A toddler pushchair for a 6 year old??

[macwoozy]

For years I've wanted to go to Madame Tassauds, I went before ds was born and loved it and would now love to go again. But with ds having HFA, I know if I took him it would just end up in a very stressful day. He would just run around so much that I'd spend the whole time grabbing him back from whatever takes his fancy, there's no chance I'd be able to look at anything.{But no-one else to look after him so couldn't go without him}

Tonight we dug out his old toddler pushchair, he absolutely loves it, and it got me thinking. He loves to run around, but when he is forced to be in a queue of any sort he quickly tires and just wants to sit down, very strange considering he's normally so hyper!!! Anyway he's approaching 7, with no obvious disability, and even though I know that there is a good possibility that with ds having the option of sitting in his pushchair in his own little protective space that will hopefully make him calmer, I forsee getting so many looks. I mean what child of 6 is still in a toddler pushchair. Be honest, would you take a child out who's approaching 7 in a pushchair that he's obviously outgrown years before and could you endure the 'looks' for a less stressful day{I hope - wishful thinking perhaps as he's likley to still run around like a headless chicken but forever hopeful!!}

Ds sits just about comfortable in the pushchair but dp doesn't feel easy with the idea.

Would you only use it for that day?

I personally wouldn't worry although will ds be happy to sit in it as my dd wouldn't.

If it was long term then a majot buggy is an option.

a major is a good idea as I think they are more reconised as an sn buggy so more accepted iynwim

I've thought about doing this as ds1 seems calmer in a pushchair as well. I haven't done it because I suspect that whilst he'd use it as a retreat he'd also try and walk off with it around his waist, and then I'd have to handle pushing a pushchaiir and clinging onto him.....

Worth a try though jj? Maybe you could borrow one, I know SS and Portage lend them out.

Yes, just for the day, we normally tend to avoid places like this, but I really want to go. Ds wouldn't think even think about being embarrased, unlike other kids his age. I don't want to fork out for a major because I doubt we'd use it that much.

Nah I know it wouldn't work in our case- plus I'd still need a buggy for ds3 which would mean I'd still need a second person so I may as well just get him to walk. Think it might be worth macwoozy giving it a go though.

But would you do it though, in a toddler pushchair for a child of that age, does it look cruel to an outsider if they didn't know.

I walk down the street with ds1 attached to me via reins (he's 7). And sometimes he lies on the floor and screams. I gave up worrying about other people a long time ago.

If your ds doesn't mind and you think it might help, and you're not worried about teaching him waiting behaviour (sometimes I do sometimes I don't) then go for it. just make sure you can either dump the pushchair or move both ds and the pushchair if you have to.

macwoozy ~ you need to forget other people and think about you and your family. Unless your ds is extremely squashed and looks uncomfortable it's fine!

You're right but I've spent the last god knows how many years worrying about what other people think, totally wrong disposition to have when you'be got a child on the autistic spectrum I reckon.

hi macwoozy

I hope you don't mind me replying i am new here. (I am a mum of six including a 16yr old with Aspergers and Dyspraxia and a 5 yr old with hypotonia, atypical cerebral palsy and hypermobility)

I have just been reading through this thread and know you said you don't want to fork out for a Major as you wouldn't use it much because you avoid this sort of situation. The thing is i was wondering if the major worked maybe it would give you the freedom to enjoy more days out with your son!

you can pick them up quite cheap on ebay sometimes this one

cgi.ebay.co.uk/MACLAREN-MAJOR-ELITE-SPECIAL-NEEDS-BUGGY-ACCESSORIES_W0QQitemZ130078915151QQihZ003QQcategoryZ28177QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

is standing at £10.50 at the moment.

Its just an idea and i hope you don't mind me butting in!

Julie

Of course you're not butting in Julie, welcome to MN

Thanks for the link to the major pushchair. But after a bit of thought I'm not sure I could use a pushchair now, it sounded like a great idea at the time, especially since he was so excited to sit in it and seemed to like the idea, (I was bigging it up and trying to sell him the idea and 'fun' of Madame Tassauds!)But I don't know if I could now, it seems such a big step to take for a HFA child, that is using a pushchair after it's been put away for a couple of years, even if I went out and bought a bigger one IYKWIM. check acronyms