SFangel

Hi,

I have a baby that is almost a year old. Because of the RSD and because of the torn ligament in my left knee/leg, I fell several times with the baby in my arms. He got hurt several times.

He often raises his arms when he sees me, which is his way of asking me to hold him into my arms. However, I refuse to hold him sometimes because I do not want him to get injured because I fell while carrying him.

The baby then looks at me with tearful and sad eyes. I believe he thinks I do not love him anymore because I did not want to hold him. It breaks my heart to see him like that.

I almost always give in and take him into my arms. I kiss him and I tell him I love him. Of course, I have to worry about falls more while holding the baby.

How to explain to my baby that I cannot carry him all the time because I do not want him to get injured by my falls?

I am in contact with a lot of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (I am -or was- an Early Childhood Educator). How to explain to these young children (according to their age) what RSD is and how it affects me and my life, as well as my activities with them?

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by SFangel (edited 09-11-2003).]