First wheelchair hints, tips and good to buy please

[PinkyU]

My little girl is getting her first self propelled wheelchair delivered this week, she’s picked out her frame colour and spoke guards and is very excited!

Her first chair was more buggy like but at 10 she’s excited to have something a bit more grown up and that she can be more independent in. I’m hoping for some advice and suggestions to make it “hers” and for anything helpful we might need that I’m not thinking or aware of eg should we look for a more comfortable seat cushion, suggestions for gloves etc.

(it’s an nhs action junior basic self propelled)

Perhaps even something that could be a Christmas gift?

No suggestions, but I'm pleased she is so excited about getting it and hope that she benefits from more independence.

Thank you, we’re all just so excited for her and she can’t wait to not have pain when she’s out and about, she’s got a list of things she wants to do, which includes learning to do wheelies 😆.

On an absolutely practical note make sure it is a crash tested model so she can travel in a car in it if needed. On a fun note what about some wheel lights. Hope she has fun in it!

My 3 year old son has this wheelchair. I bought handmade seat and harness cover with his name on them. Partly to keep it cleaner and partly to look more personal.

Best blanket i found was bundlebean. I also got a bag from amazon i think that hangs over handles to hold juice etc. With an older child id look at a cup holder etc for them.

I have also thought about led lights for the wheels

Cup holder is really useful

Well you need light up castors for a start!!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202672076712?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=NlZpFO4cTlC&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=oDQuptZKS7q&var=504860039381&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Delighted she is so excited ❤️

Oh i also got a poncho which is handy to chuck on if theres a sudden shower

Amazing ideas, checking out the lights and cup holders. I love the idea of a personalised cushion cover, she has lots of art themed interests. I will check re crash testing, I hadn’t thought of that. We’ll definitely look into a bag too, she usually takes a little bag with a teddy and fidgets in when we’re out.

Many thanks everyone, and please keep the ideas coming.

There was a company on Steph's Packed Lunch yesterday that do special designs to clip onto the wheels.
https://www.izzywheels.com/

Some of our stuff.

My son puts stickers on his wheels but they're a little grubby now so I'm thinking of some spoke guards.

Look up go kids go. They do wheelchair training sessions around the country. They're great and they have wheelchairs for everyone. Lots of fun and wheelies are usually lesson 1. 😀

We are extremely lucky that the nhs have provided some lovely wheel covers for her chair already but this would be good to have some fashion changes as she gets older.

I love that bag!

Your little boy looks so happy, his smile is gorgeous!

Fantastic to know, thank you!

(I’ll just cover my eyes whilst she’s practicing 😆)

Dont let the smile fool you....we had a disastrous 'fun' family Christmas day out at weekend.

I can well believe it! Mine looks like an angel but the truth lies somewhere in the middle 😆

I’m just so beyond happy, it really couldn’t have come at a better time, she’s outgrown her old chair and we’ve waited an age for this one so she’s been struggling, in pain, with crutches meaning she’s had to miss out on a lot of things. This chair will be a lifeline for her. Trying hard not to cry (tears of happiness) into my coffee now.

Bundle beans are great to keep cosy! A wheelchair cape for the rain and flashy wheels for the front ! I also bought clear spoke guards and covered them with chalk able vinyl so we could decorate and change them whenever he felt like it! Be aware though that the action junior is quite heavy so she may get tired we thank you usual until she gets used to it!

Oh and make sure the anti tip bar is always on!!!

What an amazing idea with the wheel guards!!! My little girl loves art, being able to customise herself them will be amazing for her.

A poncho that goes over back of the chair and not just her is vital otherwise you end up sitting in a pool of water of it rains whilst you’re out.
nice gloves with padding to protect her hands always helpful too

A bicycle bell for when people stand in her way and refuse to acknowledge her existence!

I use weight lifting gloves as they are padded not sure if you can get children sized ones? (Disability aids are like wedding things; ridiculously overpriced!)
I tend to look for the "real" thing then work back to find a better price x