Is it possible to apply for a Major buggy for a child who is physically able to walk, but who likes to be in a buggy sometimes?

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DS3 has just turned 4 and is getting too big for his ordinary buggy. But he does love his buggy and it's very handy for taking him on longer outings where it's unrealistic to expect him to walk all the way, or when we need to get shopping or whatever. We don't have a car.

We have just been awarded DLA for him. Do you think it would be possible to apply for a Major buggy for him? Obviously he can, physically, walk, but if he decides not to, or has a meltdown, he's very very hard to carry now.

apply for one theres no harm in asking for one explaine that if he decides not to walk you can't carry him and that he prefers to be in a push chair and see what they say.

Yes you can.

Thanks, bogie and bullet - that was quick?

Any idea who I should apply to? Is it the same office that awarded DLA?

Thanks in advance.

We got DS1 a Major buggy when he was around 4.5 years old.

He is physically very fit and an extremely fast runner, however he has no sense of danger at all and is a constant runner and escaper.

He will also only walk very short distances before dropping to the floor and refusing to walk, punching and kicking out to stop any attempts to get him back onto his feet.

We heard that there can be very long waits with wheelchair services, so approached the OT at DS1's special school.

Although she had never met DS1, she was very happy to refer him after we explained our difficulties and I met up with her at school and we completed the referral form together.

Much to my amazement, we recieved a telephone call within a matter of weeks, to arrange delivery of the Major (which was a life saver as DS1 is very large for his age and not only was he to large for normal buggys, but he had broke around 3 already and it was proving to be very expensive).

So, yes it is possible to get a buggy, but try to get someone to refer you or prepare for a potentially long wait.

We've got the OT coming round on thursday so I will ask her then if she can refer.

Thanks Graciefer.

How is your little one with talipes doing by the way? (You might remember my DS2 had talipes also.)

We got a Major for DD2 who can walk but fatigues very easily, has no awareness of road sense and certainly couldn't walk for any distance. We would get halfway around a supermarket and then she would collapse with tiredness on the floor and not walk another step. And she wouldn't fit in a trolley! (They don't make them for 4 year olds...)

I asked our OT, she did a referral and we had it within a month.

Oh this is all really helpful and encouraging. Thank you so much, everyone.

I am hoping as well that it may kind of signal to people that he does have SN, so they may be less surprised by some of his, er, mannerisms .

Hi SSB,

DS2's feet are so much better, infact I keep bugging the physio to send me the weekly photos from the first 10 weeks of casts, as I often find it hard to believe that he had talipes, let alone how bad they were. The ponseti method has definately been a miracle for us.

He is 1 next month, so still a while to go in his boots at night, but they don't seem to bother him much.

There is talk of him starting physio as he is behind on his development (not sitting unaided, etc).

I think this is a mixture of his down syndrome (he is still fairly floppy), being hindered by his casts/boots & bars and having his floortime limited by DS1 (it is too dangerous for him to be on the floor whilst DS1 is around), so the time he gets to practice on the floor is very limited, especially during the holidays.

He takes it all in his stride though and is a very happy young man, good job really as with his talipes, nystamus, breathing problems and now talk of an operation on his undesended testicles, it seems we spend more time at hospitals than we do at home, lol.

How is your DS2 doing? Is hsi treatment finished now?

Thanks for the update, Graciefer - so lovely that he is a happy boy, but blimey you do have your plate full!

DS2 is 7 now and his treatment has finished - he has been discharged from the care of the orthopaedic specialist in Sunderland although we can always go back if we have any concerns.

I stood weeping in the hospital carpark afterwards .

On mannerisms, a buggy has definately helped us.

We went to a wedding on Saturday, DS1 was in his Major and we sat at the back, DS1 as expected made a fair bit of noise and we had a few renditions of 'round and around the garden' during the vows, however there were hardly any tuts or stares as I had been expecting.

Infact a lovely lady who works for the church, first went off and got him a padded book to play with (i don't think my idea of taking a talking calculator toy, was the best one I have ever had) and then gave him a biscuit which quietened him down.

She even came over at the end to tell him what a lovely boy he was and I thanked her for being so kind.

I couldn't help think that the experience would of been so much different if DS1 wasn't he the Major!

Thanks Graciefer - that's just the sort of thing I had in mind.

We attracted a lot of stares on holiday in Norfolk recently, especially with DS3's trick of picking his scabs when upset. Trying to pick up and carry a screaming boy who has blood running down his face is not helped by having an audience of gawpers.

I keep cross posting, but I can definately see myself getting emotional when DS2 is signed off, it must of been so hard, especially having to travel so far for the treatment.

I often thought of you and your family when I was getting fed up with travelling the 10 minutes to my local hospital for his treatment and realised how lucky I was.

As for being hard, things can get a bit tough and hectic around here, as it probably does for almost everyone posting on SN, but it can't be that bad as we decided that instead of visiting the GP for a repeat prescription of contraception today, I would ask for folic acid instead. Think I may be a little bit bonkers, but hey ho

Grrr @ gawpers, my 'would you like me to turn green and get nasty' stare is almost perfected now.

Graciefer good for you! Wahey!

When you make the request don't say "he likes it" or "he prefers it" but "he needs it". He gets tired walking long distances perhaps, or he finds crowds difficult, or he needs somewhere he can feel safe, sleep off episodes, or whatever else it might be.

I was told I could have one without question for DD (ASD) although she has no mobility problems whatsoever.

Sorry to butt in but this has answered a Q I have had for a few days. I met a really nice Woman and her DD in the Supermarket the other day. Her DD was 6 or so and in a pushchair. She had what I think was mild CP. She and DD were smiling and waving to each other around the aisles and she was such a happy and very pretty little girl. I made a bit of small talk with the Mum etc. We saw them as they left and I remember wondering how people manage to get such strong pushchairs and how expensive it must be. Also how useful to be still be able to use a pushchair rather than a wheelchair.

I am really glad to hear that they can be supplied through the OT. Good luck with your application

Thanks - that's useful advice.

callmeovercautious -

We have a Major for my ds. My ds's nursery OT referred him to Wheelchair Services and it has proved to be invaluable. It is strong, sturdy and very manoeuvrable and it means that ds can be taken to places which he would not otherwise be able to go. Highly recommendable.

We got one for dd who has asd and melts down with no notice. OT ordered one from wheelchair services and we got it within 2 weeks. She hates it, so we push it around next to her to keep her walking and the threat of it is enough to make her hold it together, generally.
Not quite what it was intended for, but v useful!

Really silly questions here - would we be able to get on the bus with it?

And do they fold up?

They fold up just like a regular Maclaren buggy does which makes them portable but they are heavier than a regular buggy. You would have to buy a raincover separately as WC don't provide any accessories - look on eBay or the Internet in general for deals.

runs away

I think it would just be really useful for DS3 - it would mean that he can come with us on long walks where the older DSs ride their bikes (and I puff along trying to keep up!).