Sunday, 4 March 2012

Hello

Hi,
So this is my Blog.
Basically I had a Brain Haemorrhage when I was 8 and left me with not much use with my left arm, and no real dexterity in my left hand.
So okay, the name of the blog is a lie, I do have two hands, just one of them is nearly useless.
But that hasn't stopped me, I drive, work in IT in London and just live life normally.

Now though things are going to change.
My Wife is pregnant and I'm over the moon.
However it has meant I'm thinking a lot of how I'm going to manage to look after a baby, picking it up, changing the nappy, moving it to a car seat etc.

Yes my wife's very supportive, but I want to be able to do these things on my own and not be reliant on her for everything.


The baby is due in June, and so we've been out looking at all the things a baby needs, pushchairs, car seats etc, and it's amazing how many things you need to push down two buttons either side to release the seat ! But I'll blog about these in a separate post. 

As there is not much material on the web for dads in my situation, I thought I'd blog my journey into fatherhood, partly for myself, and partly for any other dads out there that find themselves in  similar situation.

8 comments:

  1. I will follow your blog for sure.
    I'll check out my tools and utilities for one-handedness and report to you.

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  2. Hi Rob,

    What a wonderful idea. Having a child when blessed with 2 hands is a struggle in itsef! To have the use of just one?! Well, I'm intrigued.

    So I was thinking about all the items I have used. My boys are 4 and almost 3, so it wasn't too long ago. What I will say is that having 2 babies removed the use of one arm alot of the time. My youngest took an age to walk (very lazy) and still wants picking up alot. Which left me with one hand (arm) to deal with the older one, that was walking at 9 months and talking at an abnormally young age.

    Fist of all, like all new mum's I experimented with a few different bags to keep everything in. With a newborn, I found a backpack type bag, that opened out into a changing mat with easy access to eveything in pockets all around. This I can see as very useful for you as you need to keep baby still if changing at a height and there isn't always somewhere to put your bag at easy reach aswell as changing baby.

    Secondly there is an AVENT blue powder pot for milk powder that you make up at home with the right levels, so you only need the one hand to pour into a ready made bottle of boiled water. That was a godsend.

    There are great slings and cushions about that will help you carry baby and feed with one hand.

    Buggys - I have a MacLaren, which I regularly open and close with one hand.

    Carseat - I'm stumped on that one.

    Teach your baby to feed itself asap. You'd be suprised how quickly they can do it!

    There you go. That's all I've got for now.

    Congratulations on your news!

    BTW - I knew you'd have a career in IT. Just knew it!

    Good luck Rob!

    Nicky Findlater (Nee. Prudence)

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    Replies
    1. Hey Nicky,
      Thanks for all the info !
      Very useful
      :)

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  3. Hey chick - good on you, what a wonderful idea for a blog and one that actually makes sense! Nicky made some great points and up until now I actually didn't realise how many things I did one handed as Molly is always in my other arm. I have to say a mamas and papas pram that I have for Molly is great, you pull the handle then use your foot to start the folding process - once folded it automatically clicks into place and there's a handle on the side which is very handy when putting it in the boot. Good luck for June and keeps us posted x I will definitely be following your progress x

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  4. Well I read it, congrats I'm sure you will figure it out rob :)

    Matt

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    Replies
    1. I have with everything else, so I probably will ! :)

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