2yr old ds and types of walker

[hazeyjane]

ds has taken independent steps, but finds it easier to cruise/hold hands. He falls a lot and tires very easily. He has been issued a rollater walker (photo on profile) by his physio, in order to encourage him. He is happy to use it, but struggles s it gets stuck and then can tip, he also just veers off with it, meaning I spend half the time bending down and pulling it!

We are seeing his physio next week and I have videoed him using it, so I can show what isn't working. I just wondered whether anyone had experience of other styles of walker, one that might be easier to control?

anyone?

I've no experience, but have heard a lot of people say a Kaye walker was good for them - image search here

Thankyou Lollipop, they look far better, I will email physio and ask if they have any in store that he could use.

We used a similar type of rollator to you, I'm sure it's something to do with weight distrubution and how freely it needs to move for the childs needs. My DS was top heavy and didn't weight bear through his legs and feet so was much better than a Kaye whereby he could fall forward (not leaning back). Plus the stops at the back gives extra security rather than free wheeling. Sorry it wasn't much help but I hope you see what I mean.

meant to say my DS didn't get one until 4yo, so don't know how much relevance age may have if any.

thankyou, dev (can never get my mouth or head around your name!). I get what you mean, and I think that is the reason he was issued that particular one. But it has a tendency to stop dead, at which point ds kind of tumbles over the top!

Hopefully at the centre he might be able to test run a few!

By the way, I saw your tip about tongue tapping on a thread a few days ago, and have been trying it with ds (his tongue is out most of the time) - so far he seems to think I want him to lick my finger!!

lol at the tongue tapping and falling over the top..........I didn't realise he was down syndrome, he didn't look it, and that is just so not what you want to hear especially from someone with a child with down syndrome!! It's one of those love to hate sayings. He's gorgeous!! I would keep up with the tongue tapping, it may work eventually, give it a quick pat with your fingertip right on the end. It worked for us, it's the only thing I have learnt from DS stuff that has worked or meant anything in our situation. However as everything it may not work for all. As for my name split it in 2.....devient/enigma.

Aaaah (lightbulb) at your name!

He actually doesn't have down's syndrome, I looked at the thread because a good friends has just had a little girl with downs syndrome, but your post jumped out at me because ds has his tongue out all the time and he drools a lot. I will persist however - if nothing else, it makes him laugh!

Ds is being tested for something called Kleefstra Syndrome (used to be 9q34 deletion) - he has gross hypotonia, problems with swallowing, GDD, no speech.