I know this is strange request so let me explain... (sorry it's long!)
My 9 month old son has hyperacusis, which is very acute hearing and extreme sensitivity to sound. This means that "normal" environments are too loud for him and are actually painful for his ears. For example, he's never been out to eat with us because a restaurant would be too loud, I would never even dream of taking him to the mall. He's been to Target with me a handful of times and he does okay not great, and we tried the grocery store last week and it was too loud. We pretty much have to stay at home which can be pretty isolating for him and me.
Anyway, it is possible that he can grow out of the hyperacusis and we've seen tremendous improvement since he was born. Since he seems to be getting better we're trying to get him out more so I'd like to take him to stores that have shopping carts but are generally pretty quiet. When we are able to get out he LOVES looking around at everything so I’d like to take him out more but to places that his ears can handle.
So, if you know of a quiet store with shopping carts, please let me know!
As a side note, we can’t do playgroups because he can’t handle more than 1-2 babies at a time. I’d love to find someone else with a baby his age that would like to get together every one in a while. A little about me – I’m 32, married 3 years, work 2 days/week, very involved in our church (Fellowship Church), like shopping and reading. If you have a baby around 9 months and would like to get together, let me now!
Thanks everyone! Sorry for the long post!
I forgot to mention in my post that we have earplugs and baby headphones. He loves his headphones and gets mad when we take them off. :) We always carry the earplugs and headphones with us just in case.
Thank you again for all your help. This has all been very life changing!
I do my shopping at Whole Foods at Preston/Forest. It is pertty quiet around 9 am. I have not heard music playing while there. There's also lots to see too!
I have a little boy who is 13 months; he is quiet compared to most babies but his three year old brother is even more quiet. LMK if you would like to meet up!
L.
What about Hobby Lobby...it might be somewhat quiet. I can't remember if they have an intercom system or not. But unless my child is in there, it seems to be pretty quiet.
Hi, C.
This is going to be a VERY difficult time of year to find a 'quiet' store, but we have found the Shops at Willow Bend Mall to be VERY quiet during the week! (Maybe you can take your son there soon, before the Christmas shopping really gets in "full gear", because then NO PLACE is going to be "quiet".) :( Did the dr possibly recommend maybe using ear plugs to help dampen the noise when you are out with your son? How does your son handle being in the nursery at Fellowship? Do they have someone who can take him out of the room if his room gets too noisy for him?
I will stay on the "look out" for quiet stores or places and let you know what my husband and I find.
Try going to Kohl's dept store. They do have a few shopping carts and it is pretty quiet, especially during the week.
I went into Steinmart the other day and it was VERY quiet. I actually noticed how quiet it was because it was almost strange to me. Anyway, give it a try, as for shopping carts, I'm not really sure, but you could just give them a quick call and see. Good luck :)
How about Kohl's? they have carpeted floors and very quiet shopping carts. Barnes and nobles. forget WALMART!! i think they pump in extra sounds through the soundtrack to drive you crazy..
I was recently at Dillards at firewheel mall.. While in the dressing rooms i heard like a group of women cackling over buying some dress...It was only me in the dressing room.... I looked out and asked the lady who worked there, "where the heck is that conversation coming from?"
She said it was part of the "soundtrack" they have going along with the music through the pa system..
CVS has carts, carpet and almost never anyone in the store.
I second the vote on Shops at Willow Bend. I have never been to a mall that is so quiet. The loudest place (and I am stretching to say loud) was the food court. Now...holiday time is a different story..... it can get like other malls.
Susan
Have you ever tried using ear plugs with him? You can buy the soft foam kind or the stiky swim type at Walmart. I do not know if it would muffle the sound to a point that he could manage. Just a thought.
