The Best Tips for Parents-To-Be Who Have Disabilities

Are you ready for a new addition to the family? Having a child is a huge step, and while it’s a thrilling and fulfilling lifestyle transition, most soon-to-be parents are anxious about the changes to come. A few alterations in your home and life can bolster self-assurance and ease the job of parenting, helping you feel better prepared for your baby. Here are a few considerations from the Dear Felicia blog.

Boost Accessibility

For moms and dads with mobility concerns, improving the accessibility of their homes can greatly enhance both comfort and confidence. For instance, you can install offset hinges on doors so they are wider. You can build a wheelchair ramp to modify an entryway as necessary, which will also be a boon when maneuvering with a stroller. 

Make Work Arrangements

Talk to your supervisor at work to see if working from home is a possibility, as it would go a long way in accommodating your disability during your pregnancy and soon after delivery. If your job won’t or isn’t able to allow a flexible work schedule and working from home, depending on the nature of your industry, you could go out on your own by starting your own WFH business. In that case, you’ll want to first research all there is to know about starting your own business in Texas, such as an LLC, which is a popular business structure due to the limited liability and certain tax advantages.

Set Up Your Nursery

Depending on your situation, you may need specialized furniture for your baby’s safety and your comfort. For instance, many mothers and fathers with disabilities benefit from a modified crib, swinging open to the sides instead of down from the top. Always bear in mind things like optimal heights when modifying furniture to suit your circumstances. 

Lay out your nursery in a manner that is practical for you, taking into account how much floor space you need, where you can easily reach diapers, and so forth. Make sure you have a few comfortable spots set up in your home for interacting with your infant. These areas should either be spaces where you already spend a lot of time so they are set up to be easily accessible for you, or spaces should be integrated into the nursery design. 

Products and Equipment 

There are several baby products parents with disabilities find useful off-the-shelf. For instance, breastfeeding pillows provide support in a variety of circumstances, such as in a car seat carrier, and clips that keep pacifiers close mean less trouble retrieving them when dropped. Babywearing products, such as slings and harnesses, can also be particularly helpful, especially for parents who need to free their hands or who have strength or mobility limitations. 

Enlist Available Resources

Thanks to the world of technology, there are many problem-solving products available for parents with all sorts of unique concerns. For instance, Mom Tricks notes there are baby monitors designed to meet the needs of parents who are hearing impaired. For those with vision loss, there are smartphone apps that can be of assistance in your parenting duties, such as identifying various items and reading labels. There are also numerous organizations that provide services and assistance to those with specific disabilities. 

Establish Healthy Habits

Babies thrive with routine, and with that in mind, moms and dads can find it helpful to establish healthy habits before their infant arrives. Sometimes the simplest things can provide the maximum results, such as staying properly hydrated. Hydration is important to health and vitality, and when you’re dehydrated, you can’t perform or feel your best. Some experts recommend between 80 and 90 ounces of water daily, and, during lactation, aim to consume 100 ounces of water per day. 

You need to keep your energy and health optimal, so eat a balanced, nutritious diet, and ensure you get sufficient sleep. Parents Magazine suggests also becoming familiar with effective baby routines so you are equipped for those first few weeks of raising your newborn. 

Adding a baby to your life is an amazing experience, but it can also be intimidating. To bolster your confidence and help you with the duties of parenthood, make some preparations before your infant arrives. When the time comes for your new addition, you may not rest easy, but you will be ready!

This post was submitted by Annabelle Harris of elders.center

Image courtesy of Pixabay