Practical Parenting Tips for those with Physical Limitations

by Jennie Macdonald

 As someone who suffers from two chronic illnesses (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) that include fatigue and joint pain as my two major limitations, I understood the extreme need to be efficient with my time and energy in my early years of parenting. For me, a main priority was to keep my house in order while conserving enough strength to be as involved and engaged as a parent as I could be. I found that some days it was necessary to let certain household chores slide so that I could simply play with my child. I also developed some strategies to get things done around the house, while training my daughter to be responsible and engage in age appropriate activities that encouraged the use of fine and gross motor skills. Here’s a few tips I picked up along the way:

Bath Time:

If your child is walking/climbing, put a small stool next to the tub to allow your child to climb in and out as much as possible on their own to avoid extra lifting.

Use a removable shower head to rinse with, to avoid the repetitive motion of filling a cup. If your child is afraid of the shower sprayer, be sure to use limited water pressure and allow them to use it on their own to grow accustom to it.

A gardening mat(to kneel on) can be a great asset to save your knees at tub time. Your local dollar store or Walmart sells them at a reasonable cost.

If you are unable to kneel down, use the stool that your child climbs in and out of the tub with to sit on next to the tub.

Allow the child to do as much as they are capable with at their age. Don’t underestimate their ability to scrub their own knees and feet! My daughter was able to wash herself by age 18 months with just a little verbal direction. Then I only needed to wash her hair which, for the most part, she could scrub on her own once I put the shampoo on her head.  Also, letting them dry as much of themselves off and get dressed is helpful as well.

Keeping House:

Do your best and forget the rest!! I adopted this motto as my overall health declined and I was unable to meet my own personal expectations of “clean”. My Type A, perfectionist personality coupled with lack of energy and chronic pain forced me to develop innovative ways to still keep things clean and tidy.

Keep as many of your kid’s toys in low, easy to reach, decorative bins or baskets. If they are accessible to them, as they learn to follow directions, they will be able to crawl or toddle over to either take out or put away their frequently used toys. You can also rotate what toys are kept in this accessible bin to limit boredom.  Have your children get in the habit of cleaning up after themselves as soon as they are able to…it’s a great characteristic to instill early on!

Be mindful of your child’s hight and use this to your advantage. They are much closer to the ground than you are, therefore they are able to pick up dropped items or things on the floor much easier than you and save you some unnecessary bending or reaching. And be sure to praise them for all their extra help!

By about age 2, children begin sorting things into piles or categories. Pay attention to when your child begins doing this with their toys and encourage them to work along side you in the kitchen as you put clean dishes away. They are perfectly capable of sorting the silverware by putting it into the drawer. Just be sure to remove sharp knives first! As they get older, they can begin putting away other items kept in the lower drawers and cabinets.

Dusting can be much less daunting when you let your kiddos get all the items in their reach. Just give them a damp cloth or a small dusting wand and away they go! You’d be surprised at how well they can do when you just show them how.

Cleaning the tub can be difficult for the average person let alone someone with a physical limitation. An easy tip I picked up early on was to put a little “child friendly”, moisturizing dish soap into the tub water. Give your child a scrub brush or scouring sponge and let them scrub to their hearts content. They will love the extra bubbles and swishing them around with a “special” scrubber will be an exciting activity once or twice a week. This was an amazing revelation for me to get a clean kid and tub and not have to exert any extra energy.  Using “tub time” as an opportunity to wipe down the toilet and sink while the kiddos are contained and entertained can be a very efficient use of your time as well.  Make cleaning a fun time together. Put on some music and keep a positive attitude about it…they will learn to be as excited about cleaning as you are(even if you have to fake your enthusiasm)!

Outings and play dates:

Any opportunity you have to get out of the house with your kids, DO IT! Even if it’s simply eating outside on a deck or porch, there will be fewer messes to clean if the crumbs are left for the birds.

Though it may seem to take some planning to get to the park for lunch and playtime, it will provide a new activity for your kids and wear them out so that bedtime is a bit easier. Meeting a friend there will also offer you some adult conversation.  On rainy days or during the colder winter months, plan to meet up at a friend’s house at least once a week. You can either rotate who you visit or get together with someone that understands your limitations and doesn’t mind helping with the meal prep and clean up. Just bring a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter as a peace offering. Your kids and you will have some socialization and your house will stay clean on those days.

When getting your child in and out of their carseat, remember to utilize your child’s independent phase and let them “do it by self”. They are quite willing to climb in and out of their seat if you encourage them to.  If they are too short to get up to the seat, place a   small stool on the floor of car. This stool can also be used to help them step into the car as well. Many kids are even able to buckle and un-buckle early on.  If they are encouraged to do things when you are with them and at the proper time, they will feel validated and independent.

Meal Time:

To avoid lifting your toddler as much as possible, invest in a children’s table and chair set.  IKEA has a side table that is the perfect hight to pull kiddie chairs to and is only $7.99! Once your child is walking they will be able to come and sit at the little table for meal times and snacks so that you don’t have to lift them and strap them into a high chair.

Setting and clearing the table are other things your child can do to help on a daily basis. Get them started with age appropriate items first, like silverware or condiment bottles and work them up to clearing their own plate and other items.

Plates and silverware that can be thrown away will certainly limit what needs to be washed and put away throughout the day and save you the extra bending to the dishwasher or standing at the sink.

Allowing your child to use a light weight sweeper or hand held vacuum can also be a big help with cleaning crumbs after meals. My 18 month old LOVED doing this and she felt like such a big girl! Swiffer products work great for this. They are light weight and easy for them to push around.

Be sure to brush off the guilt that may be associated with having to ask your child to help out. Honestly, these are tips that any parent could use to encourage their child to clean up after themselves as well as be a contributing member of the household and, in turn, society. Any time I received a complaint about housework, I simply respond with, “If you make a mess, clean a mess”. This is how a family works together to keep a house in order. It really should involve everyone.

The biggest thing that may need to be adjusted when using these tips, is a perfectionist mindset.  By allowing your children to help around the house, it is most likely that a few crumbs or dust bunnies will get missed in the process. However, your house will be kept up better than if you had to do it all yourself and hopefully you will have conserved some energy so that you can play a game with your children or simply be more involved in what they are doing and who they are becoming and not stressing about housework.

 

Get Webinar Announcements And Our FREE Guide

Support EDS Awareness

See all upcoming events

Upcoming and Previous Webinar Speakers

  • webinar-image

    Ross A. Hauser, MD
    10 Low-cost ways to improve symptoms of peripheral joint and spinal instabilities from hEDS, including brain fatigue, pain, POTS, MCAS and more.

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Bonnie Nasar RDN
    “How to Build an EDS Plate: Feel Better with Food”?

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Presenter: Jeannie Di Bon   MA PMA-CPT
    Title: “A Pain in the Hypermobile Neck”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Presenter: Dr. Eli Penn
    Title: hEDS and the Gastrointestinal Tract

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Pradeep Chopra, MD
    “Management of Long Covid with EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Eloise Stager, LMT, CST-D
    “The Role of CranioSacral Therapy in
    Pain Management and ANS Regulation”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Anne Maitland, M.D., Ph.D
    “Beyond allergies- mast cell activation diseases!”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Clair Francomano MD
    “EDS and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders – Overview of Diagnosis and Management”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Sonny Mullen
    “A Guide to Medical Fundraising”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Karina Sturm
    New Feature-Length Ehlers-Danlos Documentary
    “We Are Visible”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Podcast Interview with Karina Strum
    ‘We are Visible’ Podcast Interview

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Andrea Julian
    “Starting and Maintaining a Successful Support Group”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Maria Dastur, M.B.A.
    Organizing and Managing your Facebook and Social Media

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Alan G. Pocinki M.D.
    Sleep Disorders in EDS

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Ross A. Hauser, MD
    Consequences and Resolution of Joint Instabilities in H- EDS

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Bonnie Nasar RDN
    “Optimizing nutrition to Decrease Brain Fog, Fatigue, & Pain”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Jeannie Di Bon. MA, PMA-CPT
    “How can Pilates help with my EDS Symptoms”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Petra Klinge MD
    “Managing Life with Neurological Symptoms and EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Cathy L. Pederson, Ph.D
    “Understanding the Relationship between Chronic Illness and Suicide”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Patrick Agnew DPM
    “Foot and Ankle Treatments for EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Susan Tran, PhD
    “Partnering with Families to Improve Functioning in Youth with EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Paolo A Bolognese, MD
    Chiari I Malformation, EDS, and Craniocervical Instability

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Lauren Stiles, JD
    “Understanding the Relationship Between Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Jordan Tishler, MD
    Medical Cannabis – Pain Relief for EDS

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Jeannie Di Bon, MA, PMA-CPT
    “Strengthen and Control Your Hypermobile Core With Pilates”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    John Ferman
    Online EDS Physician CME Education

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Anne Maitland, MD, PhD
    “Mast Cell Activation Disorder”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Joshua Milner, M.D.
    “Update on Tryptase Research”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Delia Chiaramonte, MD
    “Practical Stress Management: A Mind-Body Approach”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Manu Sood, MD
    Katja Kovacic, MD
    “Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders and Cyclic Vomiting”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Gisela Chelimsky, MD
    “Hypermobile EDS and Gastrointestinal Issues”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Pradeep Chopra, MD
    “Management of complex pain in children and adults with EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Pradeep Chopra, MD
    “EDS Pain Management – Connecting the DOTS… part 3”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Ajoy Sarkar
    “Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility Type in the UK: Missed or Just Misunderstood?”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Sara Williams, PhD
    “Biofeedback: Training your Body to Relax”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Jan Dommerholt, DPT
    “Physical Therapy for EDS – Part 2”
    Why does it hurt all of the time?

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Markus-Frederik Bohn, PHD
    “Tenascin X and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Marco Castori

    “Multidisciplinary Diagnostic and Management Approach to the EDS Patient”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Professor Claude Hamonet and Dr. Isabelle Brock

    “A French Perspective on Ehlers Danlos”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Delia Chiaramonte

    “An Integrative Approach to Pain Management”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dan Doherty — YouScript / Genelex Corp.

    “Pharmacogenetic Testing to Assess Altered Drug Metabolism”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Alan Pocinki

    “Psychiatric Misdiagnoses in EDS: When is Anxiety not Anxiety?”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. William Ericson

    “Orthopedic Issues in the EDS Hand, Wrist and Arm”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Norman Marcus

    “EDS & Pain”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Lawrence Afrin

    “Mast Cell Activation Syndrome”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Diane O’Leary, PhD

    “All in Your Head”: The Problem of Psychogenic Diagnosis for Ehlers-Danlos Patients

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    John Ferman and Deanna Hamm

    “World-Wide EDS Survey Results” by EDS Awareness
    (2544 respondents from 26 countries)

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Sara Williams, PhD

    “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a Coping Skill for EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Anne Maitland

    “Mast Cell Activation Syndrome in EDS Patients (Part 2)”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Neil Schechter

    “Chronic Pain Hypermobile Children”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Karen Foulks, OTR/CHT
    Jesse Garris, Silver Ring Splint Co.

    “Anatomy and SilverRing™ Splints for Ehlers-Danlos Hands”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Holly Gilmer

    “Chiari Malformation in EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Blair Grubb

    “Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTs)”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Trish Meegan, DPT, L, ATC

    “Physical Therapy for EDS: Including how your posture and thorax/ribcage affects your PT program”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Patrick Agnew

    “Soft Tissue Surgery in Collagen Disease (for EDS Feet & Ankles)”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Petra Klinge

    “Tethered Cord Syndrome in Ehlers-Danlos”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Kelly Clancy, OT

    “New and Emerging Manual Therapy Approaches for EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Clive Bridgham

    “Chronic Pain Alternatives – with focus on inflammation and nutrition”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Kevin Muldowney, MSPT

    “Physical Therapy Protocol for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome” (using the new EDS Physical Therapy Book)

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Mitzi Murray

    “How, Why and When: Genetic Testing in EDS for the Non-Geneticist”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Ellen Lenox Smith

    “Living Life Again with Dignity Using Medical Marijuana”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Joan Stoler

    “Update on Complications and Rare Forms of EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Jennifer Ortiz, MPT, WSC

    “Physical Therapy for Sexual Dysfunction in EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    John Ferman

    “Support Groups for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. John Mitakides

    “Musculoskeletal Headaches in EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Patrick Agnew

    “Foot & Ankle Issues with EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Hal Dietz

    “Connective Tissue Disorder Research”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Theoharis Theoharides

    “Mast Cell Disorders”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Brad Tinkle

    “Introduction to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Ronald Jaekle

    “Ehlers-Danlos and Pregnancy”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Manu Sood

    “Gastrointestinal Disorders in EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Forest Tennant

    “Managing Centralized Intractable Pain in Ehlers-Danlos”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Cynthia Allen, GCFP, STMI

    “The Feldenkrais Method”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Mark E. Lavallee

    “Exercise is Medicine”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    John Ferman

    “Support Groups for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Howard R. Epps

    “Orthopaedic Considerations in EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Jan Dommerholt, DPT

    “Physical Therapy for Ehlers-Danlos, Part 1”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Henry Burkholder

    “Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTs) and EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Peter Byers

    “Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome / EDS type IV”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Subinoy Das, MD, FACS, FARS

    “Sinus Care for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Frank Gargano PT, DPT, OCS, CIDN, MCTA, CWT

    “Dry Needling for EDS Pain Management: Can muscle performance be improved?”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Diana Lebron, MD

    “Headaches and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Shweta Dhar, MD, MS, FACMG

    “Coordination of Care in Adults with EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Kathleen Kane, ESQ

    “Applying for Disability”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Richard Barnum
    “EDS and Psychiatric Illness Misdiagnoses”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Anne Maitland
    “Mast Cell Activation Syndrome” Part 1

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Alan Pocinki
    “Chronic Pain, Poor Sleep, Depression, and Fatigue in EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Derek Neilson
    “Proving the obvious: Next Steps for the Demystification
    of the Ehlers-Danlos Hypermobility Type”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Peter Rowe
    “Managing Orthostatic Intolerance in EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Prof Joel Lamoure, RPh., DD., FASCP
    “Medical Psychiatry in Pain Management”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Eric Palmer, Orthotist
    “Bracing for EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. John Mitakides
    “TMJ, Cervical Instability and EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Staci Kallish
    “Cardiac Manifestations in EDS”

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    “EDS and Pain… Connecting the Dots” Part 2

    Pradeep Chopra, MD

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Presenter: Kevin Muldowney, PT Click here for a link to the announcement page Video link is on this page

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Presenter: Michael, Healy, DPT Click here for a link to the announcement page  Video link is on this page

    Learn More

  • webinar-image

    Dr. Kenneth Goldschneider
    Pain Management for EDS

    Learn More

Current Poll

How long until you received a proper diagnosis for EDS?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...