As we go about our day to day routines, there are a few things that make our lives a bit easier. I thought I’d share a list of some of my faves in case it’s helpful for any other special needs parents out there. Most of these aren’t made specifically for special needs, so they may be helpful to other moms too!
Bandana bibs
My Amazon cart stays filled with a variety of cotton bandana bibs. They are a wardrobe staple for Gage to catch extra slobber that would otherwise soak his shirt. I’m not brand loyal to any particular ones, just search for fun patterns and make sure they have absorbent backing and snap closures. One of Gage’s awesome therapists has even made some for him! When we get new ones, I always vow to keep them clean, but they inevitably get stained with food or Pediasure. That’s ok though because it’s nice freshen up the selection from time to time!
Silicone sippy cup lids
In the quest to find the perfect vessel for Gage to drink from, we’ve tried every sippy cup in the book. At one point I was so frustrated that none of them worked and they were all just taking up prime real estate in my cabinets, that I decided to start from scratch. I held on to a few of the Dr. Brown’s bottles Gage has been using since he was a baby, and got rid of everything else. My next Amazon purchase was a set of 3 Boon silicone sippy cup lids. What I love about them is that they can stretch to fit over a variety of cup sizes and the cups to use with them can be stacked for storage. Oh, and the fact that Gage can and will actually use them of course. What I don’t love about them is Caleb can chewmmm through them and poke his finger through the vent hole, which takes away their spill proof quality. It can also be a little tricky to stretch the lids over a cup without 2 free hands and a level surface. We’ve had more than one spill on the go when a lid slips from my grip and snaps the full cup, rubber band style. But overall, they’re a big help for us. The brands I’ve tried are Boon and Spekids.
Billy Footwear shoes
Gage got his first pair of Billy shoes a few weeks ago and I’m certain they won’t be his last. They unzip all the way around from the top, which makes slipping his AFOs into them super simple. We have a low rise camo pair, but I think the high top version are in our future!
Cat and Jack adaptive jacket
Winter weather is not my favorite. But I’ve never disliked it more than when kids, extra layers, car seats and wheelchairs were involved, especially since Gage has to be wrestled in to coats or jackets. His tight little biceps and curled up arms make getting a coat on a major chore! Luckily, a Christmas gift from Grandma has helped a ton! Gage’s new go-to winter coat is from Target’s adaptive line for kids from Cat and Jack. It snaps up each side and has sleeves that zip on and off. It still takes extra time to layer Gage up for cold weather, but it’s at least a little easier with this jacket.
Otteroo
As we say good riddance to the long winter and welcome spring, I’m already anxious for summer and the chance to use another one of our favorite things, the Otteroo floatie. It’s a ring that snaps securely around the neck, with a rest for the chin. It’s made for babies, but has a weight limit up to 35 pounds, which my little guy is still under. While we wait for warm enough weather to fill our backyard pool, Gage has used it a few times in the bath tub. What’s great about it is that it gives him the freedom to move his whole body in the water. And move he does! He gets his arms going and kicks his feet and can spin around in a full circle. I was worried that he’d be bothered by it around his face, but he doesn’t seem to mind at all.