Crawling track - any ideas?

[Dr Miles R Jones]

That is a good idea.  Those harnesses that go with a retractable rein for toddlers are really perfect. 
 Anyone know where you can get one online? 
A baby carrier sling would not really work I don't think.

[lizzyd]

We just made one and it was not too expensive. I think I spent about $50 on materials.

[Dr Miles R Jones]

You know you can probably think of a simpler device to make a rope run.  There seem to be plenty of metal pieces out there with regularly spaced holes in them like shelving supports maybe.  I remember Doman trying to figure out how to make a device that increased the CO2 in the child's lungs to provoke the auto response to breathe deeply.  He figures what it would take to change the CO2 content of a small room.  He thought of a lot of complicated, and expensive, things.  Eventually he realized that breathing into a paper bag for a few minutes would do the trick.

[Wolfwind]

We used several aids to crawling with my daughter, with the same idea as the harness: decreasing friction from body weight.  The main one was just a ceramic dinner plate.  We have hardwood floors, and with the plate under her belly the smooth surface was enough to let her move.  We joked about using one of those disks that are made for moving furniture - you know the round things you put under the corners of a couch and then then it slides easily?  Those are even supposed to work on carpet.  We never tried it, but it should work.

The problem, and the reason I'm going for a crawling track this time, was that she always went in circles.  It really frustrated her.  I would put my hands behind her feet or on either side of her like the walls of a track, and that helped, but I couldn't sit there forever, and then she'd get annoyed.

I just found at the local salvation army a pad from a pack'n'play with almost inch-thick foam.  I think I'm going to use that for the basis of my crawling track.  It has a stiffened base, so it might work to just make two U-shaped supports, one for each end, to hold it in the right shape.  Or I might still need the whole track.  But the pad was only a dollar, so this won't be expensive!  I'm excited

[Kerileanne99]

So I know there are all kinds of great crawling tracks out there, but when my kiddo was young enough for one I hadn't yet tumbled to Glen Doman or BrillKids...however, as I am in a wheelchair and was determined that A would still be very physically active, we 'invented' several versions that might interest some of you...
As far as a crawling track, we lived in an apartment at the time and used two contoured changing pads end to end, like these, for around $20 as I found them at a second hand shop. I am now struck by just how similar my 'obstacle course' was to a proper crawling track!

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4243228&cp=2255957.2273443.3561177.3561188&green

The other thing...my husband and I are certified rock climbing instructors and have studied the tremendous benefits of climbing at all levels of age and ability.  Indoor climbing is now being used for brain-injured individuals, physical therapy, stroke rehab, you name it.  We built a tiny inclined wall and put our tiny child in a harness (full-body) and she worked her way up a two-foot section by pulling her body using hands and feet in a crawling-style motion. She was tied in so it is basically a pulley-system to assist. In addition, the handholds are textured and in the shape of letters and numbers...she still climbs from A to Z on a much more advanced wall,, and we make loads of games with things like shouting out words that start with whatever letter her hand is on.

It has very similar benefits to brachiation, but additional ones as well. Balane, coordination, spatial awareness, grip, confidence, I could go on and on.

I know it sounds quite complicated but it is really no more complicated than a brachiation ladder, and we worked one in later on the existing setup...
I will hunt down some pictures if anybody is interested.

BTW- my daughter started gymnastics and the first day the instructors could not believe how coordinated, strong, and flexible she was. Considering she much ride in my lap a great deal of the time, is forced to take an elevator instead of stairs, etc, I am exceptionally pleased with the outcomes!

[khatty]

If it isn't too much trouble, I would enjoy seeing a picture of the alphabet climbing wall - it sounds wonderful.

[Scruff]

@Kerileanne99
Wow, the changing mat is a clever idea. Did you mount them on anything or just put the two together?  Sounds like a simple, quick idea.
I think I'm going to go buy a second changing mat :-)
I'm also interested to see a photo of your alphabet climbing wall!

[Kerileanne99]

Khatty,Scruff-
I will try to dig out some earlier pictures of the wall setup...she actually stood up for the first time by pulling herself up on a purple hold in the shape of a train!
If all else fails I can probably get a short video of her climbing!
Scruff- I actually didn't mount the pads on anything as we wanted to be able to alter the angles and our 'obstacle course'....I used self-adhesive industrial strength Velcro to connect them and to keep them from coming apart untilI wanted them to!

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