5 year old in wheelchair, have new baby, how do I transport both?

[sheeps]

Hi everyone

My son goes on school transport in the mornings but I have to pick him up in the afternoons. He has a wheelchair for transport and I have to bring that home for the next day. I have a four month old baby who is 20lbs and too big for a sling (what a change from the first one!) - wheelchair services say there's nothing available but I'm sure that can't be the case - what do you do if you're in the same boat?

Thanks!!

[[http://www.tetrasociety.org/devices/details.php?id=30&cat_id=17 something like this?

sorry, link here

Or this one but it is £450!!!!

Hi, when DS1 needs the major (buggy) I use a Mei Tai sling for DS2 (22 months, 29lb), back carries are easy and not as hard on you as using a front carrier. Ergo carriers are also good.

I would say a sling too, I know my sister carried her LO till she was 2years so is possible :)

I carry DS3 - now 2 (weighs about 27pounds) in a back pack on the school runs, so about 4miles a day in total. I just have a cheap Tomy one that I picked up in a second hand stall, but it is great. It has a frame so it stands up by itself, so it is really easy to put DS in it, and then put it on. It is only suitable from 6months though due to need for head support.

On your back definitely. I used a ?? agh what was it called- an ergo- the old style, pain to get baby in, but so comfy once he was.

Oh sympathies with this problem. You would think wheelchair services had never dealt with a disabled child with younger siblings before from the blank way they look at you!

At the moment we use a piece of wood over the back of the frame so that it makes a buggy board equivalent for our just 3 year old. He has been using this for about 18 months so started well before I would normally have considered a buggy board. He stands in between the handles. This is no good for you now but may work for when your DC2 is older.

Other options I have seen is attaching a buggy pod to the side of the wheelchair. It does depend a bit on what type of chair you have and may require a bit of tweaking but should safely carry them both. I don't know how you get the pod to school though without the chair...

Otherwise it's carrying although I found that very difficult either on my front or my back, as I still had to hold, carry or move the older one, that waas just made harder by carrying the younger one!

I've got a wilkinet carrier you can have if you want. Message me if it's of any interest. Google and see website. Can be worn on front/ back/ hip.

I'm in the same situation so this thread is really useful! Nervous about using a sling but guess I'd better get on with it n

Have known several mums in this situation: their various solutions were buggypod, back sling, mountin twin adapted double buggy, buggyboard, babydan type pram seat and calling remap (who are retired engineers that love finding technical solutions to stuff). I think wheelchair services say all modifications are forbidden so presume they just weren't told.

This came up a lot when I worked at a certain organisation. Remap are good but can take a while. Have you tried SCOPE? They are bound to have come up against this before.

I used to work for www.DPPI.org.uk It was a while ago but they may still have some useful info. Its for disabled parents but we did get quite a few calls like yours.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. I've borrowed a rucksack for now - thanks herjazz for the offer though, really kind of you.

I'm thinking this is my (not for profit!)Dragon's Den moment, father is a retired engineer so will give him a project. Trouble is finding something that can work independently of the wheelchair so maybe some clips like you can get for the Maclarens.. I've ordered those from Amazon so will take it from there. I'm thinking clip on to an existing buggy (pod is great but not if you need to leave wheelchair at school and need transport for the other one).. I'll post if we come up with anything!

These people do a Phil and Teds style buggy for sn kids up to the age of 8 and another child.

The back seat doesn't look supportive enough for a 4 month od, but may be OK for when they're older.

www.activateforkids.co.uk/docs/brochures/Patron%20Buggies%202010%20Email.pdf