Maclaren Major/Major Elite vs Convaid Cruiser

[proudestmummyever]

Hi, I am thinking about gettn my ds a maclaren major, with my money, no thru nhs, My ds, nearly 3 has a rare genetic disorder and can't walk, talk, sit up and has severe epilepsy.

We were given a convaid cruiser from physio, but I really don't like it, my ds is still only small and needs to be comfy in a buggy, the cruiser has no accessories, whereas the major has buggy liner, cosy toes, canopy etc, who has a major? And hw do u find it?

I discussed it with my physio, but she tbh is not great, said maclaren won't do him any harm, but won't do hm any good, well my ds is still in a phil&teds normal buggy a lotta the other time when not in cruiser, for comfort, but he is getting big now...., what does everyone think?

BUMP xx

I have my 3 year old in a major - moved him form his zooper stroller because he was getting too big for that and using his feet as brakes, it was wrecking my back and shoulders and the rian cover simply didn't cover him, any more. He is mobile, but does have low muscle tone and he gets a bit frustrated by the lack of support in the major, when he is tired. It is very upright, with no recline and no side rests for the head. He fell asleep in it, last week and ended up with his head on his chest, because he had nowhere to rest it.

I know you can buy extra supports for it, and I suspect you would have to do that for it to really be comfortable.

oh, and it's a bit late and the board is rather quiet at this time of night!

I had a major for my DD aged 3.5 for a year and I think it is awfull, even the wheelchair services called it a deckchair on wheels!. I went back to my wheelchairs services and explained my concerns - not supporting spine, head falling forward when asleep, difficulty folding etc and now have a new buggy, they tried about 3 before deciding on the present one, so I suggest you go back to your NHS supplier, there is a lot more choice out there than you think.
Dont spend money on the major.

We have a Major for DS1 (almost 4, CP) but we only use it if he's fatigued, no support at all to be honest. In its defence, it is light, my DH who is 6ft3 says it's the most comfortable he's ever pushed and it's a good height for DS1 (who's already well over a metre tall!)

Well, don't think I will be gettn a major then, the cruiser is supportive but ds's head still bobs about, and when he falls asleep his head is practically on his knees, I think it's ridiculous that they didn't give us something tht lies bk, as Jack sleeps a lot, due to hs age, and his daily seizures xx

The cruiser is defo more supportive than a Major, but there ARE better options out there, for children who need some support but not masses
Check out Alvema buggies, Otto bock, and Ormesa..
www.rainbowmobility.co.uk/otherproducts/index.php?manufacturers_id=11

www.livingm adeeasy.org.uk/children/four-wheeled+buggies-2774.htm

There are some very nice buggies out there for bigger children

We had an Alvema Pixi for my son aged 4-7 and it was lovely..we bought it because I hated the Convaid he was supplied for the looks!

Hiya,
you are getting this yourself.
We are getting a kimba spring for DS (thru NHS)
Was also very taken with the Tom Streetwise in the brochure here.
Sadly, I would also have considered funding this myself if I hadn't got something suitable from the NHS.
What does your OT think?
There is also something called the kidsert which may fit inside the cruiser and offer Jack a bit more support.
HTH x

Proudestmummy, if your Physio isn't much help, can you have a word with OT, they are often more helpful with equipment.

Hi everyone, thanku soo much!!! I love the kimba spring and the tom streetwise!! How do I go about gettn one thru nhs?? My physio seems to brush everything I say under the carpet, why do the nhs give us the most horrible looking buggies(convaid cruiser), I feel like askin the physio sometimes if her child was disabled, would she want to push her child around in a cruiser, and be happy about it???? Or in something better looking?? I just want the best for my wee Jack, is tht so bad?

xxxxxx

Does Jack have an OT? If not, get a referral.

We were referred by DSs OT to wheelchair services. It was a long wait (and another letter of complaint - not about them, just the stupid procedure)
we went for assessment and, to be fair, they were very good, asking what we wanted out of a buggy i.e. for me it was good support and for the seat to be reversible so I could see DS and if he was having a seizure (which is why I LOVE the Tom). They don't supply that buggy here, but the kimba spring is quite like it (reversible seat) and DS is having a vest type/chest harness to help his posture. You can have all sorts of additions to it (lateral support, extra head support, pommel etc.) and it tilts completely back too. We were very happy to accept it.
That was way back in November, and I got a call today to say its in so need to arrange to pick it up now. Mind, I have been ringing them every week .

The only (slight) downside is, our NHS trust only supply the buggy as its a mobility service, so you have to buy hood, cover, cozy toes, yourself. better than buying the buggy though.

GET ON THAT PHONE AND SHOUT MAKE A NUISANCE OF YOURSELF! (I find it works ).
But seriously, you are paying for far too much yourself! They should also be supplying Jacks bed and any specialist seating. for you!

Hi,
I have the Majo buggy for my daughter who is a large 3yr old and what the others are saying is very true and other problems i am finding is because the sunshade comes out so far you cant see where you are going and i keep crashing :-( we have had it tip backwards and we didnt have any shopping hanging on it and the wheels are forever needing to be oiled or you can be heard coming from a mile off, all those things aside it is easy to push if you have a large child
Anita x

Thanku every1, feelingbetter, yeah tell me about it.... we have fundraised for Jack's things, the savi tom bed was £5719!!!!!!!!!! Waiting on it coming...Still have £6000 in the fund, but yeh itz ridiculous, I want a buggy to face me too, and recline, as Jack has daily seizures

Physio coming tmrw, but she skirts round everything I say...as if I am being over the top...the other day she said to me " We have to get u over this cruiser phobia"!!!!

I do have an OT, she gave me Jack's bath seat, not seen her in a while...and still waiting on Jack's squiggle chair from physio, it was ordered in nov, or before!! Everytime I ask the physio about the progress of the seat she goes " oh I usually dnt hear until they come in, can b months, even a year"!!!!!, so my wee man is sitting in a phil&teds buggy for a seat!!! So I will defo be having words with the physio tmrw, any advice on what to say??? Also gonna say to her AGAIN bout his squiggle chair xx

BUMP

She sounds obstructive.

As I expected a quick search shows that the convaid cruiser is much, much cheaper than the other infinitely more suitable for Jack products.

Hey guys, physio came in, she is referring me to wheelchair services again, and says they will listen to what I need in a buggy, so fingers crossed this happens soon xx

Really mynewpans? Isn't that interesting, our kids deserve the best, what they NEED, not the cheapest version they can bloody find xx

I know bloody penny pinchers.

Yeah, tell me bout it, not our faults an certainly not our kids faults they were born disabled...ths world makes me sick, the physio was talking about the "Mygo" buggy, but lead me to the kimba spring one too, so gonna push or tht or the tom streetwise, crappy bloody convaid cruiser xx

Yay!
Good news. I am a stroppy mare quite demanding person when it comes to DS and I write letters of complaint about EVERYTHING!

DSs squiggle took fecking forever, but it is brill so I hope Jacks comes soon.

I find a letter to the Cheif Executive of the NHS trust does wonders! I'm on first name terms with ours
Get EVERYTHING in writing. It is a bloody hassle, but honestly, I have developed a reputation for not being messed around now.

Going to get the kimba Friday am. they are evern opening up early (8am) just to get rid of for us!

Good Luck. Get demanding.

Aww thanks so much feelingbetter, don't worry, I will be demanding much more nw, and they better hurry up with referring me to wheelchair services and it is a bloody hassle, n why do we have to wait soo long for a squiggle chair?! We have waited mnths for Jack's, and his cruiser took ages, like nearly a year, think I will put everything in writing nw, itz absolutely ridiculous we have ti do all this, it really is

FWIW - I complained about the wait for the squiggle too.
Firstly you have to be assessed and measured.
Then, depending on how dozy your OT is, it gets referred to 'panel' (coz it costs so much) and is funded by SS rather than the NHS. That simple process took 6 weeks.
Panel said yes, funding approves - then it goes to Ireland to get made! Months may pass.
homestly, same with the buggy , I phoned them (after a few weeks of course, I'm already resigned to the fact that NOTHING happens as quickle as it could) EVERY WEEK! Without fail. If they said they'd call me back, I'd give them a few days, then I'd phone and say 'you were going to call me back? I know you're VERY busy as everyone must be chasing their stuff up'. Nicely, but with the merest hint of menace. If they said 4 more weeks, I'd ring again in 3. Really, I made a nuisance of myself, very nicely so nobody could tell me to sod off, but I basically made them do their job by sheer annoyance.
Keep in touch, I miss hearing about Jack x

I found oncee got our referal to weelchair services they was great .Ds started of with a major then a convaid , then went on to a bog standard wheelchair.But phoned them up in November as ds has had some recent issues with leaning , posture sitting and we was seen December along with 3 reps being there .

by Januaryds has his new wheelchair

I must say i'm overly shocked about your nhs service. you are being failed by them, and it needs pointing out.
ds physio and ot are great, the squiggles chair came in a day!, the ot has offered to refer us to wheelchair services, (ds doesn't need just yet as he sits really well in his buggy) he gets any pair of piedro boots when he has out grown his old pair. hydropool everyweek,physio, ot and salt all come out to us etc. and we have not asked for any of this they must be really switched on. but this should be the case nation wide not just in a few odd places

wow sneezecake where are you living ?.About to move to herts and hoping there be good