Pest Free Playpen

Keep your child "bug free" by using a twin or crib fitted sheet over the top of their playpen while outdoors.  Make sure your baby/child cannot pull the sheet down onto themselves (strangulation/suffocation hazard).  p.s. Twin fitted sheets make GREAT seat liners for tilt-n-space pediatric wheelchairs too.

Tissue Box = Tubie Box

Use a small/cute facial tissue container for used tubie covers. Put the mesh bag inside like a bag liner for easy grab-and-go to the wash.  (Tip credit: Adorabelly Design creator Julie)

Don't be shy...ASK ASK ASK!

The attached photo is a popular list that we post to our facebook page often and it is always one of our most shared posts.  We ALL need help in some meaningful way, but daily burn-out, exhaustion, and being sometimes overly self-sufficient leaves us desperate for help but not always knowing how to ask.  Sometimes, it takes just a quick moment of bravery to blurt out to our needs to our closest friends, families, churches, and supporters.  BE BRAVE, ASK!!!!  You may actually receive some relief in the form of REAL HELP, not just an empty promise of help.  Some of the things we recommend gifting to caregivers and families impacted by medical crisis and/or special needs are attached in the photo.   YOU CAN ASK friends for things like restaurant gift cards, meals (in non-returnable containers, gas gift cards, grocery gift cards, auto club memberships, coffee, cash, hospital parking tokens, movie subscription services, or even much needed supplies for your child.  No one will ever really help if you keep up the facade that "everything is okay" which only truly builds resentment and frustration in you, and the people you love.  Ask, and maybe you shall receive.

Gifting for Children who have No Interest in Traditional Childhood Toys

Many children with special needs cannot or will not play with traditional childhood "toys", so what do you buy them for birthdays, holidays, and/or special occasions?  The first rule of thumb is ALWAYS ASK THE PARENTS FIRST.  While you may not want to buy hand sanitizer for a child, or diapers, or any other care supplies...these items are NEEDED for the daily health and well being of the child - so there is never any better gift than LISTENING to the parents and buying what the child NEEDS.  If the parents aren't of any help though, what should you do?  In the attached photo are some great ideas that can brighten the life of any child with special needs.  Get creative, have fun, and think about small but meaningful items that may bring a little joy into the special occasion you want to celebrate for the child and with the child.   p.s. Gift certificates to mega-marts, large grocery/homegoods stores, gas stations, and restaurants always make great gifts for special needs families too!

Inexpensive Egg Carton Choice Board

Looking for a simple way to use PECS (picture exchange card system) or photos to help your child communicate by making choices without having to be an arts and crafts expert or buy expensive laminating supplies/velcro/photo pages?  Take any size egg carton, cut the lid off (if there is a lid), turn it upside down and cut small slits in the bottom of each egg receptacle - just small enough to fit a photo or "playing card size".  Use the slits to place PECS or photos in a upright position and allow your child to make choices about their lives either visually or via fine motor skills (pointing, taking, or grasping).  Use smaller count egg cartons if just starting out with choice making so as not to overwhelm the child with too many choices.  p.s. Use an old deck of playing cards to mount photos or PECS.

Shoe Matching

Help your children find shoes that match or decipher left from right by cutting a large waterproof decal/sticker in half and placing each half into one shoe.  Makes it easy for kiddos to know which shoe goes on which foot, or for children who have difficulty with matching pairs or visual impairments (color distortions) make a match every time.  (Tip Credit: OneCreativeHousewife.com, with edit by Mommies of Miracles)

Laundry Basket Bathseat

The bathtub can be a pretty big place for a toddler, and especially too big for a child with special needs).  Kids outgrow baby bathtubs faster than they outgrow clothing sizes, but you can make bath time a bit easier, more contained, and less frustrating for your children (who can sit independently) by keeping all of their toys within reach by using a simple laundry basket.  First - NEVER LEAVE BABIES OR CHILDREN ALONE IN THE BATHTUB - now that that's out of the way, we can enjoy this simple tip!  Even when you're sitting right next to the tub, it can be a pain having to reach for every toy that floats away from your toddler. Plus, it's more fun for kids when they can reach things themselves. A well-positioned laundry basket can even help prevent slipping and bumps on the head from faucets.  It's easy to keep clean, dries quickly, and is easily replaceable for resizing.   (Tip Credit: Lifehack.org)

Encourage Walking with Pennies

Many years ago when my son with cerebral palsy was just learning to walk (he was a toe-walker), another mom in a therapy waiting room suggested that I place pennies on the bottom on my son's shoes -  "like a tap dance shoes" she said - to help encourage my child to place his whole foot on the ground with each step.  At first I thought she was sort of being silly at the suggestion but the more I became desperate to get my son to place his WHOLE foot on the floor with each step the more I warmed up to the idea.  So I found an old pair of shoes and glued pennies to the toes and heels of the shoes, stuck them on my son, and placed him on our tiled bathroom floor where he could make the most noise.  At first I helped him take each step by placing his foot on the floor in a typical rocking motion and I would laugh at the sound to make it appear to be super-fun.  After only a few weeks I would find him in the bathroom with his shoes on walking with his feet in a typical - but still not perfect - pattern.  It was the progress I had hoped for and such an easy thing to do...today he still toe walks on occasion due to tightness but it is nothing like it used to be...and his little penny-decorated shoes are one of my greatest treasures. (submitted by MOM Lynette)

Garage Sale Visual Therapy Toy

I found a "Lite Brite" toy at a garage sale which worked as a GREAT light box for visual therapies for my daughter.  Even though some of the pegs were missing, we had enough to use to help her practice fine motor activities while engaging her visually.  A toy like this became an important part of her mommy and me therapy. There was a board that lit up and brightly colored pegs that could be places in different patterns against black construction paper. We could play together keeping her attention and working hard at her motor skills. It was very helpful in keeping her skills at least at the same function.  Buy packs of colorful construction paper for even more visual stimulation and a pencil top to punch holes into the paper to make fun patterns (if you cannot find enough pegs or replacement pegs).  p.s. Lite-Brite toys can be found on Craiglist, Ebay, Amazon.com and at various toy stores...but check out local garage and estate sales first!   (submitted by MOM Marcia, with edits by Mommies of Miracles)

Buh-Bye Nebulizer Tubing Moisture!

If your nebulizer tubing seems to get moisture during each nebulizer treatment a quick way to get it out is to remove the nebulizer canister so that it's just the tube coming off of the nebulizer. Use your thumb to cover the air coming out for a few seconds. Repeat this over and over again pulsating the air. You'll see in no time at all a nice dry tube.  You can also rinse your nebulizer tubing with sterile saline or water on a weekly basis to clean it, and use this technique to dry it.

Plastic Plate Sensory Exploration

Do you have some left over plastic plates from a BBQ, picnic, or special occasion?  Why not put them to good use and create a sensory wall activity for your child with special needs to explore?  Make each plate it's very own sensory experience by using various textures glued onto the plates.  You can glue beds, corn kernels, rice, pasta, soft sand-paper, wool, faux fur, wooden sticks, bubble wrap, marbles, yarn, carpet, pieces, aluminum foil, craft pom poms, or whatever you desire.  Once the plates are dry you can glue them to a large piece of heavy corrugated poster-board, plaster paneling, or even suction cup/velcro them to plexiglass so you can change up the order.  Add magnets to the back and use them on your refrigerator, perfect reach for a toddler or seated child.

Say Cheese!

Does your child clam up every time you pull out your camera?  Here is a cute and inexpensive way to disguise the lens and give your child something fun and colorful to look at while trying to capture those memories.  Next time you are at your local mega-market, mall, or pharmacy check out the hair accessory aisle and look for bright whimsical "scrunchies" to use to place around your lens.  You an even buy plain scrunchies and decorate them up with some fabric/felt scraps to customize them just for your child's interests!  SMILE!!!!

Easy Sensory Space

Create an easy sensory space, quiet place, or time out hammock in your home by tying an old sheet in a (very) tight double/triple knot over the center of a sturdy table.  Make sure the sheet is tight enough to create an easy place to lay - but not swing -  for safety reasons.

Release Stress Hormones Naturally

Did you know, in laboratory tests, human stress  hormones were found in tears?  Stress hormones negatively affect every system and organ in the human body. Crying provides health by eliminating harmful stress hormones. Haven't you found that you feel relief after a good cry?  So go ahead Mommies of Miracles, and allow yourselves to cry it out as often as you need it so that you can refresh and renew for the special needs journey ahead.

End of Summer Savings = Safe Play Spaces

Have you exhaustively been looking for a way to finance a safe for an affordable play space, ball pit, sensory pit, transitional bed, or even a contained napping space for your child with special needs?  Sadly it is the end of summer, but with the end of summer comes BIG SAVINGS on items like inflatable pools, pool noodles, and beyond.   Inflatable pools make great, soft, contained spaces for children with various levels of ability to sleep, play, roll around, and even bounce without the added worry of injury or escape.  Make sure you get one large enough to hold your child safely and never leave them unattended.

Inexpensive Nosey Cup

Has your child's speech therapist, feeding therapist, or occupation therapist encouraged you to purchase a "Nosey Cup" for your
child?  This can be an expense some families just cannot afford especially if the cup is being used on a "trial only" basis,
so why not try making your own with a simple disposable bathroom cup (wax treated are more sturdy) to practice at home.
Just cut out the right size for your child, and dispose/remake as needed.

Get-a-Grip by Repurposing Old Curlers

Repurpose old sponge curlers by using them to make adapted grippers for your child who needs a little extra "something"
to help them hold onto pencils, markers, toothbrushes, and even utensils.  This is an inexpensive and EASY way to adapt
pretty much any small item your child needs hold onto for school or for their daily routine.  The spongy curler makes for a great
sensory experience as well, especially if you can find them in different colors/sizes.

Bedside Wheel-of-Care

Create a care notebook out of photo album sheets, binder rings, and a paper towel holder to keep in your child's room to use as references for daily care, routines, feeding schedules, medications, equipment checks and beyond.  This makes a GREAT companion reference for home health and home nurses, as well as supportive family members who aren't as involved on a daily basis.  This is also great for times of emergencies when you need a quick reference for EMTs, 911 operators, or beyond.  Include contact information for physicians and family, service providers and schools, and everything pertinent to your child's daily care/routine, and even play/sleep/hygiene  schedules.

Cochlear Doll

  Using your child's favorite color non-toxic puffy paint, simply apply it in the shape of a cochlear implant device to a doll with a smooth (hair free) head/ear area and your child can have a doll just like him/her.   Let it dry well before allowing your child to play with the doll.

Don't Apologize

Unless you directly caused our differences, don't apologize. Your apology does not make me feel better about our differences. Instead of feeling bad about things, focus on what I can do and help me celebrate those abilities. Recognize my strength. Compliment me. There is nothing to be sorry about, I am making the best of everything and

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