special needs double buggies

[firawla]

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone has any advice or recommendations about special needs double buggies, or the single SN buggy with a pod on it?

I have a 3.5 yr old with asd who's quite big for his age and not showing any signs of being able to realistically cope out of buggy, also have a 22 month old toddler.

I'm going to see his physio next week about the SN buggies but she said they wont give double I will have to buy the sibling pod myself (i guess because the little one is not under the cdc, although I am waiting to get a referal done for him cos he also has some asd type behaviour)

I'm just a bit worried if the sn buggies, either double or with a pod, will be really bulky or harder to get around with? i dont drive and at the moment they are both in a phil & teds and im able to bump that up and down stairs and get it on the bus okay. It's just getting really battered now and i think my 3 yr old must be well over the weight limit - but just searched here for previous threads on sn double and saw people saying just put them in a phil and teds?? so I'm a bit unsure.

Would love to hear anyones experiences with double sn buggy or with the pod, especially if u could reassure me that they are not all a nightmare to get around with???

I have tried seeing if i can encourage 3 yr old to just walk a bit but he really cant as he seems to get over stimulated much quicker and ends up melting down and is just so difficult for him to cope like that, and he doesnt have the physical strength to go very far either so really need to get something sorted

Also does any one know whether there is any chance of getting any kind of blue badge, brown badge etc from the council to allow to use some disabled parking if you have a child that is prescribed a sn buggy despite not getting the mobility element of the DLA? he is only on middle rate and no mobility, i will probably reapply for the lower rate mobility when he is 5 but meanwhile the parking thing would probably come in useful for when his dad drives us/when i hopefully pass my test

Thanks!

Link. This mac major double is quite good. Ruinous if new though. But some wheelchair services will give you a part-pay voucher rather than an NHS buggy, or else family fund might help.

Single mac major type buggy off nhs, plus Buggy pod that you buy is probably the cheapest option and folds small, but if dc2 is "lively" may not be sturdy enough. Or buggy connectors.

Tbh, if your younger one is gong to be 'known to services' very soon, it might be worth making do with what you have for a couple of months, and then getting 2in 1. Unless in your area there's some stupid rule eg 'no double buggies are supplied' or 'must be aged over 36 months.

Blue badge etc: difficult, I'm afraid. Unless you reapply for dla and get higher rate care, which then makes higher rate mobility a possibility. You send the award letter to the town hall and soon the badge arrives! Higher rate is only if they need a lot more care during the night than other dc.

The blue badge cut off is 'able to walk 50 yards on the flat'. I think they picked yards rather than metres just to be mean. You could ask the council to do a mobility assessment, but there's often a waiting list. But if their OT/ physio has to chase him into the road twice and then carry/ drag him the rest of the way, then you'll probably get the badge!

Thanks MumuDeLulu!
For the DLA higher rate I just can not be doing with going thru the form again at the moment it was enough of a headache the first time, i dont have the energy for that and trying to do the statement application at the same time too! He probably could get higher rate care now, when I filled it in he was in a cot and sleeping ok in night! now he's broken out (literally, he shook it so hard the cot sides fell off!! ) he is up and down all night and lot more work so i suppose might have to think of reapplying at some point
I double checked the weight of p&t and its actually 20kg, not 15kg as I thought so he technically might be ok in it that bit longer cos I weighed him and he is 17 and a bit kg. Little one now hates the back seat of it but i suppose that is beside the point really - do feel sorry for him though, there's really no negotiating with 3yr old about taking turns in the seats cos he will not go in other than his usual. Might be worth just keeping on with it though until little one referral goes through and finding out exactly what their rules are re. double buggies. Just hard to know what will be for the best!

You could always try a side by side buggy for now. We have the out n about nipper 360 - it is light weight, proper tyres etc so easy to push/get up and down curbs, and as side by side it means both children get a good seat! I bought ours second hand so not too pricey).I can't help re the sn double option as we were given a wheelchair and told their policy is that you cannot use a buggy pod with it and they offer no 'double' option. My sn DD is 3.5, I then have a DD 2.5 and a DD 1.5, so it means we have a wheelchair we only use occasionally on a Sunday afternoon when my DH is also at home to push as well. What a waste!

Thanks! I am quite tempted by the out n about nipper, will have to check the weight limits. That is a shame about your wheel chair and lack of options! Seems sometimes they wont use common sense. children with SN are not always only child, and it is not easy juggling all the kids especially with the extra needs!