Waterproof Clothing for toddler with scoliosis

[Fivefootoffun]

My 19 month old has infantile scoliosis and has recently had his first cast fitted.
It is not removable and must be kept completely dry (water would change the shape and mean a new cast and another anaesthetic etc) so I need waterproof outers that definitely work for outdoor play etc.

If anybody has any suggestions of indoor clothing as well that might be good - I’m wearing a bib on him just now and making sure he can’t reach random drinks in house (ie his sisters) that he might pull over himself.

Any advice gratefully received.

I bought a puddlesuit from Sainsbury’s the other day. It wasn’t expensive and it’s quite thin so could be worn indoors.

I’d go for waterproof trousers rather than a puddle suit for indoors as it will give easier access for nappy changes and will get less sweaty.
We have Muddy Puddles things and they are excellent in terms of definitely keeping water out. But they are so well made that they’re quite thick. This works well for winter but might be less desirable for summer. I wonder if you could buy waterproof fabric and as a dressmaker to make a to-size bootie kind of thing with a simple elastic at the top and bottom so that your child is able to wear shorts in the summer. I imagine they’ll be quite hot and frustrated anyway and it’s such a hard age you’d be wanting to make life as easy as possible.
Good luck!

We usually have regatta waterproofs for DS - they seem to cope well with the wet weather. Not sure how they'd cope with a real drenching though.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate all this great advice!

Ask your specialist nurse ?

A really good long sleeved bin when eating / drinking is a great plan but I’m not sure that a puddle suit type thing indoors is really intended to be worn or ideal. If he gets really sweaty all the time that may affect the cast and is not ideal for his skin generally either

Wearing constantly waterproof and therefor less breathable material and synthetic fabric might backfire by causing skin rashes, irritations, and all sort of skin diseases.

Make it a rule in the house that in order to keep him dry, no drinks are to be left around. If someone is thirsty, they go in the kitchen, have their drink and then put empty glass away. Yes, hard to implement, but far less hard than wearing a cast.

How many months is he going to have the cast for?

Instead pf waterproofing the child, you should consider waterproofing the cast against accidental spilling. Something like this maybe sealskinwrap.com/blog/how-to-waterproof-a-cast/ it is a kind of wrap and I would think even on a back cast it would offer some protection.

Of course if there is a spill between skin and cast, there is little to do.

Have you been given instruction on diet and avoiding certain fermenting foods for bloating, fizzy drinks and so on?

@Helenluvsrob I’ve asked the specialist nurse but she had no suggestions. I wasn’t intending on using the outdoor clothing indoors.

@Cormoran yes I think your right about just keeping drinks in the kitchen only. Thanks for this - good advice, appreciate this.I don’t intend to use waterproof suits etc indoors! By indoor clothing I more meant high neck top suggestions, bibs with waterproof backing - brand specific etc. He’ll get it replaced every 3 months for the foreseeable/as long as it works. We’ve been advised against any type of cover on the cast. I asked the Orthotist but as my little ones cast is breathable material, it shouldn’t be covered up I’ve been told.
Was given absolutely no advice on diet etc but thankfully I’m a dietitian myself so that’s one area I’m confident in - if only I could say the same about the cast care. Many thanks for taking the time to reply.

For the next one, would a fibreglass / resin cast be an option since it will be summer? Here is Australia, all casts are waterproof. In my son's swimming squad, sometimes some kids have a cast and swim with it.
I have seen waterproof cast on legs and arms, not sure if it is doable for the back.

As a cover for meal, what about coping the design of thos nursing cover which look like an apron like this www.amazon.com/Nursing-Breastfeeding-Maddie-Moo-Breastfeed/dp/B0173VF0GM?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 . They will be of course way to big for a toddler but if you know someone able with a sewing machine they could copy the design and using one of those waterproof tablecloth for the body and attach it to a neck gaiter maybe to avoid food falling inside the cast near neck?

It must be really tough for everyone.

For outdoors Lidl often have really good waterproof dungarees. Feel your pain though my twins had specialist orthotics etc for hypermobilty and clothes were tricky at times.

@Cormoran thanks again, I’ll look into that further.
@clareykb - thanks a million

My little ones have a Regatta and a Next splash suit which are both really good at keeping the water out.

I bought one from Sainsbury's which want waterproof at all but I think that was probably a puddle suit rather than a splash suit.

This website in French (use the google chrome translate site function) has a lot of info, a forum, and links (again copy and paste content on google translate )

This is on the cast
www.scoliose.org/forum/
cmcr-massues.croix-rouge.fr/sites/default/files/informations_destinees_aux_patients_devant_porter_une_contention_platree.pdf

Have a look around and I think you will find a lot of useful info, including clothing