A good office chair will serve you well for several years. But ultimately any piece of furniture will develop a fault and get you finally thinking of buying a replacement. And unlike the fridge, washing machine or television set, you cannot call up a handyman from the yellow pages to fix your chair.

Yet most of the common faults that your trusted office chair may develop can be fixed, saving you the cost of replacement for the time being.

Here’s a list of the 7 most common faults that can befall your office chair:

1. The gas lift fails
2. The recline mechanism fails
3. An armrest brakes
4. A castor breaks or falls out
5. The backrest collapses
6. The foam padding in the seat wears out
7. The upholstery wears out

This is not a particularly nasty list. But when one of these things happens, most people will think that it is time to change their chair. The good news, however, is that many of these problems can be easily solved.

CHECK THE WARRANTY

The first thing to do is not always the most obvious, unless your chair is under a year old: check the warranty. Most inexpensive chairs, whether bought online or in a shop, will carry at least a one year’s warranty. The more expensive chairs made in the UK, Europe or North America, may carry a three year’s warranty or even five years. If your chair is still under warranty, you may be able to get your retailer or manufacturer to fix the problem at next to no cost. (You may have to cover the cost of sending the chair to the manufacturer and collecting it back.)

But even if your office chair is no longer under warranty, you can easily overcome most problems by buying replacement parts and fixing them yourself.

FAILED GAS LIFT

The gas lift is the cylinder that extends from the feet (5-star base) of your chair to the seat. Over time, the gas lift can fail if the weight the chair has to carry is overbearing or if you constantly raise and lower the seat height. A new gas lift can be bought from a specialist office chairs components supplier. Ask the supplier for instructions on how to remove the faulty gas lift in order to replace it with the new one.

RECLINE MECHANISM FAILS

The recline mechanism is the metal plate that is screwed to the underside of the seat of your chair. Your chair’s recline mechanism will have one, two or 3 handles to adjust the height of the seat and the tilt or recline of the backrest. If the mechanism of your chair fails, contact the original retailer and ultimately the wholesaler or manufacturer. Ask them where you can purchase an new mechanism of the type used on your chair. The new mechanism will come with instructions on how to fit it onto your chair after removing the damaged one.

AN ARMREST BREAKS

Metal armrests are very sturdy. But a plastic armrest could break if a lot of pressure is often applied to it. For example do you lean on the armrests as you rise from or sink into the chair? When an armrest breaks on your chair, again ask your retailer or distributor to put you in touch with the wholesaler or manufacturer. The latter will be able to tell you how to find a component supplier who can sell you the same type of armrests or similar. You will need to check the holes through which the armrests are screwed into the seat (and possibly the backrest). Describe the fixings clearly to the component supplier to ensure that the replacement arms you receive will screw into the same holes on the seat (and backrest). Then its a matter of unscrewing the damaged armrests and replacing them with the new ones.

A BROKEN OR LOOSE CASTOR

Office chair castors are easily found on the internet and eBay these days. A simple search in your favourite search engine will bring up a few. You will need to measure the diameter of the pins used to hold the castors into the 5-star base, the diameter of the outer collar of the castor, and the diameter of the wheels of the castor. It may be advisable to a whole set of 5 castors in case there is a slight variation in size between the old and the new.

The last three problems are ones that you may not be able to fix yourself. They either indicate the old age of your chair, or a weakness in its construction, and it may therefore be time to replace your chair.

THE BACKREST COLLAPSES

If the backrest of your office chair collapses, something very fundamental within the backrest has probably broken. For example the plywood board within the backrest. You will not be able to fix this yourself, and the manufacturer & wholesaler will typically not sell you a new backrest if the chair is no longer under warranty. It would be time to get a new chair.

THE FOAM PADDING IN THE SEAT WEARS OUT

This is definitely a sign of the old age of your chair, unless an inferior quality foam padding was used in the seat of the chair, or unless the chair has been subject to some abuse or mis-use. If you are able to show that an inferior quality foam padding has been used, you may be able to get compensation from the retailer/wholesaler. If it is any of the other causes, you will probably need to get a new chair.

THE UPHOLSTERY WEARS OUT

This problem has all the same causes and consequences as the last one above. You may be able to get compensation from the retailer or wholesaler if the manufacturer has used an inferior quality upholstery on the chair. Otherwise you may need to replace the chair. And you have a third option: you can have the chair re-upholstered by a local upholstery company.

CONCLUSION

So as you can see for all of the above, you do not always have to throw your office chair away when it develops a fault. If you spent a lot of money to get a really comfortable ofice chair and you have had it for several years, you will likely have grown very attached to your chair. Find a way to fix the problem if you can. Do not throw away the chair unless you absolutely have to.

Source by Bola Egunjobi

In terms of design, Germany is always a top contender in the world market. German engineering is known and recognized the world over as one of the best, most reliable and beautiful. In furniture, Germany remains as one of the leading sources of fine workmanship and design. Considering on buying ‘made in Germany’ home furnishings? Here are the top reasons why German furniture is considered a cut above the rest:

German furniture is not only beautiful, it is also practical

German furnishing is not known for its frivolity so people don’t have to be surprised by artsy high design and playful strangeness. If you’re the type that wants furniture to be recognized as furniture, German designers have your best interests in mind.

Because of its focus on use, German furnishing can be relied upon not just for its aesthetic appeal but also for its functions. It focuses on ergonomics to ensure maximum comfort to the user and ensures environmental sensibility so it’s always a good fit to its setting.

The design concept of German furnishing is also recognizable wherever it may be. That means if you buy German-made furniture in Germany, it will be seen and accepted as beautiful whether you’re in New York, Sydney, Bangkok or Beijing. German appliance is a cut above the rest so its appeal transcends cultural borders, traditionally a difficult hurdle for designers to conquer.

German furniture is a standard for quality

When it comes to German furniture workmanship, quality means strict adherence to standards in the choice of raw materials, the production process and the finishing. There are no second best results in German furniture, whether it’s a custom-made table or a mass produced chair. As such, you can expect excellence in terms of craftsmanship with every furniture piece you buy, wherever you may be.

German furniture is the top choice in Europe

German furniture is a cut above the rest and this is a fact that is recognized in Europe, where it is the leading choice. In 2004, German-made furniture comprised of about 30% of Europe’s furniture industry. And with Europe considered as the world’s most important market for furniture, that is impressive indeed. Worldwide, Germany is considered as one of the top 3 furniture manufactures, reaching billions of dollars in terms of sales.

The demand for German furniture worldwide is also proof that people recognize that it is a cut above the rest. The export quota for the country’s home furnishings rose to 100% in less than 10 years, from 1996 to 2005, resulting to an export volume of over 5 billions euros.

Source by Jeffrey T Clark

When we always think about a cabinet and sideboard the very thought that appear in our mind would be related to a clean and clutter-free environment of our room. But, have we ever wondered how untidy and disorganised the dining room could turn out to be when you have no cabinets in them? Besides with an unhygienic appearance, it will also project a false impression of your lifestyle. Not only this, if you are the kind of person who loves to host parties, or you just want to have more storage space in the room, you may consider looking for sideboards and cabinets since they are fashionable and useful for your dining area.Thus a featured piece of furniture is anything and everything that fulfills all your requirements and gives you a feeling of happiness.

A sideboard also called as a buffet, is a storage unit that stands freely in a dining room or kitchen. It has been a home decoration furniture piece, even before the time of fitted cupboards. The sideboards come with many drawers and are the perfect place to keep cutlery, cups and other accessories. Even though most houses today have a full set of kitchen cabinets, but the requirement of additional storage space is still there. For this reason, there is still a high demand for sideboards and cabinets.

One can conclude cabinets and sideboards as an elegant, designer and entertaining furniture unit. They add a modern look to the house. The styles and patterns of this storage unit add a beautiful and impressive appearance in the dining room. So while buying the sideboards and cabinets online ensures that it possess all the features you want to have in it. Refer to the points below that can guide you to some extent.

1. Size and space: Before searching for the cabinets online, analyse the size of it which could store your accessories well and does not occupy much of the room space. If your room has enough space to open doors, then go for a big cabinet. Depending on where the piece may be placed in the room, it is important that the sideboard does not overcrowd a small room, or that the sideboard itself appear too small in a place that has larger furniture.
2. Style: Cabinets and sideboards come in various forms. But which one will be perfect for you depends on the interior and your preferences. The interior decor of your room will decide whether modern, contemporary, traditional, retro, French country, Victorian and much more will go well with it. But the touch of modernization and preferences will decide whether you should have sliding doors, open shelves with some closed cabinets or folding doors.
3. The material used to craft it: Ensure before buying that the material used to craft your storage box for cups, cutlery, etc. is durable enough. The most trusted sideboards and cabinets in India are made from high-quality solid wood. They offer more durability, and the scratches and bumps on the storage unit are more easily sanded and painted over. So go for the ones made from solid wood. If you’re looking to save money, then cabinets produced from pine will go best, but the durability of the furniture may get affected.
4. Shelves: A cabinet is the most versatile piece of furniture. It can be placed in the dining room or other room of the house. So consider the list of items you want to put in sideboards, and determine the number of shelves that you would expect to have it. Nowadays cabinets come with removable or adjustable shelves which can be customised according to your needs. Thus this will allow your to keep your items in an organised way.

Source by Suman S

We’ve all heard speakers who talk so fast we are left in the dust. Listeners may end up ten words behind, especially if the topic is complex or unfamiliar. In sales, a rapid rate of speech can result in a lost potential sale.

People talk so fast because others around them do this, because they think erroneously that others will not take the time to listen to them, and because they do not realize the listeners are struggling. In some cultures, speaking quickly is a sign of professional competence.

The average speech rate in the mid-Atlantic states is 120 – 140 words per minute.Ît is faster in some places such as New York City, and slower in other locales. What matters is not how many words a speaker can get out, but how many (well-chosen) words are understood by the listener.

Speech rate becomes a problem in any location when the listener does not understand. The speaker either may have to repeat himself, or some information gets ignored. In a healthcare setting, this can be a real danger as instructions may get confused and patient compliance may slip. Young children and senior citizens may also process information more slowly.

If you are listening to a fast speaker, and do not understand the information, ask for the confusing parts to be repeated if possible. Tell the speaker exactly what was unclear, such as “the part after “Ben?s department” “, or “the name of the muscle”. Make sure the speaker knows you want to understand.

If you are the fast speaker, and you know this is a problem, start by listing the reasons you want to slow down. Maybe you want a promotion, but need clearer speech. Possibly your colleagues are getting frustrated with your speech. Perhaps you are tired of repeating yourself. Possibly phone calls are not returned because others cannot understand your telephone number or name.

Start by taking some slow, deep breaths. Then count slowly to ten, prolonging the vowels if needed. Then say your ten digit telephone number at that slow rate. Visualize someone writing it down from a telephone message. Can he write it correctly at that pace?

Try saying some basic sentences at that slow pace, such as “I see a ______” or “_______ are great!” Then slowly recite a shopping list. Can you slightly prolong the vowels? Other ways to think of it are to go at a 25 mph pace with your words, or visualize yourself rocking in a rocking chair, slowly talking.

Often your listener will not even realize what you are doing. You will not sound “stupid”, just clearer.

Talk about a topic that is not important to you, such as a minor interest or a description of a person you casually noticed earlier. Speak at this more relaxed rate. Tape yourself if possible, and listen to it.

The real test comes when speaking about a topic that is important to you, such as family or work. Can you still maintain this slower rate, or at least use it when you notice the listener is confused?

Enlist some others to help you by discretely indiciating when you are going too fast again. This may happen when making a presentation or when under other stress. Change does not happen overnight; be patient.

If the tips above are not enough, you may benefit from professional speech coaching. Search for an expert who has worked with others with similar problems. Ask about qualifications as well as experience.

You deserve to be easily understood. Be proactive and start today!

Source by Katie Schwartz

Baby cribs, being the child’s first bed, have a most interesting history! The word “bed” initially means the place where a person sleeps – originally no more than a hollow in the ground. The first types of baby cribs were a small swinging or rocking bed known as a cradle. It has a long history and was typically one of the first pieces of furniture to be added to a new household.

Before the colonies were settled by Europeans, Native Americans cradled their babies in a multitude of different styles, almost as diverse as our modern baby cribs. There were bark cradles, skin cradles, lattice cradles, board cradles, basket cradles and many more. The style changed with the geography of the tribe and was influenced by the materials available for construction. Swaddling (wrapping the baby tightly in cloth or skins) was a favorite of many tribes since this was seen as a safety standard. Many Navajos still use a traditional board cradle that swaddles the baby to keep it safe and protected.

The earliest and most common type of cradle is the rocker, derived undoubtedly from a hollowed out half log to provide a secure resting place for baby. It was a simple step to move from the hollowed out log to a box mounted on transverse curved sections and a particular baby crib favorite with the early Colonists was characterized by sloping sides and a hooded end made from simple nailed pine boards. Examples also exist of cribs that represent “great beds of state” for royal babies. These fancy cribs were richly carved and furnished with elaborate and costly hangings. Many cradles were designed so they could rock easily, with one mechanical invention claiming that the cradle would self rock for an hour and a half! Early cribs were made to be placed right next to the parent bed, since bedrooms are actually a later addition to architecture that came with the ability to heat the home more easily. It isn’t known if there were any safety standards under consideration in those early days.

Once the baby was too large for the cradle it graduated to a trundle bed. The name is derived from the utility of this bed which was made to fit easily under the parent’s bed and thus conserve space. Early homes were often one or two room cottages where space was a premium.

The baby crib came into existence as homes became larger, during the 1800’s, and could accommodate their size. They were usually home-made and passed on from child to child, since families were rather large in those years. Baby cribs were also passed on through generations since they were constructed of solid, durable wood found locally. If you run across such a crib today you will marvel at its sturdiness. A recent trip to an antique store while looking for a crib for my new grandson bore this out. The crib was made of hardwood that had been softened by many decades of hands-that-rocked-the-cradle and gave no indication of ever wearing out.

The basic shape and design of the crib has not changed much since the 19th century although we have an ongoing improvement in design as well as an ever increasing demand of higher safety standards . In light of these present safety standards it became obvious that the lovely antique crib I found would better display a doll or some beautiful stuffed animals, than to become my grandson’s first bed. There were safety issues that included slats too far apart and a design in the headboard which could prove dangerous. We urge parents to keep a close eye out for safety, both when purchasing a new crib and to maintain an existing crib. History is fun and interesting but our priority is to keep our babies safe.

Source by Ursula Ansbach

In every home, there are generally three major communal rooms in which people spend the majority of their time. The room where the cooking is done, the room where reading and entertainment is common, and the room where meals are eaten all see their fair share of use. Just as kitchen and dining room furniture has evolved to meet the needs of modern families, so too have dining room sets.

Traditionally, dining room sets were composed of a large rectangular table surrounded by chairs. The two chairs at either head had arms, while the chairs along the sides were armless. The furniture is almost always made of wood, and prior to the 19th century, unique to each home. While custom pieces are still available today, they can be prohibitively expensive. Here is a look at some of the more common styles of tables and chairs that are available today.

Modern

While wood may be the most common material for tables and chairs, there are other options for the non-traditionalist. A metal table can lend a modern and minimalist style to any setting, especially when coupled with a more casual seating arrangement, such as benches and stools. If you prefer a modern look, but without the metal, a glass tabletop can be found to fit any sized area. To complete the look, clear plastic chairs are available in a number of styles. Along with the sleek style, glass and plastic also make cleaning up a breeze.

Second-Hand

If buying new dining room sets does not appeal to your taste, there are many wonderful options available in the classifieds, or at vintage stores. A bruised and battered table and chair collection can be revived with some sandpaper and a few coats of lacquer. Or if you prefer the more rustic look, you can leave the scratches and nicks on the piece.

Re-Purposed

If you are a skilled craftsman, or you simply have a lot of time on your hands, you can try to create your own table out of older materials. Some common materials used are flooring planks, particularly in rarer woods such as redwood, old wooden doors, and even wood salvaged from wrecked ships. If done properly, these materials can make for truly unique dining room sets that not only look fantastic, but also offer a story that you can tell to any guests sitting at them.

Intimate

Although the traditional table for meals is long and rectangular, more and more families are moving away from this trend. In some cases, it is due to the restraints that a smaller living area places on the size of the furniture. More often than not, however, families simply prefer sitting closer to each other. This has led to the rise in popularity of small round or square dining room sets. These accommodations usually seat four to six people at most, and they allow for easy interaction and conversation.

Source by Andrew Stratton

When you are thinking of buying a stairlift, or a stair climber, there must be a good reason for it. Either your strength has been reduced or you have been injured so it is not easy for you to walk up and down the stairs. A home stairlift brings you back the ability to travel between floors effortlessly. You will be able to enjoy your home and your living there again fully.

Additionally, the stairlift accessories might be something to look into. They could further assist you in accomplishing the daily tasks in your home and conserve your energy further.

You will find five stairlift accessories reviews here: Newspaper holders, Grocery carriers, Hinged rails, Sit and stand or perch frame, and Weather tight seat and unit cover.

Newspaper holders

You want to keep your hands free while riding the stair lift. It is just safer that way. Many stair lifts offer attachments, or add ons such as a newspaper holder.

Grocery cariers

Some stair lifts offer a large, metal basket as a side attachment to the chair, with several dozens of pounds carrying capacity. Such baskets are perfect for carrying groceries and other heavier items with you. Again, you will be able to keep your hands free while in transport.

Hinged rails

Sometimes it is necessary for the rail to extend into the hallway, or over and across a door. This is not desirable as it hinders the traffic through the hallway or through that door. So a hinged end-rails can be implemented. The hinged end-rails will rotate along the hinge back onto the rest of the rail, removing themselves as an obstacle in the hallway or at the door. The rails can be hinged for as long as the stairlift is not in use.

For added convenience, motorized hinged rails are available. The electric motors will help you with extending and retracting the hinged rail as needed.

Sit and stand, or perch frame

This is another very useful accessory for some people. If you are hard of sitting, or if you are having trouble bending your knees to sit properly, a sit and stand or a perch frame is very helpful. It enables you to stand or perch instead of sitting when necessary. The frame consists of a bar that you can hold on to during the ride, and an additional safety rail that you can also use. Another use for the standing or perching frame is when the stairs prove too narrow to be able to sit in the chair lift comfortably.

Weather tight seat and unit cover

The weather tight seat and unit cover mostly makes sense for outdoor stairlift only. It prevents rain, dirt and sand, and wind to affect your unit and reduce its life span. There is no covers available for the rail so to keep it in good shape, frequent vacuuming or sweeping is recommended.

Source by Jason Stark

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. But if you can say something nice – DO! Lisa Ryan

It was my mom’s 70th birthday and we drove down to Atlanta (twelve hours) to spend it with her. In my “ideal perfect world,” I knew that I wanted to spend the day at the spa with my mom. However, because of my speaking schedule, I did not have the time to actually book an appointment in advance.

If you’ve ever tried to book a spa appointment for a particular day, you know how difficult it can be, so imagine trying to book TWO same day spa appointments. I was on the phone early on Saturday, calling difference spas and telling the receptionist what I wanted. Most of them practically laughed in my face, “Honey, we are booked up through the end of next month,” was the general attitude.

Finally, in desperation, said out loud, “I need a spa and I need one NOW!” The next website that came up was a spa right in my mom’s town. Their website was unimpressive and I would not have chosen it if I was not desperate. I called the number and Silvia answered the phone.

I told her, “Today is my mom’s 70th birthday and I’d like to take her to the spa.” Silvia replied, “We just had a cancellation, we would love to create the perfect day for your mother.” I said, “Well, I’d like to come with her, can you do two appointments?” She said, “Of course we can.” I really wanted two facials, but because of the technicians that they had working that day, we would have to have one facial and one massage – no problem, massage for mom, facial for me (my favorite service anyway.)

Then Silvia said, “We can even provide both services for each of you.” I said, “Really, we can have BOTH a massage AND a facial???” By that time, Silvia had created such a high expectation for the day that I didn’t even ask the price, I just said, “Sign us up.” We got into the car and drove to our appointments.

Silvia greeted us at the door and brought us into the “Relaxation Room.” She directed my mother to a chair that already had a birthday balloon tied to it and a card ready for her, signed by the staff. She took off our shoes and put our feet up on the lounge chair. She then asked us what we would like to drink. We both ordered raspberry lemonade which she promptly provided. After handing us our drinks, she left and brought my mom a tray with assorted goodies – grapes, cheese, crackers, cookies and chocolate. As she offered my mother her tray, she said, “It is my pleasure and an honor to serve you.” She then put together my tray and handed it to me in the same fashion. Wow!

We did not carry our purse or take on or off our shoes all day. The services were far beyond expectation and my mom said it was “the BEST birthday ever.” Mission accomplished.

On the way out to the car, my mother asked me, “Did you notice the bathroom?” I exclaimed, “YES!” Every single time my mother or I used the restroom, the wastebasket had been emptied. It was perfectly clean. The attention to detail was amazing and by taking care of everything, Silvia and the rest of the team created a day that was in a word – Perfect.

What does all of this have to do with your business?

1. Think about how your phone is answered. Do you treat “silly questions” as if they truly are ridiculous, or do you look for a “Yes, and” solution to make the situation work for you and your potential client. Smiling while answering the phone works. I could hear Silvia smiling through the phone.

2. When you provide a product or service, do you consider it an “honor” to be of service to your clients? Do you convey that in your tone of voice and come at your business from the place of a servant heart? When Silvia first uttered, “It is my honor and a privilege to serve you,” I had no doubt in my mind that she meant every word.

3. What details are you missing? Is there something you can do that is so simple and yet so unexpected that it leaves an indelible impression? It may have taken Silvia three seconds to remove the paper towels from the waste basket between clients, yet that minor detail stood out above everything else. It showed what an amazing experience they were able to create just by paying attention.

Take inventory of your thoughts, words, feelings and actions as you go through your day. Your clients don’t need to know what kind of day you’re “really” having, all they need to do is experience the heart of a servant and the desire to take care of them in the best possible way – details included.

Have fun,

Lisa

Don’t underestimate the power of your thoughts, feelings and words, EVERYTHING you do makes an impression, whether it’s positive or negative.

Source by Lisa Ryan

Quality sleep is very important and your choice of bed and other accessories such as the mattresses and pillows determine just how well you sleep. Luckily, there are so many options readily available in the market and finding what you love should not be that hard to do. When you make important considerations, you will have an easy time taking home the bed that you love and will enjoy sleeping on every night.

Type

A bed is not just a bed; there are so many types and your personal preferences should guide you to the most suitable one. Some of the options you will find include canopy, platform, sleigh and four poster bed. You also have an option of going for bunk or sofa beds among others. What appeals to one person may not be the perfect choice for another, so weigh all your options, and then select the one that suits your preferences.

Size

Just like any other furniture, beds come sized differently. A single bed may be good for children, but a couple will definitely need a larger one. Some beds can be size customized to meet individual preferences so you can have it as big as you wish. When choosing the perfect size, however, you want to take into consideration the amount of space you have available and the mattress’ size options. You really do not want to end up with a bed that won’t fit into your bedroom space or one that you can’t find right mattress size for.

Materials

Wood seems to be the standard for beds and you have different wood options when looking at wooden ones. There is however also the options of metal and steel beds. Each one of the materials comes with advantages and disadvantages and it is a good idea that you consider each option before choosing the material you find most suitable. Apart from having metallic or wooden frames, they could also come with additional materials to make them comfy and elegant. Consider such additions as well when choosing your bed to get the best in the end.

Price

It is determined by a number of factors including size, materials, finish and any additional touches to improve the aesthetics of the bed. The type of bed that you choose will also play a role in just how much you have to pay for it. When setting out to buy a bed, it is important that you have a budget range falling within what you can afford. Shopping for a specific kind of bed within a given price limit is so much easier than just randomly deciding to start looking for the perfect bed for you. Know what you want and how much you can spare for it before starting with your search and you will save yourself from lots of confusion with so many options available.

Source by Shalini Madhav

Although, some parents of infants, later diagnosed with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders indicate that their child was progressing normally, then suddenly stopped and began to regress. Many other parents state, that in retrospect, they saw indicators from birth.

What are these early indicators that might be overlooked? Parents should let intuition be their guide and intervene early if they suspect something is not quite right. If an infant lacks eye contact, avoids cuddling, fixates on lights or spinning objects, acts as if deaf, is excessively passive, these could be possible “red flags”.

These signs may not be easily recognized by first time parents. In the past, pediatricians have often advocated a wait and see approach. All babies develop at their own rate. This is true. On the other hand; however, the plasticity of the infant’s brain lends itself to corrections that may be come more difficult if disengaging behaviors become more ingrained.

Suggestions for modulating and correcting possible problems:

Cut down on environmental stimuli. (E.g. Turn of the TV. Shut off ceiling fans. Turn off spinning mobiles. Avoid excessive use of flash cameras.)

Promote eye contact. Gaze into his eyes as he is being nursed. Animate expressions to see if that increases engagement. Become more subdued if the infant appears overwhelmed by facial interactions. Play peek a boo games. Sing to the child. If the infant is being bottle fed, position him as if he were nursing and look in his eyes. During feeding, do not engage in other activities such as watching TV or checking email. This is a time to bond.

Eye contact is necessary precursors to joint attention, a process where the child begins to point and then looks into the eyes of the caregiver to see if he/she is seeing what he is.

A disengaged infant should face the caregiver as much as possible. Invest in a stroller where the child faces the parent. Forward facing strollers increase stress and anxiety and it limits possibilities for interaction. The same is true of tummy backs that have the child facing outward, rather than toward the parent. When the child is facing toward you he can the soothing rhythm of your heartbeat.

If the infant resists cuddling and touch, lean over him as he lies on his back and look into his eyes. Massage him to increase tolerance. Lay next to the infant engaging him in eye contact, gently massage arms, legs, hands and feet. Different textures can be used in addition to hands. Use these techniques to slowly desensitize the child.

Rocking, spinning, and head banging can be signs of agitation. If a baby looks like he is having difficulty establishing an internal rhythm, parents should keep him very close so he can feel their heartbeat/rhythm. Rock him in a traditional rocking chair. Provide a manual rocking horse, or swing. Mechanical swings and devices often provide a faster rhythm than normal, possibly making the problem worse.

If the child does not respond to his name by age one, continues to resist eye contact or cuddling, does not demonstrate at least the beginnings of joint attention- pointing and sharing, does not babble and/or continues to act is if deaf, parents need to ask his pediatrician for a referral for an evaluation by a developmental disorder specialist.

Whether your child has a problem or not, these common sense interventions can’t hurt. Parents may be surprised how their once aloof infant looks into their eyes and gives them a big hug.

Source by Mary Ann Harrington M.S