Hi everyone! Sometimes things begin, sometimes they come to an end (luckily not today), and sometimes things change. I am a big believer in making sure information is properly categorized and easily accessible - I was a librarian at one point. So, due to not being able to really do what I want to with Blogger.com I have moved over to Weebly. Our new location is:
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Playtime Solutions
 |
| Floor Time |
Fold a nice soft rug in half or thirds and place it on the ground between the drivers seats. String a mobile off of the seat belts. Circle other toys and interesting objects around the child.
2) Car seat time
-Giver the baby a receiving blanket to play peek-a-boo with. It is useful for other things, cleaning messes feeding, etc.
- Raise the arms of the chair slightly and string a mobile between them. You can use hair ties to add extensions.
-If you have a coat slinging of the back of the passenger chair. Use hairties to attach a small colorful blanket or quilt to it.
-Ipads (I love these sooo much!) leaning against the back of the chair with a photo slide show or a picture book (you can get ones with audio and page turning)
3) Bedtime
-Velcro a picture, blanket or quilt to the wall of the truck for baby to look at.
-Use the vent peg to hold a set of plastic keys or other toy with a ring.
- Use a bunjie cord to hang a mobile from the top bunk when the truck isn't moving.
Finding "Personal" time on the truck with your trucker spouse
This is a topic I have been debating on whether to post or not, but I think for the purpose of this blog - to help out those in similar situations to ours; it is of incredible importance to do so.
I mentioned earlier within this blog the importance of being nice to each other in the truck, letting certain things slide that otherwise might annoy or frustrate you, your love life is not one of these (and yes ladies I know it's hard to feel sexy when you have so many demands on your time, but it is of utmost importance). So the question you probably have at this point is, How do I find the time? and the other would be a big massive general How do you (coughs) do it in such a small space? so here we go.
Finding the time
This is a huge problem.
Time is incredibly limited on any any truck, it is funny to think that the average people think we truckers sit around all day and do - well - nothing. Working in a truck, especially a team truck is akin to working in a hospital. Early morning, late nights, you can't always eat whenever and you can't always just go to the rest room. Sometimes you sit around all day, sometimes your so busy you don't know which is left or right and sometimes you get the call or message saying ,"get there now." This is more so with a little one and sooner or later you might think to yourself, has it really been a week? So what do you do?
It is all about taking the opportunity when it comes no matter how tired you are. Our little one, as I have mentioned before sleeps consistantly and solidly from about 9pm until 6am or 7am, which gives as a small opportunity there. He also takes occasional naps throughout the day - these are not as solid so he can be easily woken. Then there are also the days off and those are self explanatory. So, you really need to observe your little ones sleep patterns and make use of them.
How to utilize your space
When our little one was in his first 3-4 months he would sleep through a roller coaster when he passed out and things went fairly smoothly and it was wonderful. However, as those months rolled by suddenly the little one started sleeping more and more lightly and doing anything without waking him up suddenly became a difficult game which kind of deteriorates from the mood.
The good news it last night we finally found a wonderful and simple solution which, honestly, I don't know why I hadn't thought of it already. I present:
Exibit A: Divider curtain
Already made of a thick leather to help team drivers sleep quietly in the back without the loud noises of the road waking them, this wonderful item can also be used to block out tantrums and keep babies asleep on the other side of it.
For time off I recommend hiring a babysitter or a willing relative. Some baby sitters are willing to do hotel runs if your staying in a hotel for repairs or relaxation time. It really depends on whats available in that area and how your little one handles strangers.
So as always, I hope that I have help at least someone out there. Have a safe drive!
I mentioned earlier within this blog the importance of being nice to each other in the truck, letting certain things slide that otherwise might annoy or frustrate you, your love life is not one of these (and yes ladies I know it's hard to feel sexy when you have so many demands on your time, but it is of utmost importance). So the question you probably have at this point is, How do I find the time? and the other would be a big massive general How do you (coughs) do it in such a small space? so here we go.
Finding the time
This is a huge problem.
Time is incredibly limited on any any truck, it is funny to think that the average people think we truckers sit around all day and do - well - nothing. Working in a truck, especially a team truck is akin to working in a hospital. Early morning, late nights, you can't always eat whenever and you can't always just go to the rest room. Sometimes you sit around all day, sometimes your so busy you don't know which is left or right and sometimes you get the call or message saying ,"get there now." This is more so with a little one and sooner or later you might think to yourself, has it really been a week? So what do you do?
It is all about taking the opportunity when it comes no matter how tired you are. Our little one, as I have mentioned before sleeps consistantly and solidly from about 9pm until 6am or 7am, which gives as a small opportunity there. He also takes occasional naps throughout the day - these are not as solid so he can be easily woken. Then there are also the days off and those are self explanatory. So, you really need to observe your little ones sleep patterns and make use of them.
How to utilize your space
When our little one was in his first 3-4 months he would sleep through a roller coaster when he passed out and things went fairly smoothly and it was wonderful. However, as those months rolled by suddenly the little one started sleeping more and more lightly and doing anything without waking him up suddenly became a difficult game which kind of deteriorates from the mood.
The good news it last night we finally found a wonderful and simple solution which, honestly, I don't know why I hadn't thought of it already. I present:
Exibit A: Divider curtain
Already made of a thick leather to help team drivers sleep quietly in the back without the loud noises of the road waking them, this wonderful item can also be used to block out tantrums and keep babies asleep on the other side of it.
For time off I recommend hiring a babysitter or a willing relative. Some baby sitters are willing to do hotel runs if your staying in a hotel for repairs or relaxation time. It really depends on whats available in that area and how your little one handles strangers.
So as always, I hope that I have help at least someone out there. Have a safe drive!
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Teething
So our little one hasn't got teeth just yet, but he has definitely started the process so I figured this might be a good time to post up my own solutions that work in the truck. Everyone has their own ideas about this and every baby is different. For example - our little one extremely dislikes the regular teething rings with water in them, he also dislikes the cold rag, so for the longest time I was very much at my wits end. I have found some stuff that works for him though and thats all that counts. In this post I will put down your options from basic to medication.
1) Apple slices
Truck stops with McDonalds or fruit stands and Walmart
.50C - $1.50
Who would have thought this would be as amazing as it is? I was chopping an apple up, looked at the slices and thought, "I bet the little one would love to chew on this!" And I was right. He'll suck on and chew on it and though you might think it would break up after 30 minutes of abuse you would be wrong.
2) Beef Jerky
Walmart and truck stops
$10 - $20 per bag
Like the apple slices it's a flavored chew. Be Careful to select a fairly solid piece though.
3)Pizza Crusts
Flying J's carry pizza
2 slices for $3
Like the beef jerky be careful - make sure its solid. I have not had any issues with there still being a little pizza sauce or garlic butter on it.
4) Ice cubes
Available at most truck stops
Free unless they are prats (im looking at you Love's - if they hassle you shine your beautiful baby at them)
Not so practical in the truck, but I have seen that walmart carries covered ice trays (if you have a freezer). Of course there is always truck stop ice.
5) Wet rag
Dip a receiving blanket in some ice water (or warm water, or apple juice - whatever the little one likes). Give as is or keep cool in a fridge or cooler.
6) Teething rings
Walmart and other stores
$2-$8
Straight forward
7) Silicon teething rings
$5-$8
Walmart and other stores
These are a little softer and I have found work better.\
8)Distractions
Priceless
Nothing beats a good distraction - a walk, playing out in the grass watching the vehicles go by, a good cartoon movie, a story book or maybe just playtime on the bed. 9 times out of 10 this works, even though it is difficult to keep the energy going if you are one buggered parent.
9) Orajel/Bonjella
Available at most truck stops walmarts
$3 - $10 depending on state, taxes, greedy stores.
I would recommend to use this only on the worst occasions. It is a little strong and not recommended for those under 1 year without doctors approval. However (and I say this not being a doctor so be aware), I have given our little one on a number of really really really bad days a tiny little bit the size of a ball point pens point on his gums, just so that he can sleep from being so tired.
My only recommendation is to do what works for you with what you have available and that there will be good days and bad days, but you will get through it.
1) Apple slices
Truck stops with McDonalds or fruit stands and Walmart
.50C - $1.50
Who would have thought this would be as amazing as it is? I was chopping an apple up, looked at the slices and thought, "I bet the little one would love to chew on this!" And I was right. He'll suck on and chew on it and though you might think it would break up after 30 minutes of abuse you would be wrong.
2) Beef Jerky
Walmart and truck stops
$10 - $20 per bag
Like the apple slices it's a flavored chew. Be Careful to select a fairly solid piece though.
3)Pizza Crusts
Flying J's carry pizza
2 slices for $3
Like the beef jerky be careful - make sure its solid. I have not had any issues with there still being a little pizza sauce or garlic butter on it.
4) Ice cubes
Available at most truck stops
Free unless they are prats (im looking at you Love's - if they hassle you shine your beautiful baby at them)
Not so practical in the truck, but I have seen that walmart carries covered ice trays (if you have a freezer). Of course there is always truck stop ice.
5) Wet rag
Dip a receiving blanket in some ice water (or warm water, or apple juice - whatever the little one likes). Give as is or keep cool in a fridge or cooler.
6) Teething rings
Walmart and other stores
$2-$8
Straight forward
7) Silicon teething rings
$5-$8
Walmart and other stores
These are a little softer and I have found work better.\
8)Distractions
Priceless
Nothing beats a good distraction - a walk, playing out in the grass watching the vehicles go by, a good cartoon movie, a story book or maybe just playtime on the bed. 9 times out of 10 this works, even though it is difficult to keep the energy going if you are one buggered parent.
9) Orajel/Bonjella
Available at most truck stops walmarts
$3 - $10 depending on state, taxes, greedy stores.
I would recommend to use this only on the worst occasions. It is a little strong and not recommended for those under 1 year without doctors approval. However (and I say this not being a doctor so be aware), I have given our little one on a number of really really really bad days a tiny little bit the size of a ball point pens point on his gums, just so that he can sleep from being so tired.
My only recommendation is to do what works for you with what you have available and that there will be good days and bad days, but you will get through it.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Solids
I know it has been awhile, but our little one had not made any milestones in awhile. Of course the funny thing is that now a bunch have happened all at once so I have plenty to write about again.
Formula is recommended to be fed up until the end of the babies first year, however occasionally (although most people I have spoken to have experienced otherwise) the little one will be ready a little earlier for solids. According to www.babycenter.com/ these are the signs that your little one is ready:
1) Food Mill
cost: $12.47 at walmart
Very cost effective long term, great for on the road.
2) Plastic food Containers
cost: $.75 - .95
These are great. They are not as cost effective as the food mill, however they are cheaper compared to formula which runs $20 for 64 3 oz bottles. They have a lot of different flavors, and are easily stored.
3) Baby oatmeal
The original greatest product that all grandma's swear by. It is a little over priced in my opinion for what it is, there are very few flavors and you also have to add in either formula or breast milk. It is there if you decide to go for it though.
With a food mill you will need to carry a couple of baby bowls, a spoon (clean after each use), and cleaning supplies for dishes if you do not have them already.
With the plastic food containers all you need is a spoon and something to wipe it down with. I store mine in a refrigerator between uses, but a cooler would also be adequate.
I believe - having never tried it, that baby oatmeal is a make as you go kind of thing so a couple of bowls and spoon and a bottle for mixing formula. You may also need access to a microwave.
A little info about baby food
Baby food comes in three different levels these days:- Formula or breast milk
- Pureed veges, fruit and now even mac n cheese
- Toddler bites
Formula is recommended to be fed up until the end of the babies first year, however occasionally (although most people I have spoken to have experienced otherwise) the little one will be ready a little earlier for solids. According to www.babycenter.com/ these are the signs that your little one is ready:
- Head control. Your baby needs to be able to keep his head in a steady, upright position.
- Losing the "extrusion reflex." To keep solid food in his mouth and then swallow it, your baby needs to stop using his tongue to push food out of his mouth.
- Sitting well when supported. Even if he's not quite ready for a highchair, your baby needs to be able to sit upright to swallow well.
- Chewing motions. Your baby's mouth and tongue develop in sync with his digestive system. To start solids, he should be able to move food to the back of his mouth and swallow. As he learns to swallow efficiently, you may notice less drooling – though if your baby's teething, you might still see a lot of drool.
- Significant weight gain. Most babies are ready to eat solids when they've doubled their birth weight (or weigh about 15 pounds) and are at least 4 months old.
- Growing appetite. He seems hungry – even with eight to ten feedings of breast milk or formula a day.
- Curiosity about what you're eating. Your baby may begin eyeing your bowl of rice or reaching for a forkful of fettuccine as it travels from your plate to your mouth.
On the truck?
Well, as with everything there are a couple of different options, all have their pros and cons.1) Food Mill
cost: $12.47 at walmart
Very cost effective long term, great for on the road.
2) Plastic food Containers
cost: $.75 - .95
These are great. They are not as cost effective as the food mill, however they are cheaper compared to formula which runs $20 for 64 3 oz bottles. They have a lot of different flavors, and are easily stored.
3) Baby oatmeal
The original greatest product that all grandma's swear by. It is a little over priced in my opinion for what it is, there are very few flavors and you also have to add in either formula or breast milk. It is there if you decide to go for it though.
What else will I need?
This depends entirely on which road you take.With a food mill you will need to carry a couple of baby bowls, a spoon (clean after each use), and cleaning supplies for dishes if you do not have them already.
With the plastic food containers all you need is a spoon and something to wipe it down with. I store mine in a refrigerator between uses, but a cooler would also be adequate.
I believe - having never tried it, that baby oatmeal is a make as you go kind of thing so a couple of bowls and spoon and a bottle for mixing formula. You may also need access to a microwave.
A side note:
Remember, start slow with the adjustments and use the solids at your babies major feedings. During the minor feedings continue to feed him/her with formula.Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Feeding the baby on the truck
I know this will be a fairly mundane subject for most of you, but I imagine it will be useful for someone. I know that I was almost completely clueless on this subject and ended up on going on a very long couple of weeks of extreme self discovery.
The natural way and in our current society it is heavily advocated (if not overly so) as the proper way to feed a baby. It provides the best nutrition for the baby and a few added protections passed on from the mother. It is time consuming, but wonderful and helps the mother bond more quickly with the baby. However, sometimes, due to either genetics, health problems, allergies or a busy lifestyle; a mother may not be able to accomplish this task.
2)Breast Feeding, supplemented with Formula
This is what a lot of Mums I have talked to do. They will breast feed as much as possible so the baby gets the nutrients and added benefits. By supplementing with formula, it helps ensure that the baby gets a full stomach and may help him/her feed less often.
3) Formula
Sometimes you do what you have to for the life you have been given and don't condemn yourself for it. I have met so many people that have absolutely condemned and accused me of abusing my child for taking this route. They are wrong, out of line and don't know anything (particularly you mayor of new york).
Anyway, back to business. Modern formula, provides almost all the same nutrition that breast milk does, it has all the vitamins and nutrients. There are different brands, types, some are designed for gassy children and some with allergies. There should be at least one that you can get your child on that will work. Just a side note, be aware that when you switch brands or types your child may have a little constipation, but it is nothing to worry about.
So what about the added protections from the mother? Well, I spoke to my sons doc and shes says that the little bit of breast milk I was able to add into his formula during the first 2 weeks will have passed those on anyway (something to consider). Downsides? There is a double edged sword though. Your baby will feed less, however there can be occasional digestion problems early on which can be fixed by half a teaspoon of prune or apple juice and occasional bottle of water.
Breastfeeding alone is incredibly time consuming and you may have trouble maintaining the necessary level of nutrition and rest needed to maintain it alone. That being said, your baby also needs to have the ability to latch on despite the vibrations and truck movement.
Supplemented Breastfeeding would be easier, but also difficult for the same reasons as breastfeeding alone.. I am sure it can be done though.
I would love to be able to give your more advice on breast feeding, but to be honest I was stuck using formula from the get go so I don't exactly know the full details.
Formula is incredibly practical, however you lose a lot of space in doing so. My husband and I have had to increase our water capacity in the truck from 2 gallons for drinking and cooking to four gallons. We have 4-5 large bottles and then two small ones that i use now for a little water for the baby. I always keep a can of formula readily accessible (on the floor :( ) and then at least one in reserve under the bunk just in case we get stuck somewhere (like california - where they hate truckers and you can't access a walmart for the life of you).
Now, one of the latest popular opinions and for that I say that I have proven it wrong - is that you cannot microwave formula. You can, but carefully. Place a bottle of formula - with the lid removed in the microwave and cook for 20 - 25 seconds. Test for heat, if it is too hot and you really don't have time to wait, add in a little water so it reaches the desired temperature. This will not harm your child and maybe help by giving them a little added water in their system. Then your ready to go.
If you are totally against microwaving there are electric bottle warmers that you can purchase. They require a regular electrical outlet (not much use unless you have one in your truck) and a lot of patience. You cannot run these while the truck is moving, because they require heated water and the last thing you want is boiling water over yourself and you especially over your baby.
So what do you do if you don't have a fridge?
Well, you can keep a cooler on your truck they come in different sizes and you can even get coolers that are designed for bottle of drink. They are readily available at most truck stops, reasonably priced and plug into the cigarette lighter spots.
Alternatively you could clean your bottles every time you make a bottle in which case they only keep for about 2-3 hours depending on the temperature. You can increase the length of these bottle by placing them next to the truck air conditioner vents in warm weather and outside in the side box in cold weather.
I absolutely recommend purchasing a bottle cleaner. They are so useful and when your done using it, shake it off and place it under the baby support frame in your bath tub so that it can drip dry without getting anything else wet. Also, keep plenty of paper towels in your truck to help with drying them (which you probably do already for other things). You'll want to make doubly sure you separate out the teats each time and give them an extra good dry - I have noticed they like to pick up residue and it doesn't always come off with the bottle cleaner.
So as always, do what works for you and your baby and drive safely!
Most of you will also know that there are 3 different ways to feed a baby.
1) Breast feeding onlyThe natural way and in our current society it is heavily advocated (if not overly so) as the proper way to feed a baby. It provides the best nutrition for the baby and a few added protections passed on from the mother. It is time consuming, but wonderful and helps the mother bond more quickly with the baby. However, sometimes, due to either genetics, health problems, allergies or a busy lifestyle; a mother may not be able to accomplish this task.
2)Breast Feeding, supplemented with Formula
This is what a lot of Mums I have talked to do. They will breast feed as much as possible so the baby gets the nutrients and added benefits. By supplementing with formula, it helps ensure that the baby gets a full stomach and may help him/her feed less often.
3) Formula
Sometimes you do what you have to for the life you have been given and don't condemn yourself for it. I have met so many people that have absolutely condemned and accused me of abusing my child for taking this route. They are wrong, out of line and don't know anything (particularly you mayor of new york).
Anyway, back to business. Modern formula, provides almost all the same nutrition that breast milk does, it has all the vitamins and nutrients. There are different brands, types, some are designed for gassy children and some with allergies. There should be at least one that you can get your child on that will work. Just a side note, be aware that when you switch brands or types your child may have a little constipation, but it is nothing to worry about.
So what about the added protections from the mother? Well, I spoke to my sons doc and shes says that the little bit of breast milk I was able to add into his formula during the first 2 weeks will have passed those on anyway (something to consider). Downsides? There is a double edged sword though. Your baby will feed less, however there can be occasional digestion problems early on which can be fixed by half a teaspoon of prune or apple juice and occasional bottle of water.
So whats the best route for truckers?
It is entirely up to you, but here are some things to consider.Breastfeeding alone is incredibly time consuming and you may have trouble maintaining the necessary level of nutrition and rest needed to maintain it alone. That being said, your baby also needs to have the ability to latch on despite the vibrations and truck movement.
Supplemented Breastfeeding would be easier, but also difficult for the same reasons as breastfeeding alone.. I am sure it can be done though.
I would love to be able to give your more advice on breast feeding, but to be honest I was stuck using formula from the get go so I don't exactly know the full details.
Formula is incredibly practical, however you lose a lot of space in doing so. My husband and I have had to increase our water capacity in the truck from 2 gallons for drinking and cooking to four gallons. We have 4-5 large bottles and then two small ones that i use now for a little water for the baby. I always keep a can of formula readily accessible (on the floor :( ) and then at least one in reserve under the bunk just in case we get stuck somewhere (like california - where they hate truckers and you can't access a walmart for the life of you).
Making Formula in the truck
With formula you also need the ability to heat it.Now, one of the latest popular opinions and for that I say that I have proven it wrong - is that you cannot microwave formula. You can, but carefully. Place a bottle of formula - with the lid removed in the microwave and cook for 20 - 25 seconds. Test for heat, if it is too hot and you really don't have time to wait, add in a little water so it reaches the desired temperature. This will not harm your child and maybe help by giving them a little added water in their system. Then your ready to go.
If you are totally against microwaving there are electric bottle warmers that you can purchase. They require a regular electrical outlet (not much use unless you have one in your truck) and a lot of patience. You cannot run these while the truck is moving, because they require heated water and the last thing you want is boiling water over yourself and you especially over your baby.
Storing Formula
I am incredibly lucky. I have a fridge in my truck so I can store formula and only I keep a bottle for each day of the week.So what do you do if you don't have a fridge?
Well, you can keep a cooler on your truck they come in different sizes and you can even get coolers that are designed for bottle of drink. They are readily available at most truck stops, reasonably priced and plug into the cigarette lighter spots.
Alternatively you could clean your bottles every time you make a bottle in which case they only keep for about 2-3 hours depending on the temperature. You can increase the length of these bottle by placing them next to the truck air conditioner vents in warm weather and outside in the side box in cold weather.
Bottle Cleaning
I absolutely recommend purchasing a bottle cleaner. They are so useful and when your done using it, shake it off and place it under the baby support frame in your bath tub so that it can drip dry without getting anything else wet. Also, keep plenty of paper towels in your truck to help with drying them (which you probably do already for other things). You'll want to make doubly sure you separate out the teats each time and give them an extra good dry - I have noticed they like to pick up residue and it doesn't always come off with the bottle cleaner.So as always, do what works for you and your baby and drive safely!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
A Brief update
I am currently on vacation and resting up from our last outing in the truck so I will try and keep this brief. I think it would be best to update you guys at these times on our current personal situation. So whenever we are in town I think I will do this from now on.
On our last adventure out in the truck we discovered a number of things. This was the first time that we were out longer than two weeks and it was very hard on all of us physically and emotionally. I have come to the conclusion that it would be best to take a small two day break every two weeks, because that is what it took both of us to recover physically from the strain. Emotionally it has taken both of us about 4 - 5 days.
This time we also made the mistake of taking a number of full team loads. This resulted in myself being fatigued and my husband getting sick with a cold or something like that. Being workaholics I have the highest maybe overly optimistic hopes that we won't make that mistake again.
We have had to alter our shifts slightly, for a couple of reasons. James has a company to run and has major issues with being woken up in the middle of the night to tale care of the baby. As a result we switched our shifts around. He now runs a full 600 miles and I only run 300 miles. I grab sleep between 8 and 9 pm and have between midnight and 9am to complete my shift. In my spare time I grab a nap when I can. I have a feeling that this might work a lot better in general for other trucking couples than my previous shift suggestions.
Our son is doing well. I have been keeping track of his development through the baby center website, and making sure that living on the truck isn't affecting his development. On this front I have good news for all you people with trucks and babies, he is currently on the spot for development at 3 months, he is gurgling (trying to say Mum and Hello and Uh oh), downing a good amount of formula and starting to play by himself (which to my enjoyment allows me to nap a little bit). He has opted for trying to walk instead of crawl, which I have been told is not uncommon - I did it myself apparently. So that is interesting. I will do a follow up post on that.
The cats have had quite an issue adjusting to the smaller space in the truck, but seem to have altered their territories to include the baby. There has been a slight issue with the two male cats when adjusting to the home environment, but this can be easily solved with an extra litter box.
All in all, we're rested and prepped to head out for another hard month. I leave you with this:
Nothing easy in life is worth having. You have to work hard for what is important.
Kirsty
On our last adventure out in the truck we discovered a number of things. This was the first time that we were out longer than two weeks and it was very hard on all of us physically and emotionally. I have come to the conclusion that it would be best to take a small two day break every two weeks, because that is what it took both of us to recover physically from the strain. Emotionally it has taken both of us about 4 - 5 days.
This time we also made the mistake of taking a number of full team loads. This resulted in myself being fatigued and my husband getting sick with a cold or something like that. Being workaholics I have the highest maybe overly optimistic hopes that we won't make that mistake again.
We have had to alter our shifts slightly, for a couple of reasons. James has a company to run and has major issues with being woken up in the middle of the night to tale care of the baby. As a result we switched our shifts around. He now runs a full 600 miles and I only run 300 miles. I grab sleep between 8 and 9 pm and have between midnight and 9am to complete my shift. In my spare time I grab a nap when I can. I have a feeling that this might work a lot better in general for other trucking couples than my previous shift suggestions.
Our son is doing well. I have been keeping track of his development through the baby center website, and making sure that living on the truck isn't affecting his development. On this front I have good news for all you people with trucks and babies, he is currently on the spot for development at 3 months, he is gurgling (trying to say Mum and Hello and Uh oh), downing a good amount of formula and starting to play by himself (which to my enjoyment allows me to nap a little bit). He has opted for trying to walk instead of crawl, which I have been told is not uncommon - I did it myself apparently. So that is interesting. I will do a follow up post on that.
The cats have had quite an issue adjusting to the smaller space in the truck, but seem to have altered their territories to include the baby. There has been a slight issue with the two male cats when adjusting to the home environment, but this can be easily solved with an extra litter box.
All in all, we're rested and prepped to head out for another hard month. I leave you with this:
Nothing easy in life is worth having. You have to work hard for what is important.
Kirsty
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The comfort zone and what to do when that area is unavailable
What is a comfort zone?
This is what I call the area for which I find easiest to deal with the baby - especially if he is in a bad mood. In the truck this would be the bed where i can lay him out, pick him up, put him on his tummy, stand him up, sit him up on his pillow, etc. I can set out his bottle of formula, his bottle of water, a clean diaper, his nose plunger, his receiving blankets and have them all within reach. I can even set out the laptop in order to watch a movie with him. As I said, it really is a comfort zone.Now, what do I do if this area is unavailable??
This is one of the more difficult situations I have found myself facing. Occasionally, especially when he is pretty tired, my husband will take a nap while we are either loading/unloading or even just stopping if we have time in order to take one - just because he really needs one. This often leaves me in a bind because that leaves me the two front seats and the floor, not exactly baby friendly places.
Setup:
First of all, I make sure that his car seat is in place in the passenger seat, with him in it, at least temporarily while I set up. I pit his bottle in the cup holders, the laptop on either the dashboard or the steering wheel and I have a diaper and changing stuff within reach so I do not have to leave the baby unsupervised on the front seat - which is incredible unsafe as you would guess. I also have a plastic box (which i keep cat crunchies in) for which I can sit on.If he is hungry we watch a movie while i feed him.
If he is playing (usually running in his case) I place him on his back on the chair and sit on my box to make sure he doesn't roll off.
What to do when it is unavailable:
If he is wanting to sit up i hold him on my lap or move the laptop to the dashboard and seat him on the stairing wheel where he can move his head around and look outside.Of course if nothing works and he is still being just plain cranky, I put him in the back and take him for a walk until he falls asleep or is likely to be hungry again. At one point I would rock him back and forth in the pack on the spot, but this got boring really fast and I concluded that it would be much better to actually go somewhere if I was going to be doing that much walking.
And if he is starting to fall asleep, but still wiggling and trying to play or I need something to hold him while i fix formula or food I always have the carseat in place on the passenger seat ready to hold him for me when I need it.
And when my husband wakes up, I am the first to rush to the back in the sleeper so I can have my favorite spot back.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Adjusting between on and off road
I recently heard a man on the radio say that it can take anywhere from 3 days up until 2 years to adjust to a new environment. Of course the wide range in this time period is due to a number of different factors. The type of environment (a new country and culture - 2 years or more, a new house - 3 days), whether there is a language barrier or a cultural barrier and of course the person or the people involved. It will typically take more people (families) longer to adjust because the time period takes as long as the slowest person in the group to adjust and then the group has to redefine the group roles and how each member functions in the new environment.
For my family each time we switch from on the road to off the road there is typically a three day period in which it takes us to adjust from situation to another. However, every time we switch we take into account the fact that during the time period in either situation the baby will change in some small way that will make the re-adjustment to the initial environment more interesting. For example, while I spent two weeks with my mother the baby started to become more alert and play with toys, so in coming back on the truck he prefers to sit up front where all the action is and like to have a toy to play with (usually his blanket for playing peek-a-boo). A couple of weeks after being on the truck we came off road again and he was starting to want to sit up in his horseshoe period, as a result I have had to figure out how he can do that one the truck. There are a couple of points you will need to make note of when considering these adjustments you will make at least 1-2 months:
Sleeping
I have not had an issue with this personally, however I have spoken recently with a number of ladies who have. Their babies and young children got very used to the movements and noises of the truck, and so when adjusting to an off the road situation many of them for at least a little had issues with sleeping. All I can recommend is that you try and keep a consistent schedule for the baby between both environments so that the baby is going to sleep about the same time each day. I have had some issues with getting him to sleep during the day on the truck, but i always have the fall back time period in the evening that i have mostly kept consistent. Originally it was 9pm, but recently I have brought it back to 7pm, because long term that is when I would like him to go to sleep.
I also make sure that whenever we are off the road that he sleeps in his crib as much as possible so that he understands the importance of have his own bed.
Burping
Babies for whatever reason need less burping while on the truck, I guess it must be the vibrations. Remember though if your switching to an off road environment to start burping your little one again, otherwise they will start spitting up and what-not.
Activities
Keep an eye on the babies development within each environment. If he starts doing something in environment make sure that he can do it within the other. As I mentioned before, the last time I was off the road he started enjoying sitting up in his shoe pillow and watching tv. So this time on the truck I have done just that and once whenever he seems like he might enjoy it I prop him up in front of the laptop so he can watch some cartoons. Whenever we have been at a terminal or truckstop for a couple of hours (and are not sleeping) I take him inside and prop him up on his horseshoe pillow in front of tv also.
Remember be kind to yourself
Some of the transitions will be very hard on you. I have found that reminding myself that the baby will adjust again in a couple of days - maybe a week, has been very helpful. If you can start with a solo run or one that will give you a bit of leeway for the adjustment period. Don't be stupid like us, one time we came back on the road into a full team shift. By the end of it the three of us were overly fatigued and slept for almost 24 hours straight.
For my family each time we switch from on the road to off the road there is typically a three day period in which it takes us to adjust from situation to another. However, every time we switch we take into account the fact that during the time period in either situation the baby will change in some small way that will make the re-adjustment to the initial environment more interesting. For example, while I spent two weeks with my mother the baby started to become more alert and play with toys, so in coming back on the truck he prefers to sit up front where all the action is and like to have a toy to play with (usually his blanket for playing peek-a-boo). A couple of weeks after being on the truck we came off road again and he was starting to want to sit up in his horseshoe period, as a result I have had to figure out how he can do that one the truck. There are a couple of points you will need to make note of when considering these adjustments you will make at least 1-2 months:
Sleeping
I have not had an issue with this personally, however I have spoken recently with a number of ladies who have. Their babies and young children got very used to the movements and noises of the truck, and so when adjusting to an off the road situation many of them for at least a little had issues with sleeping. All I can recommend is that you try and keep a consistent schedule for the baby between both environments so that the baby is going to sleep about the same time each day. I have had some issues with getting him to sleep during the day on the truck, but i always have the fall back time period in the evening that i have mostly kept consistent. Originally it was 9pm, but recently I have brought it back to 7pm, because long term that is when I would like him to go to sleep.
I also make sure that whenever we are off the road that he sleeps in his crib as much as possible so that he understands the importance of have his own bed.
Burping
Babies for whatever reason need less burping while on the truck, I guess it must be the vibrations. Remember though if your switching to an off road environment to start burping your little one again, otherwise they will start spitting up and what-not.
Activities
Keep an eye on the babies development within each environment. If he starts doing something in environment make sure that he can do it within the other. As I mentioned before, the last time I was off the road he started enjoying sitting up in his shoe pillow and watching tv. So this time on the truck I have done just that and once whenever he seems like he might enjoy it I prop him up in front of the laptop so he can watch some cartoons. Whenever we have been at a terminal or truckstop for a couple of hours (and are not sleeping) I take him inside and prop him up on his horseshoe pillow in front of tv also.
Remember be kind to yourself
Some of the transitions will be very hard on you. I have found that reminding myself that the baby will adjust again in a couple of days - maybe a week, has been very helpful. If you can start with a solo run or one that will give you a bit of leeway for the adjustment period. Don't be stupid like us, one time we came back on the road into a full team shift. By the end of it the three of us were overly fatigued and slept for almost 24 hours straight.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
All about accidents
I am very much aware of exactly how off topic this is, but all the same there is a lot of information that I can give on the subject that will help someone out there. I believe and hope to emphasize why you should not have kids on your truck if you are in a position not to. I was in fact nearly in several accidents this last week which has reminded me off the fact. First there was a stupid dump truck who decided to perform a u turn right into the path of a moving Semi-truck. Then there were the two cases in Washington DC within 10-15 miles of each other (do you think they might be short of some brain cells up there?). One was another car parked on the highway waiting to get run over, needless to say this time i avoided the moron and called 911. The other one involved someone driving up the exit ramp and realized just in time to speed up and make it to the shoulder avoiding myself and another car.
The funny thing about the trucking world is that the majority of people that talk about accidents have no actual experience and if they do it is from after the fact. I remember sitting in an accident awareness class during my commercial drivers license training and none of what I learned in that class was applicable in the major accident I was in. The man teaching the class had never been in an accident, he only repeated the Department of Transportation general information on the subject.
Fact: The are 8 seconds of importance before an accident.
It takes the average driver 3 seconds to respond 3 seconds to make a decision and then about 2 to put into play any decision you have made. This means that if your trainer was as good as mine *looks at James* he will drill procedure into you until it is instinct. The reality is is that by forcing your body to act before you process it leaves you a little more time to make an important decision if you need to.
So what happens in an accident?
After the point of decision and the accident starts to take place a very interesting thing happens. The most accurate portrayal of an accident I have seen on television is on the show House. There is one episode where he is in a bus accident. Time does literally ground almost to a halt because everything is moving so fast. Things fly up in the air and almost seem to float about you and your world does literally seem to rotate around you. Then time speeds up again until everything grounds to a halt at the end of the whole incident. The one thing they do not teach drivers is to keep their mind clear during the period where time slows and they should. The reason being it allows the driver to prepare for when it speeds up again and be prepared for how the vehicle will move in that time, whether it is sliding along the road, an out of control vehicle, etc.
What happens afterwards?
Well once the accident has taken place and if you are still conscious, check yourself for any major injuries. Your chair should have deflated and you should be able to remove yourself from the vehicle. If you are mostly uninjured it is your responsibility as driver on duty to check the other people in the truck and if possible get them safely removed. If there is major damage to the front of your truck get away as fast as possible, because there is a serious danger of a fire and a general hazmat threat from the chemicals in the engine. If anything in your truck is strewn across the road please note that if it is not covered in chemicals it will be thrown back within your vehicle by the wreckers. Once out of your own vehicle grab one of the witnesses and have them call 911. Don't rely on your panic button. If your vehicle has rolled then it will not go off. Then proceed to check the other vehicles, if there is no immediate fire damage then do not remove anyone that could possibly have internal bleeding (the usually look like zombies). If someone cannot be removed from their vehicles have somebody stand by with a fire extinguisher (every truck has one). Once the cops arrive your job is done. The ambulances will start to arrive shortly afterwards and will take everyone off to hospital. In the emergency room you can contact your employer and any immediate family.
Who is affected the most?
The general story is that the driver of vehicles and anyone injured are the ones most affected by an accident, and while this is true for the person majorly injured and the driver has accidentally killed someone, but not otherwise. The one affected most in a trucking accident is the person in the sleeper. In the major accident that I was in with my husband, I have remained perfectly fine after the accident. It took awhile to overcome the initial effect (white cars being scary, etc). My husband still has difficulty sleeping in the back while anyone is driving, but then you have to understand why. In the back you have no control over your situation, you are unsure of what is going to happen. There are items flying all around and most of them hit you (this is why you need to earthquake proof your truck, because at any point in time you might be in one - securing that microwave for instance?). Other minor instances that could have been serious accidents I have found myself in similar situations where I am not in control and I find that I am more affected by those than when I was driving.
What do I think needs to be changed to improve the situation?
The best thing any driver can do is earthquake proof their vehicle. Make sure everything is stuck down or secured. I would also like to see paramedics brought in on the accident awareness courses to help drivers understand what to do in an accident situation.
The funny thing about the trucking world is that the majority of people that talk about accidents have no actual experience and if they do it is from after the fact. I remember sitting in an accident awareness class during my commercial drivers license training and none of what I learned in that class was applicable in the major accident I was in. The man teaching the class had never been in an accident, he only repeated the Department of Transportation general information on the subject.
Fact: The are 8 seconds of importance before an accident.
It takes the average driver 3 seconds to respond 3 seconds to make a decision and then about 2 to put into play any decision you have made. This means that if your trainer was as good as mine *looks at James* he will drill procedure into you until it is instinct. The reality is is that by forcing your body to act before you process it leaves you a little more time to make an important decision if you need to.
So what happens in an accident?
After the point of decision and the accident starts to take place a very interesting thing happens. The most accurate portrayal of an accident I have seen on television is on the show House. There is one episode where he is in a bus accident. Time does literally ground almost to a halt because everything is moving so fast. Things fly up in the air and almost seem to float about you and your world does literally seem to rotate around you. Then time speeds up again until everything grounds to a halt at the end of the whole incident. The one thing they do not teach drivers is to keep their mind clear during the period where time slows and they should. The reason being it allows the driver to prepare for when it speeds up again and be prepared for how the vehicle will move in that time, whether it is sliding along the road, an out of control vehicle, etc.
What happens afterwards?
Well once the accident has taken place and if you are still conscious, check yourself for any major injuries. Your chair should have deflated and you should be able to remove yourself from the vehicle. If you are mostly uninjured it is your responsibility as driver on duty to check the other people in the truck and if possible get them safely removed. If there is major damage to the front of your truck get away as fast as possible, because there is a serious danger of a fire and a general hazmat threat from the chemicals in the engine. If anything in your truck is strewn across the road please note that if it is not covered in chemicals it will be thrown back within your vehicle by the wreckers. Once out of your own vehicle grab one of the witnesses and have them call 911. Don't rely on your panic button. If your vehicle has rolled then it will not go off. Then proceed to check the other vehicles, if there is no immediate fire damage then do not remove anyone that could possibly have internal bleeding (the usually look like zombies). If someone cannot be removed from their vehicles have somebody stand by with a fire extinguisher (every truck has one). Once the cops arrive your job is done. The ambulances will start to arrive shortly afterwards and will take everyone off to hospital. In the emergency room you can contact your employer and any immediate family.
Who is affected the most?
The general story is that the driver of vehicles and anyone injured are the ones most affected by an accident, and while this is true for the person majorly injured and the driver has accidentally killed someone, but not otherwise. The one affected most in a trucking accident is the person in the sleeper. In the major accident that I was in with my husband, I have remained perfectly fine after the accident. It took awhile to overcome the initial effect (white cars being scary, etc). My husband still has difficulty sleeping in the back while anyone is driving, but then you have to understand why. In the back you have no control over your situation, you are unsure of what is going to happen. There are items flying all around and most of them hit you (this is why you need to earthquake proof your truck, because at any point in time you might be in one - securing that microwave for instance?). Other minor instances that could have been serious accidents I have found myself in similar situations where I am not in control and I find that I am more affected by those than when I was driving.
What do I think needs to be changed to improve the situation?
The best thing any driver can do is earthquake proof their vehicle. Make sure everything is stuck down or secured. I would also like to see paramedics brought in on the accident awareness courses to help drivers understand what to do in an accident situation.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Showering
Allow me to warn you right now, showering will be a big drama.
First, there are all your showering items, your partners showering items, the baby's showering items, the baby's bathtub, any dishes you may want to do and of course the baby! Here are some logistics solutions that should help minimize the amount of drama involved.
1) Pick a time of day when showers are most readily available - usually between the hours of 9am and 3pm, and then 12am-4am (if you can find a parking spot). These are the times when all the single day drivers are either asleep or out driving and not clogging up the shower line.
2) Change your clothes before you head in to shower, this means that all you need in the shower bag is soap, diapers, baby's clothes, a wash cloth, etc.
3) Do all your slightly dirty dishes whenever you can, leaving the really dirty ones (bottles, cooking pans) for when you have guaranteed access to hot water in the shower.
4) Go to the counter and specify that you would like the disabled shower. Make sure you have the baby with you so they understand why. The people that work at truck stops don't really want the drama either.
5) Make sure you ask the orderly for extra towels.
6) Get everything laid out before you start the showering process.
7) The rest is all up to you on how you do things. Some babies like to hang out in their bathtubs, some like are happy to hang out in their car seat or backpack and then some are just happy with a good old fashioned towel.
First, there are all your showering items, your partners showering items, the baby's showering items, the baby's bathtub, any dishes you may want to do and of course the baby! Here are some logistics solutions that should help minimize the amount of drama involved.
1) Pick a time of day when showers are most readily available - usually between the hours of 9am and 3pm, and then 12am-4am (if you can find a parking spot). These are the times when all the single day drivers are either asleep or out driving and not clogging up the shower line.
2) Change your clothes before you head in to shower, this means that all you need in the shower bag is soap, diapers, baby's clothes, a wash cloth, etc.
3) Do all your slightly dirty dishes whenever you can, leaving the really dirty ones (bottles, cooking pans) for when you have guaranteed access to hot water in the shower.
4) Go to the counter and specify that you would like the disabled shower. Make sure you have the baby with you so they understand why. The people that work at truck stops don't really want the drama either.
5) Make sure you ask the orderly for extra towels.
6) Get everything laid out before you start the showering process.
7) The rest is all up to you on how you do things. Some babies like to hang out in their bathtubs, some like are happy to hang out in their car seat or backpack and then some are just happy with a good old fashioned towel.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Activities
In a normal situation, that is living in a house or an apartment, there are plenty of activities you can do with your baby, but what do you do when your home is an 8 X 10 box? Here is a list of ideas.
1) Sight Seeing
Tools: Baby Backpack/ stroller (if you somehow manage to fit one into your truck - i haven't)
Now you knew this was going to come up. There are various places you can go sightseeing and different ways in which to do so.
The first and easiest way to go sightseeing with you little one is to stop at rest areas whenever you have the chance. These usually have bathroom access, some historical markers for which you can read, sometimes art, sometimes a garden and usually a path to walk on.
Next are the more interesting places.
-The statue of liberty
I recently have found that you can actually get your truck right up near the statue of liberty. Located in Jersey city is Liberty Park. If you go down to the end of Theodore Conrad Drive you can park in the culdesac and there is a small park there for which you can see the statue of liberty. You can also see NYC from here.
-Niagara falls
There is a service plaza along the I-90 corridor towards Buffalo NY that runs tours up to Niagara Falls.
Dodge City
Take a moment to visit the Boot Hill museum 3 miles walk from the Flying J along US 400 in Kansas.
-St Louis Arch
Unfortunately, there is no direct truck access to this monument, but it can be seen from the I-44 bridge that crosses the mississipi between Missouri and Illinois. There is a pilot nearby from which you can take a taxi.
- The Washington Monument
Ok, so for security reasons you cannot go into DC. I'm sure you understand, however if you are headed north or south and have to take the 495 loop around, take the eastern side of it. It adds on an extra 10 minutes, but you can see about as much of DC as you will ever see in a truck.
-United States Airforce museum, Dayton, Oh
Stop at the freightliner in Dayton, oh to get your truck repaired and while doing so stay at the Suburban hotel. They have a free shuttle for truck drivers to the local meijers and the us airforce museum.
Los Angeles
This really expensive I am guessing, but the TA in Ontario off of Milliken Drive has rental cars now. So you can do your LA sightseeing. This TA also has a mall within walking distance.
The Dalles
- The Pilot located on I84 at exit 104 in Oregon has some great walking opportunities.
Troutdale
-The TA at I84 exit 17 in Oregon has a small town which is great to walk around.
Flagstaff
- Awesome place to stop. Stop at Little America on I40 exit 198. Lot of little shops to walk around and the truckstop has hotel access and huge bath tubs. Great for relaxing in.
Mt Rushmore
If your ever along I90 in Rapid City, SD you should be able to at least go past the monument. You will also have to go out if route to see it so be aware. If you take US 16 (is truck rated) south of Rapid City, SD it will split of to Us 16A (not sure if truck rated). Take this to SD 244 (not sure if truck rated) west. It should take you by the monument. If this is impossible you should be able to rent a car from the pilot in Rapid City to take you there. I would be interested to hear if any of you manage to get your truck there.
Remember you are the tour guide, tell your little one about it all!
2) Watching TV
You can do this in the truckstops or in your truck. On your laptop or on your Tv if you have one.
3) Running
My little one likes to lay on his back on the bed after a couple of hours in his carseat and run. Why not join in? Get some exercise and the baby thinks your hillarious (so does your partner).
4) The interview
I like to prop my little one on a pillow and interview him and he likes to gurgle back. Do voices, be a comedian, practice your accents, pretend your awesome ;).
5) Singing
6) Lets Cook!
Tools: Baby Backpack
Put your little one in a baby backpack while your cooking. Explain it all to him/ her (even though they don't care), they will enjoy it all.
7) Tummy Time
That latest greatest fad recommended by all the experts! This can be accomplished by clearing all the blankets to one side of the bed and letting your little on wiggle on top of the sheets, Truck matresses are firm enough that he/she will be just fine.
8) Swords
When your little one can grasp at things give them a pen to hold and have a sword fight.
9) Dancing
Tools: Rattle boots (optional: can be purchased at walmart)
This is always fun. Blast your favorite music and dance. Tap the beat out for a couple of days and your little one will start to dance. They may or may not be into this. You can add some rattle boots into the mix for added fun.
10) Story time
I am told a lot of babies love storytime, although my son seems to prefer dancing (probably because I am a horrible narrator). There are plenty of books available for purchase, especially if you have an ipad or tablet.
11) Tablets
tool: tablet or ipad
open up the photos section on your tablet and place it at the end of the babies car seat. They may or may not have fun flipping through the pics.
Remember all babies are individuals so find out which activities work for you!
1) Sight Seeing
Tools: Baby Backpack/ stroller (if you somehow manage to fit one into your truck - i haven't)
Now you knew this was going to come up. There are various places you can go sightseeing and different ways in which to do so.
The first and easiest way to go sightseeing with you little one is to stop at rest areas whenever you have the chance. These usually have bathroom access, some historical markers for which you can read, sometimes art, sometimes a garden and usually a path to walk on.
Next are the more interesting places.
-The statue of liberty
I recently have found that you can actually get your truck right up near the statue of liberty. Located in Jersey city is Liberty Park. If you go down to the end of Theodore Conrad Drive you can park in the culdesac and there is a small park there for which you can see the statue of liberty. You can also see NYC from here.
-Niagara falls
There is a service plaza along the I-90 corridor towards Buffalo NY that runs tours up to Niagara Falls.
Dodge City
Take a moment to visit the Boot Hill museum 3 miles walk from the Flying J along US 400 in Kansas.
-St Louis Arch
Unfortunately, there is no direct truck access to this monument, but it can be seen from the I-44 bridge that crosses the mississipi between Missouri and Illinois. There is a pilot nearby from which you can take a taxi.
- The Washington Monument
Ok, so for security reasons you cannot go into DC. I'm sure you understand, however if you are headed north or south and have to take the 495 loop around, take the eastern side of it. It adds on an extra 10 minutes, but you can see about as much of DC as you will ever see in a truck.
-United States Airforce museum, Dayton, Oh
Stop at the freightliner in Dayton, oh to get your truck repaired and while doing so stay at the Suburban hotel. They have a free shuttle for truck drivers to the local meijers and the us airforce museum.
Los Angeles
This really expensive I am guessing, but the TA in Ontario off of Milliken Drive has rental cars now. So you can do your LA sightseeing. This TA also has a mall within walking distance.
The Dalles
- The Pilot located on I84 at exit 104 in Oregon has some great walking opportunities.
Troutdale
-The TA at I84 exit 17 in Oregon has a small town which is great to walk around.
Flagstaff
- Awesome place to stop. Stop at Little America on I40 exit 198. Lot of little shops to walk around and the truckstop has hotel access and huge bath tubs. Great for relaxing in.
Mt Rushmore
If your ever along I90 in Rapid City, SD you should be able to at least go past the monument. You will also have to go out if route to see it so be aware. If you take US 16 (is truck rated) south of Rapid City, SD it will split of to Us 16A (not sure if truck rated). Take this to SD 244 (not sure if truck rated) west. It should take you by the monument. If this is impossible you should be able to rent a car from the pilot in Rapid City to take you there. I would be interested to hear if any of you manage to get your truck there.
Remember you are the tour guide, tell your little one about it all!
2) Watching TV
You can do this in the truckstops or in your truck. On your laptop or on your Tv if you have one.
3) Running
My little one likes to lay on his back on the bed after a couple of hours in his carseat and run. Why not join in? Get some exercise and the baby thinks your hillarious (so does your partner).
4) The interview
I like to prop my little one on a pillow and interview him and he likes to gurgle back. Do voices, be a comedian, practice your accents, pretend your awesome ;).
5) Singing
6) Lets Cook!
Tools: Baby Backpack
Put your little one in a baby backpack while your cooking. Explain it all to him/ her (even though they don't care), they will enjoy it all.
7) Tummy Time
That latest greatest fad recommended by all the experts! This can be accomplished by clearing all the blankets to one side of the bed and letting your little on wiggle on top of the sheets, Truck matresses are firm enough that he/she will be just fine.
8) Swords
When your little one can grasp at things give them a pen to hold and have a sword fight.
9) Dancing
Tools: Rattle boots (optional: can be purchased at walmart)
This is always fun. Blast your favorite music and dance. Tap the beat out for a couple of days and your little one will start to dance. They may or may not be into this. You can add some rattle boots into the mix for added fun.
10) Story time
I am told a lot of babies love storytime, although my son seems to prefer dancing (probably because I am a horrible narrator). There are plenty of books available for purchase, especially if you have an ipad or tablet.
11) Tablets
tool: tablet or ipad
open up the photos section on your tablet and place it at the end of the babies car seat. They may or may not have fun flipping through the pics.
Remember all babies are individuals so find out which activities work for you!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Space Saving Tips
First a little explanation....
There is not a lot of space within the cab of a semi truck, especially for storage. With a baby on the truck this makes the use of that space to it's best ability essential so that you don't have clutter anywhere that could possibly cause harm to the baby. It also makes it easier to function more effectively within the truck because everything has it's own place. This is probably funny coming from me because I am or have been somewhat of a messy person.The majority of truckers (men by themselves) do a fairly decent job at utilizing this space. Men seem to have a fairly natural instinct in figuring out what is needed and what is not. They have one weeks worth of clothes, enough food for a week - usually something simple, some snacks, plenty of fluids, what they need as far as business paperwork and the rest of the space is used up for entertainment. What this entertainment is usually depends on the trucker. I have seen trucks with televisions, game sets, computers, etc. Also included is whatever items you have to use for cooking if you have them. (side note: with a baby you will need to be breast feeding or have access to some device for warming up formula and possibly storing it.)
Of course when you add a women into the mix suddenly the truck fills up with a lot of unnecessary items. I know because I am guilty of this myself and I have seen many other women, even those out by themselves have a lot of unnecessary items in their trucks that they don't use. These items include: An over abundance of clothes, an over abundance of food, utensils you never use, gifts, etc.
What kind of storage is there in a semi truck?
The answer to this question depends largely on the type of truck you have. I am familiar with the freightliner century and cascadia which should give an idea.Both styles come with:
- Storage underneath the bunk.- Side storage (for tools usually)
- A bunk bed (unless spec'd not to have one)
- Two smaller cabinets
- Two shelves
- A slide in and out desk (i have found that you can place an average size wooden cutting board on this making an excellent kitchen workspace).
Cascadias:
- cabinets have doors-An extra large cabinet with shelves
-An extra smaller cabinet
Century:
- cabinets have netting- the two shelves have a larger height
Flat bed trucks:
-Have extra side tool boxes (can be used as a refrigerator in the winter)Side Note: In this example I am using a Freightliner Cascadia, box truck style (no tool boxes), with minimal under the bed storage (because of an generator and inverter) and half the cabinets torn out and replaced with a fridge freezer and microwave. The cabinets we do have are the two small cabinets, the in and out desk, on bed side table and the large cabinet (used for short term dry food storage). We also have a minimal amount of top bunk storage, because it is largely taken up by a large litter box for our cats, an oven and the baby bath tub. Therefore, you should have plenty of room left over.
How can I best use that storage?
The number one important principle to follow in any truck is:***What do I absolutely need in one week?***
Within that week you should have time to do laundry once, make a shopping trip to walmart and grab a shower at least every 2-3 days. So there are a number of things that you can think about in order to reduce clutter.
Clothes
-How to make your selectionWhile at your home base wear one weeks worth of your favorite and most practical clothes. Whatever is in you laundry basket at the end of that week, plus a few extra pairs of socks, underwear and a sweater if you don't have on already is what you will need. Avoid knitted shirts and whites because doing seperate loads at a truck stop is expensive and their machines are old, over-used and not gentle with clothes. Also make sure you dress for the season.
-Storing them
When storing your clothes in the truck, assign a smaller cubbyhole for each person. Put underwear and socks in seperate bags so that they don't get lost. If you are in a cascadia with doors instead of netting you can turn the cubbyholes into drawers by using office crates from walmart. Depending on the time of year they run between $3 and $9. This allows for easy transport of your clothes, easy access to those clothes and makes it a lot easier and quicker when folding laundry.Hang any jackets or sweater over the backs of chairs.
You should only need one pair of shoes - a pair of comfy tennis shoes or hiking boots (good for wet weather). Two should be the most you would want. I have tried various ways of storing an extra pair of shoes and found that the best spot is up by the front seats.
Food
Plan your meals.There is no way around it and it is difficult. I would start your planning around the utensils you have. What meals can you make with them? I would refer to my earlier post of Finding food for more info. Next, work down in this order when planning my shopping list. Water, other liquids, frozen foods(if you have a freezer), refrigerated foods(if you have a fridge) and then move onto your dry foods. Keep ingredients that can be used for more than one meal. For example, don't buy a huge head of broccoli unless you use it for more than one meal. It will go rotten and wastes a lot of space.
Gifts
If you really have to keep them small. Don't buy a huge teddy bear for a niece.Baby
The Essentials-Clothes
Likewise with your own clothes. Have him/her wear one weeks worth of practical clothes add in an extra 2-3 pieces for emergencies. If they are close to going up a size add in 2-3 larger sizes. Dress for the season, because you never know when that generator will go out
-Diapers
Think about how many diapers they go through in a week and plan accordingly.
-Formula
Even if your breast feeding you will always want to keep a supply with you just in case. If your using formula keep an extra can.
- Bottles
4-5. You really only need 2-3, but if you are unable to get to a spot to clean them an extra 2 become important. Bottle brushes can come in handy with really dirty bottles, but if you rinse them out after each use, they remain fresh for a day.
-Transportable changing mat
Great for all occasions
-Diaper bag
Good for outings, even better for clothing storage.
-Burp cloths
4-5. Useful for more than just burping
-Bedding
Refer to my earlier post sleeping positions to giver yourself an idea. I currentlyhave an extra pillow, 2 blankets and a quilt.
-Bathing
A bath with a holder, 4 cloths, baby soap (the fully closeable kind or it WILL leak everywhere).
-Baby back pack
For those awesome times when you are needing to transport your child, or just multi-task.
-Car Seat
Every moving vehicle needs one, and yes because your truck does not have an air bag you are able to put it safely in the front seat.
-Toys
Depends on the babies age. Car seat mobiles are the best.
Where does his/ her stuff fit in?
As always, I'm open for more suggestions. Safe driving!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Finding Food
How does it work?
As in my last post, let me explain a few things for you guys who aren't truckers:
Food has always been an issue for truck drivers.
You can just see the lack of nutrition that most truck drivers get and that is without running team and without a baby on the truck. Fast food and restaurants are so easy and convenient that the majority of truck drivers do not even take a second lot and this is understandable as many of them this is their life and this how they live it.
However, for those of you interested in keeping slightly better health on the truck and slightly more money in your wallet, it can be very simple to install a few things in your cab to enable you to cook.
For the less mechanically minded a microwave can be easily secured with some industrial strength velcro to one of the cabinet tables in your truck. Many truck stops also sell crock pots - these are crap. They don't heat very well and be realistic. You don't have time to slow cook a meal when you need to be driving. They also sell small ovens which do work, but you cannot cook very much in them other than pizza or toast. Then there's the toastie pie maker (grilled cheese sandwich maker) and the small electric sauce pan; these are awesome and fairly cheap. The biggest appliance that comes to mind is are the large coolers that run off the cigarette lighters. We used one for awhile, but they don't last long and they fail miserably in the Arizona heat. After awhile you will find your self loading it up with ice just to keep it working.
Now, if you are slightly mechanically minded and you want to invest a little bit of money in improving your living conditions you can quite easily install a refrigerator and an oven in your truck (best decision we ever made). First off all your truck must have an APU or generator. These pull fuel from your engine to run itself and does so more efficiently than idling (running your truck in park mode). Next you will need the largest inverter you can find, take a look at the wattage that it has rated on it and be aware that while your fridge/oven and microwave might only use a certain amount in general use they will draw substantially more when starting up or getting to a certain temperature. The inverter itself will need to be installed by a mechanic (not a truck stop mechanic) and then you can quite easily remove one of the cabinets in your truck and use some metal hinging from a home depot to bolt the fridge in place into the wall. A microwave can then be velcroed onto the top of it. However, if you want an oven you will need to sacrifice the top bunk as an oven cannot be safely velcoed. In order to plug all the devices in I recommend a large size power strip that can be velcroed to the size of the cabinet and that in turn can be plugged directly into the Inverter. Of course if you work for a company like my husband's then your truck would come with an 8 cubic foot fridge/freezer and a microwave bolted into the wall so all the hard work is done for you. Be aware that doing this sacrifices a lot of storage space, but is very worth it.
On to other things: Team Truck Survival
When running in a team truck and cooking your own food the best way to find food is to do a weekly run at Walmart and then stop for a period of 3-4 hours each day in order to cook something. If you are cooking with a microwave, box dinners and tv dinners are awesome. If you don't have access to a fridge you can get access to milk and butter from the truck stop restaurants. Of course if you have an oven you can be even more creative.
But what about the baby?
Now with a baby on the truck things become even more difficult, especially if you are using the scheduling system I mentioned in my last post. Those 3-4 hours that you originally used for cooking as a team are now used for sleeping, so you may suddenly find yourself eating out or eating whatever you can cook or make real quick (because face it that baby is probably hungry too).
While at the moment I am currently happy eating sandwiches and cereal I know that this is not something I nor my husband want to do forever so I am looking into a couple of various solutions.
Solution One:
Cook up a bunch of meat and freeze it whenever you have a day off. According to my own research the meat should be good for about a month and a half. Store it in smaller freezer bags so that you have enough in each for one day. That Way whenever you use the amount in the freezer bag in the fridge then you replace it with the next.
Solution Two:
Whenever one of the team members has time off. By this I mean is unloading and everyone else in the truck is asleep this is the best time for housework. Clean the truck, fold the laundry and make damn sure you have something cooking in either the microwave or the oven while doing so. As soon as it is cool put in a storage container and store it in the fridge. Now you have a decent meal for you and your partner.
Solution Three:
Also, whenever you have free time, try and prep some cool meals that will give you nutrition. These include salads (potato/pasta/couscous/etc..), salads and hmm....salads. Oh, and if you can handle it refrigerated sandwiches. And if you don't like your sandwiches refrigerated like myself then slice and dice and prep your filling.
That's pretty much all I've come up with. I am open to more suggestions.
Safe Driving!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Finding Sleep
In doing a team shift with a baby there is one major question you have to ask yourself. Where in the day do I find sleep and how do I get enough drive time, and how will I get enough sleep time in order to function on the job? There are a couple of techniques and solutions that make this possible.
First of all there is one fact you will have to face:
You will mostly be cat napping.
This can take some getting used to. Be kind to yourself and realize that both you and your partner will both be short tempered, and in a 6ft by 8ft box this can be dangerous. Also, if your relationship is in the slightest bit rocky then do not even attempt to live this way; someone will end up hurt.
However if you are both strong and have a sturdy relationship you will pull through just fine. Now onto scheduling.
Scheduling
When scheduling your shifts you have to work around the baby. What hours of the day are they sleeping most consistently for the longest period of time?
My husband and I have found that our son sleeps best around the hours of 9pm and 3am with a short feed in the middle. So we each drive an 8.75 hour shift. My husband starts between 12pm and 2pm, and is on duty until midnight; if he finishes early he goes straight to bed. We both sleep between midnight and 3am. I take care of the short feeding at midnight, because I can feed him while I sleep (freaky right?). My shift starts at 3am and I drive through to between 12pm and 2pm. The 12pm - 2pm moves depending on who manages to get the most sleep.
Techniques
There are a couple of techniques that have come in handy:
Sleep Feeding:
You can either do this or you can't. It involves sleeping with you wrist up in the air while holding the bottle in the child's mouth.
The Auto-Feeder:
Wrap a receiving blanket or rag underneath a small size bottle so that it sits on an angle and will feed the child for you. The bottle needs to be full and some occasional correction is needed.
Utilizing your front seat:
Sometimes the baby can get bored spending all his time in the back in the bed, so I also recommend alternating between the bed in the back and the front seats (yes, it is safe to put the baby in the front seat, because semi-trucks do not have air bags). This can help out in a number of ways.
If the baby is crying out in one shift more than the other keeping him entertained with the world passing by can help with the crying and sometimes with helping him to fall asleep. This also allows the sleep-troubled driver to get some decent shut-eye while the driver on supervises. If the baby is auto-feeding the driver can safely reach over and correct the bottle in minor cases.
Taking a day off:
No matter what you do there will come a day where you will need a day off. It is absolutely unavoidable, just pick it wisely and use it to get some sleep, cook up and store some food in the freezer for your next couple of weeks.
Hopefully some of these ideas will help you out. Good luck and be safe! ;)
First of all there is one fact you will have to face:
You will mostly be cat napping.
This can take some getting used to. Be kind to yourself and realize that both you and your partner will both be short tempered, and in a 6ft by 8ft box this can be dangerous. Also, if your relationship is in the slightest bit rocky then do not even attempt to live this way; someone will end up hurt.
However if you are both strong and have a sturdy relationship you will pull through just fine. Now onto scheduling.
Scheduling
When scheduling your shifts you have to work around the baby. What hours of the day are they sleeping most consistently for the longest period of time?
My husband and I have found that our son sleeps best around the hours of 9pm and 3am with a short feed in the middle. So we each drive an 8.75 hour shift. My husband starts between 12pm and 2pm, and is on duty until midnight; if he finishes early he goes straight to bed. We both sleep between midnight and 3am. I take care of the short feeding at midnight, because I can feed him while I sleep (freaky right?). My shift starts at 3am and I drive through to between 12pm and 2pm. The 12pm - 2pm moves depending on who manages to get the most sleep.
Techniques
There are a couple of techniques that have come in handy:
Sleep Feeding:
You can either do this or you can't. It involves sleeping with you wrist up in the air while holding the bottle in the child's mouth.
The Auto-Feeder:
Wrap a receiving blanket or rag underneath a small size bottle so that it sits on an angle and will feed the child for you. The bottle needs to be full and some occasional correction is needed.
Utilizing your front seat:
Sometimes the baby can get bored spending all his time in the back in the bed, so I also recommend alternating between the bed in the back and the front seats (yes, it is safe to put the baby in the front seat, because semi-trucks do not have air bags). This can help out in a number of ways.
If the baby is crying out in one shift more than the other keeping him entertained with the world passing by can help with the crying and sometimes with helping him to fall asleep. This also allows the sleep-troubled driver to get some decent shut-eye while the driver on supervises. If the baby is auto-feeding the driver can safely reach over and correct the bottle in minor cases.
Taking a day off:
No matter what you do there will come a day where you will need a day off. It is absolutely unavoidable, just pick it wisely and use it to get some sleep, cook up and store some food in the freezer for your next couple of weeks.
Hopefully some of these ideas will help you out. Good luck and be safe! ;)
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Sleeping Positions
Sleeping Positions
Let me start of by explaining a few things for anyone not familiar with the layout of a semi truck.
90% of semi trucks come with two single sized bunk beds.
For uncoupled team drivers this means one person has the top bunk and one person he bottom bunk, except when the truck is moving. When the truck is moving the member of the team not driving is also required to sleep on the bottom bunk.
Most husband and wife teams manage to share the bottom bunk when not driving and use the top bunk for storage.
Now the big question is how do you add in the child to a husband and wife team setting to this small amount of sleep space? There are a number of different ways.
Setting one:
Fill in the space at the head of the bed with blankets and pillows and the child sleeps in this space while the two adults sleep in the space below.This setting prevents the parents from rolling on the child, the child from rolling onto his/her front while the truck is moving and allows for "sleep feeding" a term I will explain next time. This is setting is good for most settings.
Setting two:
The child sleeps lengthwise in drivers side back corner, the taller adult sleeps next to the child and the shorter adult sleeps beneath the child. Please note, this only works if one adult is shorter than the other. While the truck is moving the child stays in it's position with the off duty adult sleeps protecting it.
Setting three:
Like in setting two the child and first adult share the same positions. However, the first adult curls their knees up so that the other adult can sleep curled up at the end of the bed. This is great for a driver coming to take a nap after a shift and for people that sleep scrunched up or diagonal.
Setting four:
The first adult sleeps up against the wall while the child sleeps on the outer rim of the bed. The other adult will need to stay up, however during feeding the second adult can hold the child, face the opposite direction of the first adult in bed while relaxing and keeping warm under the blankets if need be. This is great for an adult waiting to unload or staying up for time off, particularly in colder climates. It is not the safest position for the child while the truck is moving.
Setting five:
Two parents in bed and baby on the floor. The child is place between two evenly sized pillows covered with a pillow. This works for younger babies that do not move a lot and great for parents that toss and turn. Be very aware though if you have lowly positioned air vents because they can give the child a chill. If you must use this position then tilt any vents upward away from the child and cover him up with a blanket.
Well I hope this has been interesting for you guys and maybe helpful to some.
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