With Oscar getting bigger it’s on my mind about his safety constantly as he grows out,it’s becoming more apparent how vulnerable he really is and how we are becoming almost a bit set in our ways in terms of keeping him wrapped up in cotton wool, as it makes us feel better , but really are we holding him back ?
The cot debate ? If it’s not broken don’t fix it right? He sleeps so well in his egg shaped cot and I’m being told if he stays in it sleeps well and doesn’t attempt climbing out , due to his extreme anxiety which he is medicated for to leave this cot that he feels secure in alone , but it’s on my mind as I do feel there’s part of him that wants to be a bigger boy and he is 6 this year so I’m really on the fence about this , maybe Im ready to hit the next phase before he is?,I think I just long for any kind of progress , I picture his little bed with a few books next to it so he can have that bit of freedom in the mornings but I think the reality of that is a 3 am rave! And we currently sleep all night once we have finally gone off , so fit now I’m leaving it be.
thinking about safety in general , it’s easy to get into a habit of not worrying about it so much at home as I know it is safe but as we go out into the word I have to not assume that everyone knows his difficulties and provide visual clues in the car for example, if we were ever, god forbid to have an accident. Oscar if left unattended would just run off into danger, so I have decided to get a strap for his seatbelt which has an alert message on it , it’s set my mind at ease about accidents or breakdowns .
I have had my general sweep of the house putting things up high that he might pull down on himself , this wasn’t an issue before as he would bring me to the shelf and point, but now he is becoming more independent and wants to get toys out himself , which is amazing ,but if a heavy toy can be dangerous so we just had a little change around to make everything reachable .
for safety at home I still adopt measures as if he is a toddler but making things reachable he may want to get out to encourage his independence in play .
for the outside world I’m assuming that if we alert everyone his difficulties and dont leave anything without saying, yes it may be OTT but as his care giver and advocate not assuming then I hope that puts us in the safest situation at all times .🙏🙏🙏
