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Original poster

Buggy for 5 yr old Disabled Child and his Newborn Sibling??

27 replies

CaptainDippy · 28/03/2007 11:38

Hello! I was wondering if anyone could give me any help or advice or just generally point me in the right direction ......

My friend is due with her 2nd child in July. She already has a 5 year old son who is severely mentally handicapped. He has no mobility whatsoever and needs to be in a pram / chair whenever he is taken out. My friend is looking for a double buggy / contraption of some sort that would enable her to go out with both the newborn and her son. Her son is an average-sized lad of 5 and is 105cm tall.

Has anyone had any experience of this or could anyone point me in the right direction to finding a solution to her dilemma??

Thank you!

OP posts:
Mitchell81 · 28/03/2007 11:57

www.revelo.co.uk/
Sorry can't do links.
I am in the same situation, DD is 6 and have a new baby DS, was going to get the buggypod, but then found out couldn't fold down her maclaren major special needs buggy with the buggypod attached. And it won't attach to her wheelchair. She is too big for a standard double buggy. Up until now I have managed with DD in her special needs buggy and DS in a baby sling. Don't know what I will do in a few weeks time, once he has outgrown it. I hope someone comes along with a good idea for your friend.

Miaou · 28/03/2007 12:01

Oh, you need TeeCee - her dd1 (with Downs Syndrome) was not walking when her dd2 was born. Can't remember what she did though!!

FioFio · 28/03/2007 12:03

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Original poster
CaptainDippy · 28/03/2007 12:06

Thank you for your comments so far guys - Did think about the buggypod, but haven't heard great things about them. I sell Phil & Teds E3 in my shop and I would definitely say it wasn't big enough for a 7 yr old - esp if it is in the "newborn and toddler" position unfortunately .....

Looking forward to hearing from TeeCee and others ....

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FioFio · 28/03/2007 12:08

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Original poster
CaptainDippy · 28/03/2007 12:08

No worries - hope you do find something suitable though asap hon.

OP posts:
FioFio · 28/03/2007 12:09

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r3dh3d · 28/03/2007 14:20

We'll be going for a buggyboard. DD1 is 3 but outgrowing her "standard" buggy (postural issues so she drags her feet) and DD2 is 15 months. DD2 is currently in a heavy-duty sling (a mei tai) and DD1 in a mountain buggy. The mountain buggy is being upgraded to a mountain buggy XL (if you buy the fixed wheel mountain buggy, you can convert it to SN for larger kids by just replacing the soft parts, footplate etc - so a real saving) and we'll get a buggyboard, or whatever the MB compatible version is.

magsi · 28/03/2007 20:10

I have a twin pram (next to each other). My 17mnth year old in one side, my 3 year old in the other and my son (5 cp and very wobbly!!) on a buggy board which we JUST managed to fix on the back.

I feel like a donkey on Blackpool Beach sometimes pushing it along, and I get lots of looks of sympathy (or sometimes it feels like "look at that silly mother who won't let her son walk") If only they knew..{grin}

Original poster
CaptainDippy · 28/03/2007 22:34

The disabled boy would be able to actually stand on the Buggy Board though as he completely not mobile - he needs to be in a pushchair .....

OP posts:
Original poster
CaptainDippy · 28/03/2007 22:36

*wouldn't"

OP posts:
Mitchell81 · 29/03/2007 08:15

Captaindippy, I completely understand, DD couldn't use a buggyboard either, she needs to be in a seat. I was thinking when my DS is able to walk, he could maybe use those buggyboards with a seat attached to the wheelchair. I have asked at the wheelchair service and they didn't know of anything we could use. I think finding a suitable buggy is somewhat impossible, maybe a back carrier for baby is the best option??

Joggeroo · 29/03/2007 08:48

Hi
We have an instep double and my ds 110cm still fits in it, then have the seats which recline for a newborn. We have a strolli that goes on the side for dd who is 2.5yrs. peaople can't understand why I don't 'let the big one' ride on the strolli- if only they knew. When I just had two though I had the newborn in a sling (wilkinet or wrap) and ds1 in the baby jogger. I think you can get a maclaren major double but the seat doesn't recline.

Original poster
CaptainDippy · 29/03/2007 11:32

Ooooh, thank you Jogeroo - that sounds promising ....

Keep 'em coming .....

OP posts:
heartinthecountry · 30/03/2007 12:57

Hiya - I have an Instep Double too. DD1 is 4.5 yrs and about 1m tal, quite slim. She fits in it easily now but can see it may be a squeeze in a year's time.

Am really pleased with it though - it fits through most shop doorways etc and is surprisingly easy to push even with the 2 of them.

I did spy someone who had a little seat that attached just like a buggy board (not the one on the side) and am planning to look into that for dd1 once she is too big for the Instep. Not sure she will go for it but don't think she would have the stamina to stand on a buggy board and can't see any other option really. NOt sure that would work for your friend's boy captaindippy as sounds like he may need more support but would have thought it would be good for your dd Fio??

heartinthecountry · 30/03/2007 13:01

It seems to be called a Seat to Go

Looking at it again, not sure how comfy it would be for long distances.

magsi · 30/03/2007 13:08

Just had a look at that. Maybe you could customise it a little and strap on a cushion at least?

Kelly1978 · 30/03/2007 13:11

ds at 4 (and he is taller than average) still fitten in an instep jogger, and also into a jane powertwin. I had twins and ds, so sometimes had to put one in a sling to push ds.

FioFio · 30/03/2007 13:14

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geekgrrl · 30/03/2007 13:16

captaindippy, I am pretty sure you can get the SN mountain buggy as a twin buggy (I know someone who has twins with DS), so that might be suitable when the new baby is 6 months +. I recommend talking to the v. helpful people at www.specialneedspushchairs.co.uk/ .

Also, the Maclaren Major is available as a twin pushchair.

Really, her options depend though on how limited her ds's mobility is - for example, the Mountain Buggy isn't suitable for a child who cannot sit unaided, and I'd presume the same applies to the Major, in which case there isn't much point suggesting twin buggies, as he would need something quite specialised.

My dd with SN was younger and smaller than your friend's ds when her little brother was born, and even then it was quite difficult as most twin pushchairs have tiny seats. I ended up using the sling and later a backpack most of the time.

Original poster
CaptainDippy · 31/03/2007 18:03

Thank you all sooooo much for your advice - the website is great GG, thank you - am relaying all this info to my friend - she is extremely greatful. Her DS cannot walk at all, but can crawl a little and sit unaided, though he is quite floppy and finds it tough when v.tired etc Keep em coming - Haven't heard from TeeCee yet ....

OP posts:
luckylady74 · 02/04/2007 10:53

just wanted to add that i had a seat2go, last year, attached to a twin and my ds1 fell off it going around corners on a couple of occasions - he's totally physically able, but couln't keep the hold on thought in his head at the time - they are very hard to manouvere with a double - though fine on my friend's single.
my ds1 does squeeze into either seat of my marco sky rider and he is very big for his age, but he has no comfort needs as such iyswim [that sounds so wrong - i really hope yswim!]

GreenandBlackOtter · 02/04/2007 10:56

I have an instep which fits my baby and four year old in ( he is tall )...I bought 10K as the wheels were bigget and i find it higher than standard nipper

The newer ones have a 360o wheel i think so even easier

I imported mine from USA and although import charges were huge it was still much cheaper than here!

Original poster
CaptainDippy · 02/04/2007 11:38

Thank you again for all your advice etc (keep it coming) - Am replaying it all to my friend, she is extremely grateful! Thinking Instep Double is the best option presented so far ....

OP posts:
Aloha · 02/04/2007 20:19

My five year old can still fit in a regular buggy (he is dyspraxic with low muscle tone but doesn't need a buggy, just sometimes has a go in his sister's). His sis who is two is already capable of walking round London Zoo for five hours without a pushchair, so I think 'normal' kids can get out of pushchairs earlier than you think.