wheelchair v. special buggy?

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

dd is 3 and we have an appointment with wheelchair services in a couple of weeks. At the moment she uses her walker for short distances but other than that is in her maclaren pushchair which is no longer offering the support she needs and is getting small. When she's in the pushchair people tend to assume she's a baby as she is petite. She's just started at pre-school and they do quite a lot of little trips out like to the local shops and library. I feel a wheelchair would be better as the other children would not see her as a baby and also if she's going to have to have this for a while she won't want to be in a big pushchair when she's at primary school.

I have talked to dd about it and she just repeats 'no wheelchair, I just need my walker' . I want to show her some pictures of little children in wheelchairs and special buggies to give her an idea of what to expect before the appointment - does anyone have a clue where to find pics like that? All the pics I can find are of the empty wheelchair/buggy.

What do you think? I know my family feel putting her in a wheelchair is like giving up and saying she'll never walk. The truth is she will probably be able to walk a bit, possibly un-aided on a good day but on a bad day she will need a wheelchair. I'd rather get it now and let it become a normal part of our lives from an early age IYSWIM.

Also, do they do nice wheelchairs in decent colours for little ones or is a case of having to accept any old crap the NHS give you?

Thanks and sorry for all the questions

[5inthebed]

Tried googling for images and came across this.Not entirely sure how helpful it will be though.

I'd say wheelchair would probably be better than a maclaren major for transport as well given some peoples attitudes towards them.

[Phoenix4725]

yep ds had maclaren and we had the whole rigmole is it abuggy or wheelchair in a lot of places.

and people was seeing ds as baby especially as he does not talk and is on the small side

yep and i have run into the it will make him seemmore disabled camp to ,though personally I find the fact that he can not talk is harder for him but that is jst my opinon
,but I just see it as something that will enable him to do what he wants /needs to do like any other child

[beldaran]

We just had our assessment at the wheelchair service, and we decided against a wheelchair and have instead gone for an Ormesa New Bug (www.ormesa.com), in my opinion its a wheelchair/pushchair hybrid and could be something for you to have a look at.

[cory]

I have also come across this attitude of if-you-out-them-in-a-wheelchair-they-will-never-walk-again.

It hasn't been my own experience though. Dd is 12 so far to old for a buggy. She has used a wheelchair on and off since she was 7. The way it works at the moment is, the chair goes with her to school every morning and sits in the office until she requires it. On most days she doesn't. But when she needs it it is there. And she does use it when we go out.

Having the backup of a wheelchair means she is not overstraining, so she can carry on doing activities such as ballet on a good day. Her school friends have always been fine with the idea that she is sometimes in the chair, sometimes not.

[LadyFio]

I find the wheelchair easier

[Woooozle100]

we have wheelchair for dd - just uploaded a photo of her in it so you can see. Tis on my profile. It has little light up led wheels at the front. Rather jazzy!

I wanted my dd not to look like such a baby also. As you can see she is diddy and this makes people realise that she must be older than she looks. Or 'why has that dozy mare put a baby in a wheelchair'

I also agree that the wheelchair promotes independence over the buggy. DC can learn to self wheel as opposed to being solely reliant on being pushed. Also they can get in and out of it themselves (well dd can't but our physio was explaining standing 'work' that can be done with it)

Downside is that it is more of a norse for person pushing it rather than the buggy. Well they did forget our telescopic handles so 6 ft 2 dh stooped over it is quite a sight!

[ilovesprouts]

ive just got a maclaren major elite for my ds2 its lovley but had to pay £70 for xtras still worth it tho little boy 28 months not walking got gdd /sn

[Phoenix4725]

im still goin keep my mlaren major a sI had to buy mine , for times when go out with someone that has a to small boot for his chair when it arrives

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

thanks everyone - I managed to find a few piccies on-line and also showed her the piccie of Pixiemason's dd - thanks pixiemason! she looked at it and said she wants a pink one with flowery wheels. I think it would be the best solution so we'll see what wheelchair services say. Although from September I will have to put her in an ordinary double pushchair at times as my new baby is due then. At least if I get a wheelchair she will be able to use it at playgroup and stuff.

[PheasantPlucker]

We are just about to get a wheelchair for dd1, exactly due to problems of perception from other people re Major.....sigh....! To be fair the physio has suggested this too, and she is getting bigger.

[madwomanintheattic]

we transferred to a wheelchair for school. standard issue in most pct's is an invacare blade plus if you don't have any specific postural requirements and don't need a tilt in space. dd2 has a purple one with hideous patterned fabric (she chose it), and we also have enormous yellow smiley face spoke guards, and we have an r82 croc walker in orange for the playground.

be warned, the blade is a pita to push as the anti-tips are right in the way, even if you flip them up, and the narrowness of kid's wc's makes any form of pushing an art in itself. dd2 can self-propel a little, but it causes all sorts of tone issues and she puts her head down lol, so we do most of the 'getting there' pushing and she takes over pottering in shops etc.

we have a major, too, but i got that on e-bay lol.

[meltedmarsbars]

We use both - have electic wh/ch and Lightening Buggy (both nhs), use either depending on where we are going. I have learned not to care if other people think she's a lazy kid in a buggy - I know she can't walk. Our buggy is great for pavements - v easy to push, and handle rises and lowers for pushers' height.

Once (and only once) I was asked to leave the buggy outside when we were at the doctors. The receptionist was SOOOO embarrassed when I explained she can't walk!

[5inthebed]

Pixie, your DD is lovely! I love her wheelchair, very girly.

[madwomanintheattic]

pixie - they 'forgot' to put our adjustable handles on as well... dh is also 6'2" and struggles. it does make me a leetle bit cross.

[Woooozle100]

ah ta for the nice words guys And glad the pic has won yr dd round hangingbelly

aye madwoman - funny how these more costly additions get forgotten.

I think a bit of clashing is great, riven

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

we were at the supermarket today and dd was in her pushchair when some little girl referred to her as a 'baby'. She said loudly - 'I not a baby, I gonna get my big girl wheelchair soon' . I think that says it all really. But it HAS to have those pink bits and HAS to have flowery wheels! or we'll be in trouble

[anonandlikeit]

ds2 swapped recently from m/major to w/chair for the same reason, he LOVES his w/chair. He can walk but needs his chair for distance. It ahsn't made him walk any less its just made him happier when he has to use it.

[PheasantPlucker]

I think we are just about to order an Orlando.......

[CharlottesDaddy]

Is there anywhere apart form Rainbow mobility that I could get additional accessories for Charlotte's New Bug?
I have looked at the US and with the £100 freight and 2.7% Customs and 15% Vat it matches Rainbows quote.
Thanks

[monstermansmum]

try RMS here

[monstermansmum]

sorry, forgot to add... not sure what kind of accs your after but they are very good at harmesses etc, inc bespoke stuff. Lots of charities fund hoods and baskets etc if thats what your after.

[FatGoth]

You don't have to pay VAT on any disability item. If shipping from USA make sure shipper puts in huge red letters on crate DISABILITY ITEM - ZERO VAT RATED. So they can't miss it. If they do you can claim it back.