maclaren major

[kieranandalexsmummy]

hi all ds has just been assessed for a major and we are waiting for it to arive,has any one bought the accessory pack to go with ? and is there any of it anyone wouldnt recomend? ie shopping basket? is it any good is the cozy toes a good size?
thanks xxx

The basket is a good size, but it's held on by poppers which keep popping open, so I find it hard to put much into it other than a lunchbox and DS1's homework. The official sunshade and rainhood are very good (and an absolute must if you're going to use it outside a lot!) but there's a lady on ebay who makes rainhoods which don't need the sunshade and so work out almost half the price.

We didn't get the cozy toes with ours (bought the buggy and accessories second hand but barely used off ebay) so can't comment on that.

We didn't bother.

I got a string bag from Lakeland to hang over the handlebars (which meant I could easily take it off when I needed to fold on the bus) and bought dd2 a really good set of waterproofs and a small umbrella!

She was just 4 when we got it and we have just given it back (age 6.5) as her condition has improved so much. It was great through!

I hope it comes quickly for you . DD1 has been on the wait list for a Mac Major since November '09, and when I phoned this week (situation with safety deteriorating at fast rate of knots) they said that they have to wait for 2010 budget to come through, they can't even guarantee she'll be given one this year, and if they do give her one this year we could still have to wait for months yet. Very apologetic, but hands tied

Lou that's awful. We were seen by OT after our ortho appointment, and went home with dd in a a major that afternoon!

Yes. I do understand though. The fact is DD can walk. She is a blue badge holder, and falls/trips a lot, gets fatigued. Right now the issue is escapism & refusal to walk with cars nearby. However, there are people on the list using wheelchairs that are giving them pressure sores because they are too small, etc. So got to have a bit of perspective.

I use a turtle bag with mine, too - learnt the messy way that it's not much good for transporting bananas in when it's windy, mind

Also - it's a good thing we bought our, since there'll be nothing to give back. After 6 months of 20 miles of rough pavement a week, our nearly new buggy looks decidedly old and battered!!!

lou- we have also been waiting a long time for a major (since last august), dd2 has the same issues as your dd, she can walk but is a runner and has no sense of danger. We have given up waiting and i managed to get one on e-bay, dd2 loves it and dd1 is itching to have a go in it.

I am keeping my eye out, Marne

who do you apply to to get one?
DS is 4.5yo with verbal diagnosis of mild ASD and hoping for official diagnosis this summer.
He is also a runner and sometimes refuses to walk when he gets stressed in busy areas.
Would I be able to ask for one without an official diagnosis yet?
I ahve a contact for the SN HV who works at the childrens development centre who will do his diagnosis - would she be the best person to get in touch with??
Also can you put a buggy board on them (for younger DS?)

We got ours via Wheelchair Services and it's great. We don't use it as much as we used to but it is still necessary, although ds will eventually become too big for it (agghr).

I bought a rainhood from eBay, similar to this one: cgi.ebay.co.uk/RAINCOVER-MACLAREN-MAJOR-SPECIAL-NEEDS-BUGGY_W0QQitemZ350307022606QQcmdZViewIt emQQptZUKBabyPushchairAccessoriesparts_ET?hash=item518fecf70e

It works well but can be tricky to attach it to the frame (due to stiff attachment clips).

In our area you need to be referred to Wheelchair services by another Health professional (OT in our case).

thanks so much for all the advice!! wheelchair services said we should have it in the next 4 weeks! might stop the stairs we get when we're out and hes rocking or babbling rather than talking he's almost 3 and waiting for a written diagnosis of asd he non-verbal.

ouryve, I've never had the poppers come undone on our basket, perhaps you were unlucky and got a faulty one?

I did have a string bag on the back for a while but wasn't really happy with it as I find the Major tips backwards quite easily so in didn't want to put anything heavy in the bag. I can put what I like underneath and not worry about tipping.

Agree ebay raincover is good and also agree that the clips = many broken nails and much cursing! Still, it's well-made and has lasted us years.

The front poppers both come undone easily and I can never get the basket to sit at a good angle, whichever way around I have it. I think it's all been used pretty hard, since we got it.

The clips on the official hood and raincover are pretty tough, too. I do have to decide in the morning whether I'm going to need it that day, too, since it's too big to carry. The only problem is, if I do put the hood on and it ends up windy but not raining, I end up with a sail on the buggy for no good reason!

Grumbles aside, it's made life a lot easier. Pushing DS2 up and down the local hills in the old buggy with his feet periodically being used as brakes was really hurting my back and shoulders. Hence the reason why we just went ahead and bought one.

Yes you can attach a buggyboard.

well thanks for all the advice folks,i went ahead and phoned maclaren today and ordered the extras they will be with us by next wed,o asked if they knew how long the pushchair would be as ws orderd on wed and they have no push chairs and wont be getting any untill may,but we are lucky as i no people have waited much much longer!! so i shouldnt grumble

is any 1 seen teh new mc major in red and grey very nice , i still have the old strippy one keeps going i suppose