Re: Vest arrives tomorrow!--need tips for toddler

[Guest guest]

Try doing a stuffed animal first or do it yourself to show that it doesn't

hurt. Hope this helps. Deb A

[Guest guest]

Hi,

has had the vest since last oct at first I put it on a big teddy bear of

his so he could watch it working first. we have had some real struggles we used

to have to hold him on our lap, screaming ! now he sits in " Daddy chair " by

himself always with a video of his choice he gets to pick. right now Oswald or

Kipper are his favs. Also some of his instruments so he can make music to his

Kindermusik cd seem to keep his mind off the vest or the magna doodle is a good

option. Good luck we love the vest!, instead of sitting on the foot pedal we

stick it under the back corner of the machine that works great. so you can be

close by doing something else.

Amy mom to almost 2.5 with cf

Vest arrives tomorrow!--need tips for toddler

Yay! The new vest for my 2.5 yr old wcf arrives tomorrow. I am

supposed to get training tomorrow night but would like to see if

anyone has any tips for a toddler to get them acquainted with the

vest?

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[Guest guest]

The most important thing is to take your time...don't force it. Put it out in

the middle of the room and just leave it there. Let your child look at it,

touch it, push the buttons, etc. If you have an older sibling or someone older

that can try the Vest on and run it, that would be good. Your child's curiosity

will take over. Associate the Vest therapy with some type of positive

reinforcement (better known as a bribe), i.e. we play this game only when we do

the Vest, or we watch this favorite video only during Vest therapy, or we put a

sticker on the Vest when the therapy is done...I think you get the idea.

Once the newness and " honeymoon " period are over, then you will have to be firm

about the therapy. Don't let your child dictate to you when the therapy will be

or how long it is. Be aware...these little guys figure out the controls real

fast and learn how to turn the timer down. The next thing you know your 20

minute treatment lasted only 3 minutes.

I hope this helps. These are just some ideas. Your trainer shouldn't force

your child to wear the Vest. If the want to do it on their own, that is fine.

Sit down and watch the video instruction of the Vest with your child. That way

they can see that it does not hurt. The teddy bear idea is great! Any big

stuffed animal would work.

Good luck! I hope this helps!

Randy