Homeschooling with a high maintenance baby?

[prairiewindmomma]

I have a newborn who is extremely fussy. Taking time off from school isn't an option.....we used up a lot of our time off when I was hospitalized on bedrest pre-delivery and when baby was in NICU. Any ideas on how to cope and get stuff done? I wear her in a moby wrap a lot, which helps....but we still have lots of crying and reflux (which makes my highly distractable children struggle with paying attention to lessons). Dh works long hours, otherwise I'd be tempted to switch to an evening schedule. Bringing in outside help isn't an option either as we are in isolation per doctor's orders. (Newborn is a preemie and it's RSV/flu season--she'd be rehospitalized if she became ill.)

[CupOCoffee]

How old are your children? And are you sure you can't take a longer break and maybe work through the summer? We can probably help better if we could see the ages of the children.

 

~coffee~

[prairiewindmomma]

5th, 1st, and K. My boys (older two) have special needs which make taking extended breaks not an option for a long list of reasons, and I need to put in 6 academic hours/day with them per my state requirements. I really am looking for advice on how to make it work....I realize many would take a break, but I can't. I have already dropped all non-essentials from schooling and replaced it with documentary time on netflix. My K'er isn't old enough to be doing mandatory hours, so she is only doing phonics and math and handwriting right now.

 

ETA: we already homeschool year-round; our new year starts Jun 1st.

[Um_2_4]

Can your older ones do some computer work? When we were moving, I used some online (some pay, some free) sites to keep up with them. Time4learning, others have monthly plans.

Also what about using headphones to block out the noise of the baby. Is it the noise, or you being distracted? Did they work independently pre-baby?

With the twins keeping me busy, workboxes were my sanity saver. Even my 6yo (1st grade) can work through some easy things on her own. She calls me over for spelling, etc.

For my 1st grader I have 10 boxes:

1. math page (from MM or other source), I go over with her, we do some together if needed..

2. Logic/puzzle page

3. addition drills

4. reading comprehension page

5. WWW (sometimes needs my help)

6. ETC page

7. Map workbook (directions, reading map symbols)

8. Grammar worksheet

9. Math puzzle (from ebook from scholastic, like word problems)

10. AAS (she calls me over to do)

 

She can always ask for help/clarification when needed. But my being distracted by the twins is less of a big deal...

[Parrothead]

Are you in a state that checks their requirements or can you fudge a bit and think of requirements as suggestions? I know when we were doing K'er in Montana the state required hours. But there was no way I could stretch K'er into 4 hours of formal school with one child in K'er. So I used things like baking a cake as science and counted the time the cake was in the oven. But I could get away with that because no one ever checked.

 

I wouldn't drop everything but maybe concentrate on reading, writing and math. then let everything else come as you get a chance.

 

Perhaps start transitioning the elder kids to more independent work. Give them instructions, and then let them have at it on their own for longer and longer periods of time. Start small like with one minute to 5 minutes to 10 minutes over a period of about two weeks. They get used to doing the work without you sitting right beside them.

[skeeterbug]

Do audiobooks count? Reading? My kids have a daily rest time in their room, if they could listen to audiobooks or read during that time it would help you, if that counts toward academic instruction. I'd do more online...xtramath, mathletics, typing, reading eggs, mark kistler drawing lessons, looledo. Anything to give you a break while you deal with baby. How to draw books. Craft books, maze books, logic workbooks. Kumon books would be great for your first grader. Anything to fill that time, I'd lower my standards and do all the things I've considered to be just busywork if it would count toward your six hours and needed less instruction from me. Magic School Bus dvds if you don't already have them. Nature walks? Would that count?

 

Six hours a day for grade one? Ack! Fifth grade is more doable, but first? Yikes!

[HS Mom in NC]

My middle child was very fussy (6 hours of screaming from 6pm-12 am every day) and had reflux for her first 8 weeks. After 2 weeks with a chiropractor who specializes in babies, she never spit up again and stopped being fussy. Typically babies who have been breech, a c-section, a forceps, or vacuum extraction have neck problems. Sometimes babies are just arranged weird in the womb and have neck problems. It can cause vomiting, spitting up, infant migraines and cluster headaches in babies. The nerve you use to vomit or spit up with is at the base of the skull at the top of the neck. Muscle tension in that area can cause headaches in babies and adults.The chiro can fix it.

[Peplophoros]

No advice here, but I was in the same boat (some days, I still am). DS is a year now and things are much better. Just power through this year...make the changes you need to make and know that it will get better. We did (and do) lots of workbooks from Evans-Moore. Not exactly the most creative curriculum choice, but they get us through the day when I just can't sit down with my older kids for long (or baby starts screaming).

[pinksneakers14]

My son had very bad reflux because he couldn't handle dairy. I eliminated it from my diet, and he was much better.

[prairiewindmomma]

Thanks. We're pursuing the medical ends of things.....switching to coconut milk for me brought on a huge rash, so I think we are dealing with sensitivities somewhere as part of the reflux. She had a lot of abx when she was born so I'm sure her gut flora is having to build back.

 

Oldest has auditory issues as part of his sensory processing disorder. Any loud noise is distracting for him, and unfortunately she can be heard anywhere in the house. He can't handle wearing earplugs...so we're trying different things to try to help him. He also has ADD so just getting him to focus takes constant re-prompting from me.

 

My 1st grader would love to play star wars guys all day. If I leave his side at all, he checks out mentally and gone. Schoolwork is not pleasant for him due to fine motor and vision issues so it's a struggle to get him through his work.

 

My K'er is begging to do more than my time allows.

 

I will survive this. I will. We all will. I've homeschooled through a child having cancer and dying, through 4 bedrests, through hospitalizations, through caring for elderly relatives. This will not break me.

 

I might just gain 20 lbs. from eating chocolate though. :(

 

thanks for the tips and moral support!

[jujsky]

For your K'er and 1st grader, have you considered file folder games? If you're swamped, you probably won't have time to make them or put them together, but I think you can buy them pre-made too. I used them with DD when she was small because we were stuck in waiting rooms for several hours/week while DS was in therapy. If your K'er is begging for more work and is motivated, this might be the way to go. You can also use Starfall for both.

 

For your older child, have you considered Teaching Textbooks and headphones? My DS has similar issues as yours and won't wear earplugs, but headphones work for him. TT has been a good fit for him AND me as math was a daily battle. What about a typing program/game that can be used on the computer for the oldest and possibly the 1st grader? We're using Typer Island this year -- it's like a game.

 

For history and science, can you do documentaries or get SOTW on cd? There's another history program we're going to use next year called History at Our House which is mainly listening to a pre-recorded lecture. When my kids were in first grade, we had a Mary Pope Osborne's version of The Odyssey on cd and the kids loved it. The 1st grader could play with his Star Wars guys while he listens, if that helps him focus. My DS plays with things while he listens to stories or lectures and it actually helps him concentrate. He won't look like he's listening, but if I ask him a question he's able to answer.

[Dmmetler]

Were you connected with Sidelines or any other crisis pregnancy groups? I spent quite a bit of my time on bedrest making folder games and activities for the K and special Ed PreK teachers at the school I'd taught at until my pregnancy, and welcomed having something to do. Maybe you can find a mom a few months earlier into the cycle who could help put together activities for the K and 1st grader? The Florida Center for Reading Research has a lot of nice activities if you can find someone to help make them.

 

I agree with doing as much online as you can. Your local library might have website subscriptions that your 5th grader could use, and if you don't have Brainpop, that might be a good choice. Ask friend with kids in PS-sometimes districts will buy a subscription for everyone to use at home, and if you call your local school, often they'll share the log in ID. School subscriptions usually include all grade levels, so you'd have Brainpop Jr, too.

 

I know you're in isolation with the preemie, but could the kids go to a co-op or something with another mom, if they hand sanitized/changed clothes when they come home? The one we do is quite understanding about moms who are in situations like yours (we have a mom undergoing cancer treatment and one with a parent with dementia, as well as a couple with newborns, and we're more than willing to help get their kids there and let them sit out of teaching/supervising right now-because eventually, all of us are going to be in the situation where we need help/support for some reason). That would count as school time, but be school you don't have to supervise.

[Classically Minded]

I'm in (or was in) a similiar situation with a newborn that had issues. I had a rough pregnancy and was on antibiotics for about 3 months total, which caused a lot of problems in my newborn with gastro-issues. I also had him 2 weeks early via c-section and he is now 10 weeks old and things are finally starting to calm down around here. I was able to take time off from homeschool the past 3 months though, but we have to start up again this week. He had diarhea all the time (up to 10 times a day), blood and mucous and horrible projectile spitting up and reflux all day and night! We started him on Nutramigen formula and the diarhea/blood/mucous stopped but he got this horrible diaper rash for 3 weeks that bled and had open sores. We finally realized it was from the frequent stools (5 a day) on Nutramigen (it has a probiotic) and switched to Alimentum and it has been a lifesaver for us! Not only did his diaper rash go away within a day, but his projectile spit-up AND reflux stopped completely! It seemed that the spitting up and reflux was because of something he was sensitive to in other formulas and finding the right one eliminated it all quickly. I think the time he was on Nutramigen helped with the probiotics in it though, so maybe you could try that or ask the doc for probiotics for the baby to help rebuild the good bacteria that the antibiotics wiped out.

 

I just have one child homeschooling, dd9, and she has been doing "independent" work for the month of January - things like math worksheets of things she already knew as review, math fact cards, latin cards as review, writing letters to penpals for writing, poem memorization, SOTW history audio CD, reviewing science definitions we covered so far this year, reading a chapter of Proverbs daily, reviewing old tests in Bible, doing spelling trouble words list on Spellingcity.com, and playing educational games on the Kindle Fire and online. All of this, I think, helped her do "school" while I took time to off for the newborn. Remember, reading and any playing (PE) counts towards "school" time, as well as audiobooks! School doesn't just have to be sitting at the table doing book work - you can easily get in those 6 hours if you count life as learning.

 

HTH! :thumbup:

[Shellydon]

I've had 4 reflux babies, here is what helped. 1) my diet -- completely eliminate all dairy (even hidden in the ingredient list) 2)no chocolate, no caffeine 3) liquid Prevacid OR liquid Pecid for baby. 4) baby sleeping swaddled in a bouncy seat OR baby tummy sleeping. Always use a white noise machine. 5) Baby upright on my shoulder 30 minutes after each feed 6) Smaller feedings every 2 hours.

 

Hope that helps. For what it is worth, I think a baby's happiness is more important than school. I would either stop doing school completely for your younger two, or put everyone into public school. Baby brains only have short time to develop, school work can be learned over a lifetime.

[pinksneakers14]

I also wanted to mention that this sleeper was a life saver for us. He would sleep in it when he wasn't happy anywhere else.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Newborn-Rock-Sleeper-Yellow/dp/B002M77N22/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1359907788&sr=1-1&keywords=fisher+price+rock+and+play+sleeper

[prairiewindmomma]

Prevacid finally kicked in after a couple of weeks...life is going better. Thanks!

[NASDAQ]

For awhile we used construction ear muffs for my daughter. Could your son use those? It might bug him less if they don't actually go inside his ears.Or noise-blocking earphones with some sort of music he likes? Those can get pricey but you might be able to find a cheap set.