Rocking Chairs

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Registered: 02-24-2004
Rocking Chairs
5
Mon, 02-20-2006 - 4:41pm

Dh and I are thinking about buying one of those glider rocking chairs. Nathan really seems to like them. He calms down sooo fast when he's in one too. Today he had a meltdown, and asked to be rocked. He's sooo big now!! So, here I am on the floor with this 7yr old in my lap....rocking him!!! He loved it sooo much. It really helped calm him down and get focused again. I also massaged him, and tickled him lightly all over his body. He's been craving so much sensory stuff lately too. He's even been using his bouncy ball again....which he hasn't used in quite awhile!! Still using his trampoline too, but really liking the rocking thing!

Anyone else use rocking chairs?

michelle

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 02-20-2006 - 6:56pm

We have a glider. Didn't specifically get it for Mike and sensory. As a matter of fact, when Mike was a baby and toddler he wouldn't let me rock him. Even as a newborn he would scream.

However, now he loves the thing if HE is in control. We often find him on the glider but he can tend to get overstimulated on it. We also have the enclosed IKEA swing. That works really well if he is angry, etc. He is getting better about going out there when he is upset and swinging. I think the glider would work too but it was in the living room and he gets it going so hard that he would bang the walls or make DH upset thinking he was going to break it. So then DH would try to make him stop or get angry with him, etc.

Go for it if you think it will work. Maybe even one for his room or one of those swings.

Renee

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Registered: 02-24-2004
Mon, 02-20-2006 - 7:05pm

Renee,

We tried the glider out at the store. Nathan just loved it. He likes to rock at a slow steady pace...so that's why I thought that it would be a good thing to have. I still have that swing in the back of my mind though. I just can't figure out where we would put it though (and dh isn't crazy about putting a hole in the ceiling!) So, I think we might do the chair 1st and see how it works for him.

And come to think of it....Nathan wasn't real big on the rocking thing either when he was younger. He wasn't crazy about the baby swing. I did have to buy one of those bouncy seats, that has the vibrating option on it. I had to crank that thing on HIGH.....it was the only thing that would keep him quiet. I put my head on it...to see how it feels on high. I got a major headache!!!!! I don't know why he found it comforting!!

michelle

Avatar for betz67
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 02-20-2006 - 8:13pm

HI Michelle,

Weston choses to do his homework in the rocking chair (a big fuzzy rocker recliner) about 3-4x a week. He usually calms pretty well in that chair. I need to oil the chair though cause it squeeks when he rocks hard and it drives the rest of us crazy (I think he likes the sound!).

Betsy

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Mon, 02-20-2006 - 9:19pm

Siobhan will be 6 in may, and she still has a glider in her room. She cannot sleep unless you hold her and rock her for a few minutes before bed (I'm not complaining!). She sometimes sits on it and rocks and feeds her babies.

I bought a kid rocking chair for her, but she seems to prefer the glider, maybe because it has cushions!

We have a rocker/recliner downstairs, and Peter likes to use it. Unfortunately, it is pretty big, and he can't position himself so that his feet reach the floor properly. So he sits back and has to use so much energy rocking his body without access to the floor, that he makes me tired just to watch him.

If you feel a glider will calm him, and you have the space, I say go for it.

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
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Registered: 08-26-2005
Mon, 02-20-2006 - 10:58pm
Michelle,
I remember when Ella was younger and before we started OT for her the only way to relax or calm her down was to rock her in a glider. I bought a traditional rocker for Ella's bedroom and a glider for outside. If you do end up buying one it might be good to get something you could use outdoors when or if he grows out of it.
Teresa