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SN children

portable 'support'/'seat' for shopping trolley?

16 replies

MommyUpNorth · 30/12/2007 21:31

I've asked our physio if she had a product that would fit into the kiddie seat in the shopping trolley and she didn't think such a thing existed, but did think that other people must use something...

DS is about 13 months old now and still not sitting very well. Up until now he's been small enough to sit in the baby bit of the trolley, but he's now above the weight limit. He would basically need something to slot in the seat with a high back (as he'll flop backwards the minute he gets tired of being upright), plus support at both sides and a harness to keep him from falling forward. Does such an insert exist? Or do I need to completely abandon the idea that he will sit in the trolley? If so, any tips on how to get the shopping done?

I've thought about just using the pushchair, but the basket under is not good for very much, so no idea how to work through this. While on the topic... was discussing the idea of going out for a meal with ds... how to get him in a highchair if pushchairs aren't allowed in? We used to take him in his baby carseat, but he's starting to look rather big in it now and will actually be moving up to the next size...

All this seemed so much easier when he was tiny.

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crimplene · 30/12/2007 21:36

DS can sit up OK, but I use a backpack carrier made by Macpac for my supermarket shopping. That would do the trick as it's very supportive

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Sidge · 30/12/2007 22:23

It's hard isn't it?

My DD2 couldn't go in a trolley for ages so I started getting my shopping delivered

When I did need to go to a store I took her in her pushchair, then went to Customer Services and asked if a staff member could help by pushing the trolley for me as I had a disabled child to push in her pushchair. They were always very helpful and helped me take it all back to my car and unload it.

As for restaurants, take him in his pushchair and if they refuse you entry with it explain that he can't sit up and needs to be in his pushchair, and to think of it as a baby wheelchair. (You need to be quite confident in explaining his special needs with this one). The Disability Discrimination Act applies here, covering access.

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needmorecoffee · 31/12/2007 09:17

What you do is push the wheelchair and pull the trolly. Its areal faff.
As for cafe's, dd (3 with severe CP) can't sit in those toddler seats so remains in her wheelchair. I've not come across anywhere that will ban a disabled child if NT kids are allowed in. They'd be had up for dicrimination.
Just tell busybodies that he is disabled.

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Cappuccino · 31/12/2007 09:19

what does he sit in at home?

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MommyUpNorth · 31/12/2007 15:32

Thanks so much for the replies. crimplene, I hadn't really thought about a sling/backpack, but that's a good idea. He would have to be in front of me as he has reflux and I dread to think what my hair would be like if he was in a bacpack!

Sidge, we do get the big shop delivered, but I always seem to need to pop in for a few things at least once in the week. Also, we're using the shop in his OT as she was saying that he really needs to try and get used to it. He sort of shuts down when we go out, and has started coming out of it a bit, so didn't want to abandon all the shop trips just yet.

Intersting about restaurants. We've been asked to leave the pushcair at the door as it takes up too much space/fire hazard/etc... I never really thought to challenge it, just went elsewhere.

Cappuccino, he has a jenx corner chair at home as well as a floor sitter (I think that's what it's called), and a reclining highchair at the table. He only manages to stay fairly upright for about 5 minutes at a time, so doesn't spend a lot of time sitting.

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crimplene · 31/12/2007 23:17

Maybe not such a great idea then - a front tying sling with a DC over about a year is very hard on your back unless your DS is exceptionally light - I do it sometimes when my DS is ill and find the very long fabric ones the best for the purpose (I use a Didymos sz 6) would certainly be supportive enough - fine for a newborn but very hard work to carry, esp. if you have to bend forward to pick up stuff from shelves and push trolley.

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charleypops · 01/01/2008 02:32

This was an irritating problem for me too. I persisted putting my ds in the normal toddler seat of trolleys though and he eventually learned to hold on and keep himself upright (well, 80% of the time, he falls over to the side a bit and needs a bit of rearranging). It's good therapy for him and he likes riding around in them.

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mymatemax · 01/01/2008 12:20

shopping is a complete PITA, I remember stuffing all sorts of cushions etc around ds2 to try & give support.
He's too big & heavy to lift in & out of the trolley now (he's 5),so he goes in his major buggy & I pay my 8 yr old £2 pocket money to come & push the trolley.

Have you asked the supermarket if they have any alternatives our local shop came up with a trolley for triplets at a mothers request - apparently they requested it & the supplier had it in stock so you never know!

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MommyUpNorth · 01/01/2008 20:35

Thanks again for the tips/suggestions.

crimplene, I've got various types of slings that I could try out in a pinch, but agree that it is hard work carrying him now that he isn't so little anymore.

charleypops we're working with our physio just to get him to hold anything, so he doesn't really get the point of holding on to the bar yet to right himself. He doesn't yet put an arm out to 'save' himself when he's sitting, so I'm beginning to think the whole sitting in the trolley thing just isn't going to work right now.

mymatemax I haven't asked at the shop yet, but I will enquire the next time I go in. They'll probably ask what it is that I actually want, and I think the answer is just a baby seat that will hold his weight? I usually take ds who is 3 with me, and although he would love to push the trolley (free of charge!), I don't think the other shoppers would be too pleased!

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UniS · 01/01/2008 20:53

Our local sainsburys have a trolley with a seat for an older child, its got a 3 point harnes ( maybe a 5) and you don't have to lift them over anything as teh troley has two handles like a pucshchair .

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charleypops · 01/01/2008 23:19

Hi again, I wanted to write a bit more last night but was being pestered by a v drunk dp ...

Meant to say that when ds was 13 months, there was no way he'd sit in a trolley, he couldn't hold on, sit up at all in one, so once he'd grown out of the baby seats, we went through a stage of internet shopping until he was almost 2 yrs. We moved house and I didn't have broadband for a few weeks, I was on my own so HAD to take him to the supermarket and just resigned myself to stuffing jumpers around him and holding him up, however this was when I discovered he was ok in it, (and could well have been ok in one months before this had I tried) and he gradually got better - I think as he got bigger the seat supported him (ds has quad dystonic cp). So don't give up hope . No idea what we'll do when he grows out of the trolley seats though, probably go back to internet shopping which is a shame. Good luck, there really should be provisions made for kids that need more support.

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MommyUpNorth · 02/01/2008 09:06

UniS that sounds really good, and I will enquire about something here when the shops open again. I was thinking of getting a harness of some description to work on something to hold him upright but will talk to our physio about that next week.

charleypops thanks for your message. DH put him in a regular trolley over the Christmas break and ended up steering the trolley while holding on to ds, and he said it just didn't work at all... but we will keep checking that he might be able to do it, so I know what you're getting at there. DS also has cp, but as to the type... I think they're still working on it. All limbs involved, and he has dyskinetic/dystonic movements with other issues thrown in. It is good to hear that he might eventually get this whole sitting thing!

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Sidge · 02/01/2008 13:17

I just remembered - our big Tesco's has disabled child trolleys, with a bigger reclining seat. I am not sure what the weight limit is as haven't used it but might be worth checking out.

If your stores don't have them, maybe ask at Customer Services if they plan to get one?

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MommyUpNorth · 03/01/2008 08:50

Thanks Sidge. That does sound ideal, and I'll enquire at our Tesco.

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GBSbaby · 07/01/2008 12:45

Just found this thread whilst looking for something else...

My now 4 year old daughter has severe CP and is blind. She has never been able to sit or hold onto anything - essentially she has the physical ability of a 6 month old baby. I tried taking her to the supermarket when she was tiny but was terrified of the rattling of supermarket trolleys and wasn't much better in a buggy. From about 18 months she began to tolerate the buggy so I could nip in to get a basket load balanced on the suncover but had to leave the main shopping to my dp. From about that age I began to use a childminder to give me some respite (using my child benefit/DLA/Carers Allowance) and so would shop without her. I do also do a big shop online every month.

She is now in a wheelchair so the only way I could do the supermarket shop with her, and now her 2 year old sister, would be to get someone from the supermarket to push the trolley. I have never seen toddler size disabled chairs/trolleys in a supermarket! We have a buggyboard that fits the wheelchair for her little sis, or use a double buggy (Mountain Buggy). We do still use a Macpac backpack for her but she gets upset if we stand still.

So not sure I've given you any practical help . Basically I don't shop with my disabled daughter. But I just wanted to say you're not on your own! Do you have friends/family you could leave him with? I'm sure it would be far more exciting than going round the supermarket!

All the best
--
Leesa, mum to Isabel left blind with severe cerebral palsy by untested Group B Strep, Zoe (2), and expecting No.3 in June 2008

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r3dh3d · 07/01/2008 14:47

Hi there GBSB! Haven't seen you about for a bit...

Sorry, back OT - we don't attempt to supermarket shop in any volume at all because DD1 screams the place down after five minutes. We get the big/heavy stuff online, and pop in for the odd thing which DD1 will tolerate. As it happens, I stick DD1 and DD2 in the double trolley and watch them fight to the death... ("No DD1! No DD1! No DD1 eat-it DD2 coat!") but if I have just DD1 in buggy or wheelchair I sling a string bag across the handles of the chair and shop like that.

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