Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Any ideas?

So, I'm pretty sure my back is trying to tell me something. And I really don't think that it's all too happy with me after that day I decided to not bring Dylan's stroller and instead opted to carry him all over Boston Children's Hospital in his car seat. My biggest back struggles right now are with bath time. See, I have been using something like this, but rather than using the whole baby tub, I've been using only the mesh incline thingamajig. This way, I can put both kiddos in the bath at the same time. But now that Dylan is getting bigger and stronger, and yet isn't quite sitting on his own, it's been creating some seriously tough times on the ol' back.

Any suggestions for me? What am I missing here? I really don't want to have to spend lots of money either, as I feel like Dylan is getting sooo close to being able to sit independently. In fact, when I lie him on the mesh thing, he tries desperately to sit upright - which would be cool and all except for the fact that he is still far too wobbly (and archy!) and the bottom of the tub is far too slippery for him to practice his skills at this time. So, combine all the bath time factors (leaning over the tub because of the mesh thing, holding D down so that he doesn't roll into the water, trying to keep Cassidy off of her baby brother as she tries to pour water on his head), and you get a hurt back.
Oh! Speaking of the Little Guy and his sitting efforts, I took these two pictures yesterday while he was working with his OT.
Check him out!! He is now able to sit independently for stretches of about 3-5 seconds...and even longer if he's in the right mood.
He has also been making some nice progress while on his tummy. This is the kid who absolutely despised tummy time for the first, oh, 10 months or so of his life. Now, he actually enjoys it and will spend a good amount of time hanging out like this:

Hmm...makes me wonder if he'll crawl before he sits? Kind of like how he is getting his top teeth before his bottom?

Ah well...as Cassidy likes to say, "Oh Dylan! You silly guy!".

18 comments:

Ann said...

Don't have back tips just wanted to say, "Way to go Dylan!" Cute pics of him sitting up.

Cathy said...

Great pictures of Dylan!!! And a big wooooooo hooooooooo on the sitting thing. It won't be long now until he's sitting for longer stretches of time.

As far as the bath goes...I have trouble with the bathtub and leaning over it too. Since Lily is still such a peanut, I carry her portable tub and put it on the changing table in her room. The table is at the perfect, comfortable height for me. It's a fairly good size tub. I think we have another month or so of being able to use it. She's such a little splasher that I don't think it will be long before she's trashing the wallpaper and curtains though.

If you figure out a method, let us know...I'm sure it won't be too long until I have to bend over the tub too. I've seen some kneeler things at BRU...don't know if they would help the back though. Good luck.

Kimberly said...

Look at him sitting, yeah!! Man he is just too cute. He will be sitting before you know it. I think a massage is in order :)

c1ndy said...

I'm sorry for being rubbish about keeping up with you guys. I'm loving all the pics.

We've always bathed PVP and baby Lilac together- Lilac had a lying down seat and then a bucket type seat. I think I'll keep her in it for a good while yet as Primrose swims about everywhere and would probably send her flying. She was in it long before she could sit unaided as the seat supports her.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ABC-37005720-Swivel-Bath-Seat/dp/B000OLYJUW

Wendy P said...

No advice - just wanted to comment on how incredibly cute Dylan is!

My name is Sarah said...

So, so cute. I love his smile.

Sharon said...

He is ridiculously cute!

I have a bath ring (like this http://kidsstuff.stores.yahoo.net/b148-bathring.html). You're welcome to borrow it if you have plans to be south of the city anytime soon.

Leigh Anne said...

wow...look at him sit! wtg dylan! i love the layout of your blog laurie...very cute!

my back is horrible. i have spasms a lot & boy bath time really does a number on me too.

i really want one of these

http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/droolicious/2009/05/Bath%20tub%20assistant.JPG

Tausha said...

I have a had 3 neck surgeries so bath time is not only hard on my back but my neck. I went to Baby's R Us and bought a thing for the tub that hooks onto the side of the tub and it's a big seat for Sam to sit in. He is great at sitting up by himself but this way I feel much safer and so does he. We fill the tub pretty full so he can put his hands over the front and splash away, he LOVES it!!! It lets him sit up and feel safe and it helps on my back and neck. It was only like $30 if I remember right. Check it out on line or at a Baby's R Us if you have one in the area. If you can't find one email me at tbdingman@comcast.net and I'll find one for you.

Tricia said...

We used something like this with Georgia: http://www.viewpoints.com/images/review/2008/258/20/1221441300-50705_full.jpg

we are no longer using it and I would be happy to send it to you, but we found it used for $3 or something at Once Upon a Child. Do you have one of those near you?

I also saw these: but at 39.95, I am not sure I could say go for it! Way to go Dylan though, huh??? Look how cute he is!!

Oh. And Georgia got her molars first!!!

The Lehnick Family said...

Check you out Dylan! YAY! He is doing so well! It seems like just the other day he wouldn't even tolerate the whole sitting thing...they seem to surprise and amaze us everyday, huh? He is so dang cute Laurie!
As far as the bath time goes, I don't have a lot of advice...I had to wait until Brayden was sitting up too until I took him out of his baby bath...they do have some gadgets you can put on the side of your tub for mom to kneel on and a seat to put baby in...I think it runs $35 or so?? at Babies r Us...my neighbor used this for her babies...but I didn't want to spend the extra money...so sorry, don't have any suggestions...

Amy said...

Oh look at him!

I have no good ideas for the bath except maybe a bath ring but I'm sure Dylan wouldn't like that too much.

Rebecca said...

He's so adorable! Way to go with the sitting little man!

I bought a generous sized bath mat and it really does help. G's little butt doesn't slide all over the place and it makes it much easier to keep him upright.

It also sounds like a trip to the chiropractor might be helpful. I was reluctant at first, but those folks can seriously be miracle workers!

Lisa said...

Progress, progress!! Way to go Dylan!!

Kelli said...

I feel you back pain everytime I get Lindsey and Brooke in the tub together. I have had my eyes on this:
http://www.amazon.com/Dreambaby-L610-Bath-Seat/dp/B000MPMDJ4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1244147217&sr=1-2
I just wish it reclined. My sister found the safety 1st bath seat that attaches to the side of the tub that does help but it bulky. I have a couple pictures I was going to post with Lindsey in it.

Crescent Moon Mama said...

We used a free standing seat, but I hear this one is safer. http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Tubside-Bath-Seat/dp/B0012L83UK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1244223307&sr=8-3

Jackie said...

Way to go Dylan!!!

Have you tried to bumbo in the tub? I know they say not to, but if you're there and he's so close to sitting anyway....

heather said...

I've used the bath tub chair that is like a ring that they sit in with all my kids when they were able to sit up a little bit. By the looks of the pics he would do great in it. And then he can bathe by himself while you watch.