Our
thoughts on different products we have tried, bought, or used for Noah. Please note this is only our thoughts about products for our
son only and his disabilities. Most of these items we purchased used
to save on costs or borrowed from friends or EI to try out.
Upsee
from Firefly: Really cool walking device. However, we personally feel
this devise is more for the parents to see them upright and walking
than it is for Noah to learn how to walk. Yes it does initiate tandem
walking to get them familiar with it but in Noah's case we have to do
every single step, it is hard on our backs, it is really expensive, and
Noah tends to throw his head back into our bodies for support. We also
found he have to have two people there to get Noah strapped to us. I
still think this is a really cool device but as far as Noah's case goes
this has not really helped him learn to walk at all. I find I stumble a
lot in it and steps are so hard I stay away from them. It is made
really well and the materials are high end. A very secure piece.
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| GoTo Seat |
GoTo Seat by Leckey: LOVE the idea of this seat. However my opinion still stands on the previous post I made for this seat.
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| Dolphin bath chair |
Dolphin
Special needs pediatric bath chair: Love this chair and used it a lot
at first. Now I find that I dont ever use it because I would rather
just fill the tub up with a couple inches of water and have Noah splash
around while I make sure he doesn't turn his face into the water. The
chair sits really high so you have to fill the tub really high to get
Noah actually sitting in water and not freezing. I end up using way
more water by using the chair and washing it is kind of a pain. Over
time the material starts to peel but only after we had it for two
years. It came with leg extenders to make it higher but I have not used
those yet. Nor have i used the straps as Noah is still young enough
and immobile enough to not have to strap him down. I know for sure that
once Noah gets way too big for us to haul out of the tub we will use
this more often. For now at Noahs current size I find the strain on my
back is the same using it or not and Noah loves being in water so I just
lay him in the tub with a soft bath mat that has a thin bath pillow.
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| Star Kids Tray |
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| Tumble form chair |
TumbleForm
Chair with wedge: Really great chair but the velcro isn't as secure as
I would like it. We bought ours used and it didn't come with straps so
I just use a neoprene workout stomach wrap to wrap around Noah as he
sits in this chair. Kind of big and not the easiest to lug around. We
use this multiple times a week along with the Star Kids Snack and Play
Travel tray. We love this tray and bought two of them. We attach toys
all around the edge using baby diaper pins or retractable work badge
lanyards.
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| Childrite Chair |
Childrite
Therapy Chair: Just a bigger version of the baby bumbo chair. We love
this thing. At first Noah didn't have the core strength to sit in it
for long without falling forward but over time it has really helped him
and I think this is a great chair. Again, we bought a used one to save
on costs.
Hanging Porch/Camping Swing: We actually took off the leg rest and cup holder, screwed a couple eye bolts into our ceiling and then hung this chair for Noah. We then tilted it back further than normal and I then took a piece of fabric and sewed it to fit horizontally from one arm rest bar to the other to make a safety feature to cover up the side holes so Noah couldn't roll out of the chair. He loves this swing. Its big enough to be safe for him and it didn't cost a fortune (actually ours was a gift but if you were to buy it, it isn't that bad). 
ErgoBaby Carrier: We still use this and have since he was just a newborn. It is sturdy and secure and holds a lot of weight. The only downside is the older version that we have they cannot be positioned to face outward. The newer versions do. Makes it the ONLY way I can bring all three kids to the store.
Spinning baby floor Mats: The spinner is really good for working on head control and the mat has a ton of different textures and sounds. I still use this with Noah. He can almost spin all the way around using his arms to drag him. He is too big for it now but we still use it.
Tumzee Tummy Time wedge: Great product! Noah grew out of it fast because I didn't know this existed until he was already 2 years old. Wish I would have had this when he was a baby.
Summer Infant Vibrating Toothbrush: If you are working on oral aversion and looking for an oral vibrating tool go this route before you spend the big bucks on a Z-vibe. Noah LOVES this thing and the attachments are easy to wash and ours has lasted for over two years already.
Sassy Doorway Jumper and Baby Einstein Floor Jumper: I like these brands
because they are built strong and work for Noahs body type and abilities. The doorway Jumper has a really secure
door frame locking clamp and the actual seat is built wider and deeper
than other brands I have found. Also, I like the four rope design
rather than the three so Noah doesn't keep leaning back on the ropes.
Also the leg holes seem bigger than most and makes it so his legs can be
closer than other models and not so bull-legged. Noah is way beyond the weight requirements for these baby devices but with caution we still use them as they are the only independent activity Noah can do. Also, I should warn that he has broke a few of the door jumpers getting wild and crazy and again..because he is just too heavy for baby jumpers now. We keep buying them though as he loves them so much. The Baby Einstein floor jumper is great for him too even though once again he is too big now for it. It has different levels and I love that he can put weight through his arms while in this and has taught himself how to turn around in circles while in it. Plus, the music is actually enjoyable on this baby device.
Some of Noah's favorite toys:
A simple orange slinky: Cheap, Orange helps kids with CVI, easy to grab, easy to attach to things, easy to carry around with you, easy to replace and wash.
LeapFrog My Talking LapPup: Easy buttons to push, lights up, volume control, and he loves the star button.
Light up toys: Anything that lights up and spins or flashes (be careful if you or your kids are prone to seizures).
Woofer Hound Dog Guitar: This was a gift for Noah and he hasn't stopped playing with it daily since receiving it. I love playing with it too. The sounds are great. The buttons are easy to push (or bang in Noahs case), it has many settings, can be strapped around his body, and it just really cute.
Balls: The type that lights up or you can shake, grab, chew, grasp, or roll
Fisher Price light up Mobile for crib: Since Noah still cannot reach out and grab things or stand up we still use this mobile on his bed. He loves it. It lulls him to sleep and he loves to watch the projected pictures on the canopy (or ceiling if you remove the canopy). He is doing vision therapy without even realizing it.
Banging toys like drums or keyboards: Teaches him cause and effect and he loves to make noise just like any other kid does.
Things I wish I had NOT purchased as they were a waste of money or Noah just isn't ready for them yet. Sometimes I just get wrapped up in the idea of something being magical and helping Noah in a big fast way.
DormRoom Privacy tent: I thought it would be cool
to have a collapsible dark room to do Noahs vision therapy in since it
would block out surrounding stimulus. More of a pain to keep putting up
and taking down. It lives folded up under our couch. Still think it
is a good option.
Wingbo Tummy Time Swing: I am still thinking the
girls will LOVE this but as for Noah he hates it. He loves the movement
but the plastic is hard on his Gtube site and hurts him. I have to pad
it. Also, Noah tends to want to roll off the side or push up with his
legs in a standing position and arch his back. I hoped it would help
with head control and upper body strength. Not so much with Noah. A
fun past time though to play with but as far as therapy for our little
guy it didn't work so well. He is too big for the stand currently so it hangs from the ropes off our ceiling when we put it up.
Yoga Balls or Bean Shaped Yoga balls: I purchased a few of these...all of which made Noah throw up. We stay clear of Yoga ball therapy techniques with him unless we are outside with a bucket of water near us.
Pressure Vests: Noah just gets bothered while wearing them and hates the sound of velcro to get them on and off.
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