Shoes with Bar Ideas

[Guest guest]

Since all of us have had different experiences with the shoes

with bar, I was wondering if each may have learned some tricks

or methods that may have helped them in dealing with them. Even

though each of our children probably react differently and some

are going to have a harder time than others, I think that our

shared experiences may be ways that we give each other ideas

that can help.

Now that is 11 months old, it is getting harder to

remember what it was like trying to deal with the 24/7 for 3

months. It seems like the first few days were hard, but then

and us got more used to it. Also, it is hard to try

to understand when they are upset whether it is about teething,

wet diapers, hungry, pick-me-up, bored, sick or discomfort about

the shoes and bar.

Now that we have been on the

[Guest guest]

This is a great idea, .

We've had the brace for almost 2 years now (it will be 2 years on April

6), so we are very removed from the days of using it 24/7. I will say I

don't envy anyone who is just starting it though.

I know the first few days Jakob had the brace, we would make sure to

support his feet in the brace (considering that its 15 ounces would be

pulling down and his grandparents thought it might be bothering him).

After the first couple of days, I think we forgot about it and stopped

doing it.

We also realized right away that with his legs being as long as they

were (and still are), that when he was in the infant seat his legs were

sticking out the bottom end. If he had his feet just right, he could

catch the brace on the bottom of the car seat and pull his feet out of

the shoes (and he did in fact do this the first night he had it). We

would keep a rolled up receiving blanket under his legs to keep his feet

above the bottom of the car seat.

I personally always preferred clothing that unsnapped in the crotch

area. I would make sure that anything Jakob wore had snaps from one

ankle to the other. I would pull his clothes over his head when

changing his clothes (which was really fun with overalls - LOL).

Pajamas were always tough to find that did not have feet attached.

's does make the fleece blanket sleepers that do not have attached

feet. Gerber also makes some, but I have only seen them offered in late

September and October as a base for Halloween costumes. For those of us

in the cooler northern states, snowsuits are pretty handy the first

winter or 2. The one we got when Jakob was wearing the brace more had

zippers between the legs that you could use to change the snowsuit from

having 1 opening for the legs or 2 openings.

We also made sure to choose products that would accommodate the brace.

We would reject anything that he couldn't fit in while wearing the brace

- highchairs, swing, etc.). Graco makes a great line of swing that have

a flip tray. We chose the open top 3 speed swing by Graco. The

highchair was bit harder to find. Most that we looked at had a fixed

bar between the legs. Of course, as we all know, this wouldn't work.

Cosco's Options highchair is what we decided on. There is a bar between

the legs on this highchair, but it is attached to the tray, so putting

Jakob in the chair has never been a problem. For traveling, we have the

1st years fold up booster (which has straps to attach it to chairs)

which has a tray, so is just as good as a high chair. We never used a

exersaucer or baby walker of any type. We knew he wouldn't be able to

use them with the brace on and we really didn't find them to be useful.

No one really told us this, but we have always put socks on with the

brace. I don't really have a reasoning for this, but I just feel better

having him wear socks with all shoes (except sandals of course)

Over time, I have also noticed that the shoelaces on the straight last

shoes don't get longer as the shoes get bigger. The first thing I do

when we get the shoes changed on the brace is to changed the laces. I

also like to loosen the laces a lot before putting the brace on. I have

found a couple tricks to keep from having to constantly adjust the laces

and relace the top holes when putting them on. When I first unroll the

laces, I put a knot right in the center (between the bottom holes) to

keep them from getting off center (which is frustrating when you have a

foot on one side and 2 inches on the other). I also put knots at the

ends (next to the tips) to keep them from coming out of the holes and

having to relace them every time you put the brace on. I don't know if

I am the only one frustrated by the laces or not, but I just find ways

to get around it.

This is all I can think of off the top of my head. Besides, this is

long enough.