How to Transport Babies and Children When Walking With a White Cane

[@sharisseroberts4038]

I have worked with many clients about transporting babies/children. The better way to carry a child is actually either with the child facing toward you on your chest OR with them in a carrier on your back. Wearing a child facing out on your chest actually can affect the development of their hips and their legs can fall asleep due to the strain being placed on their legs dangling. They make larger child carriers with give better support for both the child and the person. Also wearing a child reduces the concern for safely as it is much harder for someone to take the child off you physically. Another thought when wearing a heavy child on your chest is that this will set your center of gravity and balance off and the client may be more prone to falling forward, or having back pain due to hunching forward. If you wear the child on your back, you can still have your center of gravity and balance affected but its easier to compensate for the extra weight. Another thought to ponder is if the cane gets stuck in the ground and you are using your cane centered, you may hit the child on your chest with the cane causing injury, so either have a longer cane and hold the cane on the side of the body, wear the child on your back or really slow down your pace. Also a child can get a hiking child seat which has the child riding on the back and you put the child on like a backpack. The client would want to practice doing squats and how to get up off the ground with a child on their back in they use the hiking seat as they can be hard to manage. I like the carriers for this reason because you can have the child seat on counter or chair to get into the carrier versus on the ground. This might be another reason to decide on getting a guide dog.

[@Blindonthemove]

You make some great points! Thank you for sharing. I really appreciate the feedback and the useful information.

[@LivingWithLowVision]

Wish I knew this video existed 3 years ago. I used my badge I have low vision and I used a push stroller and relyed in the wheels of the pram. I did put a pool noodle as a bumper like what I've seen on blind dogs. I would ask for assistant. I didn't feel confident walking with my son in a carrier. I did try to pull the stroller but it made life a bit chaotic. Since my son turned 2 we walked everywhere, I did put a harness backpack and d clipped the handstrap to my pants in case he would run.

[@JohnCrawfordSchoolOfMusic]

I was taught to pull a shopping cart behind me like that stroller method when using a dog

[@kannibalcopyright]

What about when you need a cane for stability and you have low vision and can't drive but the child needs a car seat

[@lauratester5960]

Having child behind you I feel you cannot I sure their safety. What if someone comes up and snatches the child?! That to me just isn’t safe for them. That’s one reason why I gave my son up for adoption due to not able to insure his safety throughout his life.

[@Blindonthemove]

Laura Tester safety is a good point. If someone is concerned about safety I would recommend the first option I shared. Having the baby or toddler in a carrier strapped on the chest. That way you know exactly where they are.