My four-month-old son, Ivan, is blind. We're not sure why - we're not sure what happened. We're hoping beyond hope that his blindness isn't just the first symptom of a more serious disorder. Meanwhile, my husband and I spend most of our day either calling doctors to set up tests, researching vision problems on the internet, or sitting in waiting rooms with an infant who is remarkably patient and sweet.
And even though his medical condition is obviously at the forefront of our thoughts, we also realize that our baby's brain is developing and that he is in the process (as all infants are) of learning about his environment and his place in the world. But Ivan is learning in the dark... and from what I've read about baby brains, vision is a very important part of that process.
So what do we do to stimulate the mind of a blind infant? And how do we keep our spirits up as we get closer and closer to a diagnosis that may be devastating? Here are some things we've found out...
- Learn as Much as You Can! If you're anything like me, you head straight to the internet whenever there's a crisis. Why? Because we want to learn as much as we can about what we're dealing with. Here are some good places to start:
Get Help! I discovered that your state, as required through the Americans with Disabilities Education Act (ADEA), is required to find you help and support. Just call your local Health Department and they will get you in touch with a Social Worker who can then assign you a Physical Therapist and a Vision Specialist (or any other specialist, depending on your baby's specific needs) who will come out to your house to help you teach your baby everything he needs to know. And it's all free!
Peek-a-Boo! Does it make sense to play peek-a-boo with a blind baby? I think so! Ivan loves the feel of a blanket being pulled over his face and the kisses he receives when I "find" him. Plus, I think it's a great way to introduce the concept that things can be seen and not seen.
Here I Come! One problem that blind infants have is understanding spatial relationships and depth. For a blind baby, people just sort of pop in and out of existence as they suddenly "appear" to play with them and touch them, then "disappear" when they leave. This can also make the world seem like a scary place for a blind baby. My husband and I make it a point to never sneak up on Ivan and to always let him know where we are by talking to him from different parts of the room. That way he can hear us coming and going and will begin to realize that the world is safe and full of open space and that we can move around in it.
What's That, Mama? Since Ivan is only learning through 4 senses, we try to learn as much as we can through touching, listening, and eating! We bring Ivan new things to feel (soft and hard, warm and cold), we play all sorts of music for him (his favorite CD is U2's Joshua Tree), and we let him taste new baby foods as soon as we think he's ready. Some blind babies have a hard time switching to solid food, so be sure to take it slow.
Work Out. Babies with limited vision often lag in motor development. They're late to push themselves off the floor or roll over or crawl. That's because they don't have the visual incentive to get up and move, plus they have a harder time understanding spatial relationships and that getting up to crawl would mean getting up to move through space. We help Ivan by exercising his muscles and encouraging movement with sound. We lay Ivan on his belly and prop up his chest with a rolled up receiving blanket. He can then push up with his arms or we can carefully hold up his head for him so that he can strengthen his neck muscles.
We also sit him in his bouncy chair and hold noisy toys in front of him to encourage him to reach out and grab. This strengthens his arms and develops his spatial understanding.
Keep Smiling! He may be blind, but Ivan already knows how to smile. He can also tell when mom and dad are not smiling. It's important to stay positive and keep smiling when you're around your baby, even if you feel sad sometimes, because your attitude really impacts your baby's personality. When we had to fly to see a special doctor, I kept calling the outing a vacation. Sure, it was stressful (it was Ivan's first time on an airplane), but we were positive and happy and that kept Ivan in a good mood, too!
Ivan is a happy baby and he'll be a strong and happy kid no matter how his eyes turn out. We work with him to develop his little brain but we also play with him just to be with him. The more we play, the more he feels loved, and that's the most important thing!
We love you Ivan!
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