm baby bottle holder.
Filed Under TipsBottle Feeding tips for Breast feeding babies
Breast feeding or formula is one of the first and most critical decisions that expecting mothers must make for their baby. Everywhere you search on the internet, parenting books and magazines all say breast milk is the best choice for the health of your child. Everyone is different, no individual situation, health or lifestyle is the same. Whether you decide to use formula or breast feeding, bottle feeding is inevitable. In our modern world, bottle feeding is essential to our child’s development, despite your preference of formula or breast milk. What seems to be missing in most reviews is: “Is the breast always the best choice?”
I must say a qualified “no.”
Starting in the 20th Century, mothers have been able to easily choose both. Yes, that’s right! With the advent of electrical breast-milk pumps, our professional mothers have been able to pump their breast milk each day into storage containers, which are then refrigerated for their child’s husband or caretaker to use in baby bottles throughout the day. On the other hand, there are those mothers with multiple kids needing to feed more than one at the same time or simply recognized that feeding with a bottle or Sippy Cup while driving is an excellent way to care for her child while parent is driving from destination A to B.
In this way, bottle feeding is not actually used to replace breast feeding, but a way to expand it. Yes, this is a no brainer when you think about it, but the problem is that many do not consider this option or give it much thought. No matter which way you chose there are critical points for any mother to know.
* Babies breast feeding will begin to refuse the breast if bottle is introduced too early;
* Mothers breast feeding should not introduce the bottle until the baby is three weeks old unless specific medical conditions or concerns exist which your pediatrician would advise;
* Improper bottle feeding can cause ear infections and possible choking;
* During bottle feeding, your baby must be secured with their head elevated higher than their stomach (The elevation in the head allows baby to easily digest the milk and prevent ear infections—pillow propping bottles while child is laying down will not only lead to infections, but is dangerous due to gagging or choking);
* When suckling babies breast feed, they rare have a problem with gas. Breast fed babies do not experience much gas because mom’s breast do not hold air. Bottle fed babies have to be burped half way through bottle feeding. Most baby bottle trap air inside, the air inside goes into baby stomach when baby is bottle fed
* Mothers should warm the nipple and milk before bottle feeding, particularly if you are transitioning your baby from breast to bottle (It is important that everything is similar to breast. Warming the nipple creates the effect of the warm areola of mom’s breast);
* Select and use the right nipples for the right stages of feeding. Use the right nipple when bottle feeding. In the wide world of baby bottles, there are many different nipples with many different purposes. Water nipples are the smallest nipples and will not allow much milk to flow. While food nipples have large holes, the nipple hole is large to allow food to flow through. Unfortunately, if placed on a milk baby bottle, it can gag the baby;
* As baby ages the nipple on the bottle can be slit or punctured with larger hole(s) to allow oatmeal, rice or other cereals to be mixed into your child’s diet and began to prepare their digestive system for food.
These are only a few out of many pointers to recommend and it is good to face the reality that bottle feeding is sometimes more easier for the mom then breast feeding. At the same time it is more difficult for the child as well, since they must work harder to get milk from mother’s breasts while the bottle normally produces milk with the slights squeeze. And there are other considerations as well….
Child development takes place every moment of every day and broadening and fine tuning their skills is the child’s major activity. It is not so much about having easy transitions from one phase to the other, but having the most dynamic and healthy transitions that you can provide for your child. One thing that can be incorporated into your child’s life early on is Mother’s 3rd Arm. In fact, wherever there is a baby bottle or Sippy Cup, one should always have available a Mother’s 3rd Arm to not merely assist you to do other things, but more importantly to enhance the developmental transitions of your child.
The name itself is actually what it implies. Personally, as a medical doctor, mother and aunty I have not witnessed a safer more secure way to feed my child short of me doing it myself. The Mother’s 3rd Arm is a one of a kind device that is specifically designed to hold bottles and Sippy cups so: 1) the child cannot drop or throw their bottle; 2) ensure bottle and Sippy cup remains sanitary; 3) Afford mothers a safe secure way to feed their child so they can either attend to their other children or do other important tasks.
That was enough for me, however, as it turns out, the Mother’s 3rd Arm also visually stimulates children; enhances their eye hand coordination; gives children an early sense of feeding themselves; affords a sense of security by having direct access themselves to feed when they have the craving versus having to cry to signal their hunger and more.
This is the only baby bottle holder which allows parents to position the child in the safest and most secure postures to avoid choking or infections. And of course it is free of lead, BPA, Phalates, PVCs and other known harmful chemicals.
It takes about 15 to 30 seconds to attach to my car seat, stroller, highchair or table. I always have it at the very top of my Baby Shower list and really love buying and giving it to other mothers.
Filed Under TipsHow to Increase Child Development
How to Increase Child Development
As parents we want to give our children the best opportunities and advantages, in order to improve their quality of life. We want our children to have the brightest futures possible and the best education. Molding your child’s development at an early age is important. Studies shows hand and eye coordination starts in early infancy. Parents with children between the ages of one and three should encourage games that allow children to use their hands to manipulate objects. For example, putting together a puzzle with a child will provide an important amount of hand and eye coordination. Bottle feedings can also help improve your child’s development of infant hand and eye coordination. Underdeveloped hand and eye coordination in infants can lead to many different physical problems later on in life, such as:
* Poor Vision: Your child would need prescription glasses to improve their vision. Poor vision may cause your child not to see object as clearly as possible and not as clearly as they would have if their parents provided an adequate amount of stimulation for infant hand-and-eye coordination.
* Movement disorders: A child may appear to be just clumsy on the surface, but in some cases the underlying fact is that a child’s development of hand and eye coordination is underdeveloped. Usual movement is unsmooth, rough and out of place. A great example of symptom of movement disorder is hypertonia, this condition is known for unusual amount of muscle tension and an inability to stretch the muscle. Some psychologist hold that infancy interaction lays the foundation for social interaction and skills later in life.
* Underdeveloped fine motor skills: This affects a child’s ability to do many simple tasks that otherwise properly developed children innately do every day. Fine motor skills are used when writing, drawing, picking up objects, typing, driving, dressing ourselves the list goes on. If your child’s fine motor skills are underdeveloped, then your child will have a difficulty mastering simple things we take for granted.
Most of these conditions can be easily prevented from infancy through bottle and or Sippy Cup feeding. As parents we need to help our child development from birth. Bottle or Sippy Cup feeding is an activity that requires hand and eye coordination with support of parent hands. Although parents are supporting the bottle or Sippy Cup, the child is still using their hands hold the bottle or Sippy Cup and watch where they are placing their hands.
Now just imagine for a moment what would happen if a child, how actually requires someone to hold their baby bottle or Sippy Cup for them, is now provided a device which not only holds their baby bottle and Sippy Cup for them, but also allows the infant to hold it and begin to learn how to move it their baby bottle or Sippy Cup for themselves?
There is such a device and it has been known to therapist throughout the world who work strive to rehabilitate adults who have lost full or partial control of their ability to hold things for themselves.
It’s a baby bottle holder, Sippy Cup holder and more. It’s called Mother’s 3rd Arm.Now get this:
If you are a mother of twin or triplet kids, feeding time is normally difficult without help. The average mother must multi-task everyday more than 30% of their day and it is twice that for mothers of triplet or twin babies. As mothers of twins or triplets, in general and being a mother period, there are plenty of times throughout each day that we do not have any extra helping hand during feeding time. Having a baby bottle holder or Sippy Cup holder for our infants is something that can be a godsend.
Mother’s 3rd Arm is a bottle and Sippy Cup holder designed to give you and your children the extra help when mom’s two hands are occupied. Mother’s 3rd Arm is covered in velvet, has many stimulating colors and textures, is chemically safe and washable. What is more this is the only bottle & Sippy Cup holder that attaches to any table, crib, car seat, high chair, and yes, strollers. The added plus is that it helps to improve:
* Sharp visual stimulation
* Eye/Hand coordination
* Growth independent learning
* Responsibility (child learn not to throw cup or bottle)
* Sensory and motor skills
* Transition into different feeding stages
* Your child’s sense of security by having consistency in feeding method
Mother’s 3rd Arm baby bottle & Sippy Cup holder is the only doctor recommended bottle holder because it improves your child’s development and hand/eye coordination and is a safe and secure way to let your child feed themselves when you simply have to drive or do other tasks
References
Encyclopedia of Children Health (2011) Hand and eye coordination
http://www.healthofchildren.com/G-H/Hand-Eye-Coordination.html
Psychology Encyclopedia (2011) Hand and eye coordination Toddlerhood, Preschool age and School age
http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/294/Hand-Eye-Coordination.html
Filed Under TipsMother’s 3rd Arm Featured on NBC Today Show
Mother’s 3rd Arm, designed to enable children with or without special needs to independently reach for bottles, cups, toys, and more is featured on NBC Today Show – Best Baby Products.
Filed Under VideoWhat is Mother’s 3rd Arm?
Mother’s 3rd Arm is designed to enable children with or without special needs to independently reach for bottles, cups, toys, and more. The soft, flexible arm can be attached to both flat and round surfaces via the sturdy clamp, which opens to nearly 4” (10cm). Once attached, the colorful, non-toxic foam can be bent a full 360 degrees in any direction to place the insulated holder in the desired location. The holder employs the hook and loop strap to accommodate different sized cups. Mother’s 3rd Arm attaches to strollers, car seats, wheelchairs, tables, beds, and other surfaces. Latex free. No tools needed.
Filed Under Mother's Third ArmAn Extra Hand when you need one
The Mother’s 3rd Arm is a flexible tube that can be positioned in a wide variety of angles. One end has a large clip that attaches to tables, strollers, car seats, high chairs and shopping carts, while the other end features a large cup-like container that can hold a wide variety of items.
But though parenthood was the catalyst for developing the “Mothers 3rd Arm”, there are many times when two hands are just not enough, and a “3rd” arm that can temporarily hold things comes in very handy for a varied group of consumers.
The Mother’s 3rd Arm has a multitude of household as well as office uses which greatly increases the marketability of this product.
- Physically-challenged individuals: The Mother’s 3rd Arm is very useful for someone who is wheelchair-bound, for it holds cups and accessories for easy reach.
- Senior citizens: The Arm is a great aid for helping a sick or elderly person in bed who can’t reach medication, a remote control, pencil or telephone. It attaches easily to a nightstand.
- Household use: The Arm is great for holding drinks and snacks and attaches nicely to a table.
- Office use: The Arm attaches to any desk, which is great for computer workers.
- Recreational use: The Arm attaches conveniently to a lounge chair for the beach or poolside.
- Camping and fishing: Mother’s 3rd Arm is helpful for fishing or camping.
- Professional use: The Arm works great for a manicurist. The Arm is also great for professional use for carpenters, electricians, or car mechanics. It holds mails, tools, flashlights, or for paint touch ups.
Bottle Tips – Avoiding Poisonous Materials
My sister turned to me for help with organic options for her new arrival, she is expecting her first baby. I had to start doing some research because I don’t have any little ones of my own. I would love to share with you what I found.
In my opinion most of the conventional baby products currently in the market are a hazard. A string of stories jump up daily reporting harmful chemicals linked to toys and parents scrambling to get rid of these blacklisted products. But plastic baby bottles, a newborn’s connection to nourishment, should be of equal concern.
Almost every mom knows that breast feeding is the best option but some mothers can’t, many moms switch back-and-forth between breast milk and formula or pump their milk into bottles. Higher levels of chemicals can leach out of the plastic when baby bottles are heated or milk is warmed and placed in a bottle. Infant could be exposed to higher levels of toxic chemicals when you reheat a bottle again and again.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is the dangerous agent found in polycarbonate plastic. It has been linked to impaired immune function, hyperactivity, cancer and other symptoms. Sadly, the majority of plastic baby bottles are made from polycarbonate plastic. Since the late 1990s, studies have indicated that exposure to BPA, even in low doses, could cause adverse side effects.
Bottle Tips:
- Never purchase polycarbonate plastic bottles. Purchase bottles made from glass, if you’re concerned about chipping or breaking of glass, you can choose safer options such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyamide.
- Never use plastic to microwave food and liquid. If you must use plastic, never pour hot liquid into the bottle—the higher the temperature, the more BPA is released. The amount of leaching has been found to be seven times higher in bottles more than three months old, which can be attributed to scratches caused by harsh washing techniques.
- Avoid all plastic products marked with recycling code 7, which includes polycarbonate (abbreviated, PC). This number is found on the bottom of the container or toy.
I’m always happy to talk with you about choosing right baby bottles. Drop me a line and I’ll get back soon.
Filed Under UncategorizedGreat Aid for Parkinson’s Disease
If you are living with Parkinson’s disease, it can sometimes seem like you are facing an uphill struggle every single day of your life. Parkinson’s disease can affect many aspects of a person’s daily life. Tremor is the most apparent and well-known symptom of Parkinson’s disease.
Mothers Third Arm is an adaptive tool that you can use, in promoting your sense of wellness. Feeding can be greatest challenge with progressive tremor. Mothers 3rd Arm is best for holding drinks. Parkinson’s disease sufferers themselves can move the Mothers 3rd Arm toward them and drink without anyone else holding it.
Mother’s 3rd Arm has been proven to be irreplaceable when it comes to hydration for disabled individuals. It attaches easily to a wheel chair, nightstand, computer desk, standard desk, car seat, beach chair and more.
Filed Under Parkinson's Disease, Uncategorized