Which SN buggy (for child with CP)

[badkitty]

Have an appointment next month with wheelchair services for DS's first SN buggy (he is three, has CP). From something his physio said I think they are going to offer him a minicaps buggy, which I really don't want as a couple of people have said it is really heavy and clunky and their kids hated it, plus it is really hideous looking! So I want to go prepared with knowledge of other buggies which could be suitable. I'm going to be lofting it in and out of the car all the time so want something not too heavy if possible. DS needs medium support I guess - enough to stop him slumping down and keep his posture good. Mac major would not be any good for him. What SN buggys do people have and would you recommend them?!

It depends really- what type of CP does your son have...not being nosy but if he has high tone then he would need something different to a child with low tone or fluctuating tone. Also how mobile is he independently...i.e. is this going to be his main form of transport ( I presume not or he would be going the wheelchair route) or is it for you to use when you are travelling distances?
There are lots of funky looking buggies available from Special Needs suppliers that you might not come across usually.
Alternatively, if its a specialist seating service, they might be able to manufacture an insert to put into a standard buggy.

He has very low tone in his trunk and higher tone in the arms and legs. He can crawl but this will be his main form of mobility out and about - he is very small and I thought they usually give buggies at his age, rather than a teeny tiny wheelchair!

Hi badkitty! nice to see you back
DS has low tone in his trunk has a Swifty which I believe is one of the lightest out there but still bloody heavy! DS has moderate support, and if he is feeling a bit tired we put his chest harness on which gives him really good posture
Hope your little ones are well!

Well a teeny wheelchair would be good if he had no independent movement; but as he can crawl he will learn much more doing that and develop better muscle stamina and weight bearing etc etc
So at the moment, a buggy is probably the way to go.
The Swifty is lightish which is its advantage - but it offers ok postural support- fine if thats all your son needs. The Minicaps gives better postural support while being heavy. Its a tradeoff really....
In your place, I would be going to the assessment with a very clear idea of when and how long you use the buggy for; a question about the alternatives; and querying whether using postural support in the car/at home etc would be enough or does he absolutely have to have it when in the buggy?

Thanks for the good advice wannabe, you sound v knowlegeable!

Hi sneezecake, yes we're all well thanks - my mumsnetting has been curtailed somewhat recently by running round after DS1 and DS2 who is now 6 months! Hope you and DS are well. The swifty looks good wil definitely see if we can try that one. Suppose I ought to join you back on the CP thread, I had forgotten about it as haven't been on SN for so long!

Hi

DD is 3 (nearly 4) and we are on her 2nd wheelchair. We use wheelchair for pre - school, going round the shops and short distances and it gives her independence which she doesn't otherwise have. At preschool she crawls around and uses her walker but the wheelchair is there in case of fire alarms etc. She prefers her wheelchair than her buggy as she can self propel short distances. She also says buggies are for babies. It is also much lighter and has a much smaller footprint than an SN buggy for lifting in and out of the car going swimming etc. We do also have 2 SN buggies, a Kimba spring for longer walks - which is heavy to lift but a dream to push and steer. It also has suspension so it very comfy for DD on cobbles across the city or uneven ground out dog walking. Then we have a SN mountain buggy which we use for going to the beach. I guess what I am trying to say is that we use a variety of "wheeled mobility" for a variety of uses. We got the wheelchair from wheelchair services and the others second hand. Hope that helps

Hi, thank you for that - do you have a WAV or a normal car? I just didn't think I would be able to get wheelchair in the car as they mostly don't fold do they?

Weeeell, you can get a wheelchair with quick release wheels (bit of an oxymoron...think loading wheelchair in carpark on wet day...with a crying child...in the dark.....realistic..... but no fun ) and with a folding frame. But is it quicker than managing a buggy with a complex seating system in it?

Best option would be as isw advised- a buggy and a wheelchair- but services are unlikely to provide both. So thats back to the original question...what level of postural support does he need? In what seating can he best get it? And thats a discussion best had with the therapists who work with him already. Just be assertive about what you need and will actually use. It's in nobody's interest if they give you/him a mobility/seating device that you can't manage. It won't be used, frankly.

Hi we have a normal very old car like this

3list.co.uk/533/citroen-xsara-2000-w-reg-many-extras-long-m-o-t-full-service-history-950

but older :(

I can get the wheelchair in the boot unfolded just push the handles down. I don't think I would be able to manage to get the kimba in the boot, too high to lift it. If the car is full ie trike, bags and walker in the boot I put the wheelchair on the back seat again with the handles flipped down. If we have loads of stuff in the car we can take the cushion off the seat and it holds to make it narrower. I have never needed to take the wheels off. It is far, far easier and quicker for us to use her wheelchair as our "car chair".

If you get motability you don't need to get a WAV. A wheelchair would fit in any normal boot. IME experience a kids wheelchair is much smaller and lighter than an SN buggy but like I say a wheelchair isn't good, for us anyway, for long distances and off road.

Thank you - that is v helpful. Was worried actually as we ordered our motability car a couple of months ago but didn't get a WAV so that was a major thing putting me off the wheelchair! Maybe if we do end up with wheelchair will keep looking out for secondhand SN buggy. Do a lot of country walks so need something which can cope with muddy fields!

Dd had a Mini CAPS and now has a CAPS II, it's not the prettiest but it's functional, we had a Kimba spring base first which was nice to push. Our WCS is CAPS something if the child needs positioning/postural support we don't get a choice, some areas are much better though.