First time your baby goes to day care or has a babysitter. First time going on a trip. First time sleeping at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. These kinds of new experiences are important for your baby as he grows and develops. Transitions are part of the listening and spoken language (LSL) journey.
The goal should be to make these new experiences as positive as possible for you, your baby, and the adults and caregivers around him. Learn what you can do to ensure that your baby is able to get the most out of these listening and learning moments.
Child care
Whether you're using a nanny, family member, or day care to watch your baby, your caregiver needs to understand your baby's hearing loss and his specific needs. Work closely with your caregiver so that your baby's hearing devices are worn all day. Anyone taking care of your baby needs to be very comfortable handling the devices on their own.
How to plan for a smooth transition into child care
Take five minutes at the start of every day to make sure your baby's devices are on and working. Avoid having the batteries run out while your baby is in the care of others. Change the batteries during your morning device check if you expect them to run out.
Assign at least one primary person who will be responsible for your baby's hearing devices while in their care. They'll need to ensure your baby's devices are on and working the entire time. Teach your caregiver about your baby's hearing loss and his devices.
Tips for teaching providers about the devices
- Show them how to listen to the device, change the batteries, and put them on your baby.
- Let them practice while you watch or have them pretend to teach you how.
- Give them helpful feedback and positive encouragement.
- Tell them to call you immediately if the devices aren't working.
- Explain how important it is that your baby wears the devices during all waking hours — this means making sure they're on after each naptime.
- Show them about hearing loss and brain development with this "We Hear With the Brain" video.
Baby's first trip
The first time you bring your baby with you out of town can be exciting and overwhelming. This is a new adventure. Make sure your little one can hear all the new words, sounds and experiences. Bring what you normally use for your daily routines so your baby doesn't miss a thing.
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Bring your baby's remote microphone system and charger. You'll want to bring any accessories you rely on to keep devices on your baby, like headbands, bonnets, hats and clips.
It's also helpful to have familiar items with you. Pack your baby's favorite LSL things, like familiar books and toys to play with, and use them for Learning to Listen Sounds.
Make a plan to capture memories. Photos or mementos from a trip will be a helpful tool for conversations about past experiences when your baby gets older.
Don't forget to bring your hearing device kit!
Your hearing aid device kit:
- Plenty of batteries
- A charger (if your baby's devices are rechargeable)
- A dry kit
- Back-up hearing aids (if you have them)
- A listening tube for listening to the hearing aids
- Any lubricant or cream recommended by your audiologist to help with earmold insertion and fitting
- Hearing aid storage box for when baby is sleeping
Your cochlear implant device kit:
- Extra batteries
- A battery charger
- A dry kit
- Back up processors
- Extra cables
- Water protection kits
- CI storage box for when baby is sleeping
Spending the night with grandparents
Set Grandma and Grandpa up for success! Grandparents can become experts on your baby’s hearing too. Prepare for the big sleepover by showing Grandma and Grandpa how to "Take Five" by sharing this video with them.
Remind them they need to make sure your baby’s devices are on and working first thing in the morning. Teach them about your baby’s hearing devices and what’s packed in your device kit.
Show them how to listen to the device, change the batteries, and put them on your baby. You can record a short video of you putting the devices on so they can refer to it later.
Tips for teaching grandparents about the devices
- Show them how to listen to the device, change the batteries, and put them on your baby.
- Let them practice while you watch or have them pretend to teach you how.
- Give them helpful feedback and positive encouragement.
- Tell them to call you immediately if the devices aren't working.
- Explain how important it is that your baby wears the devices during all waking hours — this means making sure they're on after each naptime.
Help your baby feel comfortable too
Pack your baby’s favorite LSL things, like familiar books and toys to play with and comfort him. Record a short video or two for your baby to watch while you’re gone.
You could also schedule video calls with your baby. Hearing your voice and seeing your face will help him during this transition. Sing a song or read a book aloud that your baby recognizes from your daily routine.
This article was provided by Hearing First. Hearing First supports families and professionals to help children with hearing loss have the opportunity to take advantage of access to sound — a critical building block for future success.
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