So - tell me about wobble cushions!

[mrsbaffled]

Hello, I posted on here a few weeks ago about DS1's possible dyslexia, and have been lurking with interest since.

The more I read , the more I think he may have dyspraxia. Do you think that they will look for this at the assessment that school have organised re the dyslexia, or will I have to raise my concern with the teacher first? Apparently they are so busy the assesment probabaly wont be til next academic year now :0(

Anyway, DS1 has a particular problem with sitting still on chairs and is forever falling off (he will be 7 in a fortnight). Am I right a wobble cushion will help with this? Can anyone recommend a good one for his age, or will any such cushion do?

Thanks so much in advance x

[wasuup3000]

You may need to see a Occupational therapist if you think your child may have dyspraxia. A wobble cushion and a sloping desk may help your child with their balance. However instead of guessing what the problem might be do get an appointment via your GP with a paediatrician to get him properly checked out.

[Marne]

We bought a wobble cushion last week from TK max (£7.99), dd2 loves it and both the girls (both asd and some dyspraxic traits) love to try and stand on it and balance (great for improving muscle tone), they do help children sit still for longer. My dd's are 7 and 5, i would say the one we have would suit a 7+ year old, its a little bit too big for dd2.

[Triggles]

OT mentioned to us the other day that she thinks DS2 would benefit from both a wobble cushion as well as a sloping desk. I'll admit to being a bit curious about the wobble cushion.

[SparkleRainbow]

My ds has EDS he has core instability, poor gross motor skills, and proprioception. These things give him symptoms akin to those of dyspraxia. Although I would advocate going to the gp and finding out a dx, wobble cushions have tranformed ds's ability to sit, and sit still, so I think if you can afford one they are worth a shot, while you wait for the medical profession to catch up.

My ds uses this one at school, it fits well in the school chairs, he finds the slope very supportive. GThey make a large version and a junior version, this is the junior one. My ds is a quite tall 8 yr old and this will be fine for a while yet.
www.amazon.co.uk/Gymnic-MovinSit-Seat-Wedge-Junior/dp/B000FPYHAE/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1307523732&sr=8-7&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

My ds uses this one at home, he prefers the wedge shaped one above, but I find this fits our chairs better at home, he can also use it on the floor or bench more easily. He has to turn it over and use the un-bobbled side through, as he is so skinny his boney bottom can't take the bobbled surface

www.amazon.co.uk/66Fit-Wobble-Cushion-Pump-Blue/dp/B000W0AXFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307523732&sr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Hope that helps

[Ben10isthespawnofthedevil]

We have both of the two above but DS has told me that he now has a "billy bottom" cushion at school . I have tried to find it on google but can't. Apparently it fits perfectly onto the small KS1 chairs. I use the adult move n sit cushion on my driver's seat.

[mrsbaffled]

Thanks all, for you replies and advice :0)

I had a look in my local TKMaxx yesterday, but they didn't have a wobble cushion, so I will look further. I did pick up a wobble board for £6, though and my DSs have had fun trying to stand on it just for fun. I can use it for me as I have core stability issues myself to do with my pelvis and after effetcs of pregnancy...

I will approach my GP, but I was wondering whether to delay it if the dyslexia person might pick up on it anyway....don't want to confuse things by going in from 2 directions iyswim?!

I just want to do the best by my little man...

[SparkleRainbow]

"billy bottom" cushion....! My ds would love that name

[mrsbaffled]

ha ha! I wonder what it is!

[SparkleRainbow]

We have so many different drs involved in ds' care, I wouldn't worry about confusing things....they will sort it out!

[Sops]

On ben10's recommendation (Thanks! ) I got one for my ds.
So far so brilliant- he sat on it for his tea last night and we wondered where this child had come from, he managed to sit through the whole meal without getting up or spilling anything at all! He even asked politely to get down at the end- MIRACLE!
He took it into school but teacher's said all the other children were too interested/excited by it for him to use it properly yet. Hopefully the novelty will wear off soon.
Ours was from ebay £9.99 and £5.99 p&p, I can't make a link cos my computer won't co-operate right now but it comes up if you just search for wobble cushion on ebay.

[mrsbaffled]

sops did you get the wobble cushion or the wedge?

[mrsbaffled]

Hurrah! Picked up a cushion in another TKMaxx today. The box was open and the pump missing (but I have similar at home anyway), so I was givin a discount and only paid a fiver! BARGAIN!

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

Let us know if it works for your DS, please.

[Ben10isthespawnofthedevil]

DS confirms that it is definitely a round Billy Bottom that he has at school

[Triggles]

Yes, please let us know how it goes. It's something we're looking at as well.

[mrsbaffled]

I will get back to you! DS1 is intrigued with it - will try in earnest at tea time... I figure it's worth a go as it was such a good price.

[sarahfreck]

I've used one with some of my students. (I'm a tutor) with all but one, after a while they have started to reject it saying it's not comfy etc. The one student is ASD with possible dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD. He fell off a chair once while reading to me! The cushion really helps him.

[mrsbaffled]

Well, normally I spend the whole of teatime telling him to sit properly on the chair, legs forward (always sitting half on/off), and I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT ONCE!

Amazing!

[SparkleRainbow]

I know it really is amazing, my ds just sat still for the first time ever when he was on one at the dinner table......I could not believe the difference.


childish but true.....

I LOVE the Billy Bottom cushion

[blueShark]

DS (4.11) found sitting as the biggest nightmare, at a request to be seated down he would throw the biggest tantrum.

The cushion or weighted pads didnt help at school nor home, not that I want to disregards the helpful comments of the posters above but wanted to add that retained reflexes therapy and lots of praise and rewards (ABA style) worked for us. Now DS sits for all meals, table top activities, and the child we had never imagined to be sitting down at school is the best behaved in class most times.

I am pleased the cushion is helping your DS but perhaps read about RRT as longer term help.

[mrsbaffled]

That's really interesting blueshark, thanks for your input :)

[SparkleRainbow]

That is interseting blueshark. It all depends on where to inability to sit still comes from I suppose, for my ds no amount of praise or RRT would help, because his constant movement comes from attempting to allieviate pain, as you know yourself, when you are in pain you have to adjust yourself to stop the pain from getting worse or muscles going into spasm. The extra benefit of the wobble cushion it that the constant small movement, from being on them, helps to develop core muscle strength, which for some children, like my ds, is an essential part of their physio needs. Every child is different.... I just thought it was worth a try, for little money it could make a big difference.