special needs equipment
car seat
stroller / wheelchair
bathing tips
We tried out some equipment for children with special needs like the Versa-form Pillow and the Tumble Forms Carrie Feeder Seat. We found that DJ is very hypotonic (floppy) so these positioning devices did not support him well. Until DJ was four years old, we adapted regular baby equipment like his stroller to our changing needs. Once DJ surpassed the weight and height requirements on the baby equipment, then we turned to special needs equipment.
An adult always sits next to DJ in the back seat because he often startles when we have to cross railroad tracks or turn a corner. He also needs suctioning from time to time.
DJ used a regular car seat (a reversible car seat by Century) until he was over 4 years. To keep his head from flopping forward, we turned the car seat back to be rear-facing when he was 19 months old (luckily DJ still falls within the weight limits expressed by the manufacturer). When he was too tall, we turned the car seat to face forward, but tilted the seat back so DJ was on an incline.
Positioning in the convertible car seat: To keep DJ's head from moving from side to side, we wedged his head between two stuffed animals. We put rolled up hand towels along his sides to promote more anatomic alignment. DJ's feet rested on top of an ice chest, so they wouldn't just dangle down.
Special Needs Car Seat: When DJ was 4 1/2 years old, he received a car seat for children with special needs through the Shriners' Children's Hospital in Chicago. Our rehabilitation specialist came and fitted the seat to DJ's body using foam inserts of different shapes and sizes. DJ is quite comfortable in his custom-fit Snug Seat I.
For more information: See "Transporting Children With Special Health Care Needs (RE9852)," American Academy of Pediatrics, Vol. 104, No. 4, October 1999, pp. 988-992. This article is also available online at the web site for the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.aap.org, search under "Car Seats." In addition, the National Highway Safety Administration has published a simple brochure entitled "Adapting Motor Vehicles for People with Disabilities," which is available without charge. For the information, contact Rhonda Keith at the Consumer Automotive Safety Information Division of NHTSA (phone: 202-366-0291 or email at rkeith@nhtsa.dot.gov).
DJ has both a large stroller and a Kid-Kart wheelchair.
The stroller is convenient because it fits easily into the trunk of our car. It has three positions: upright, reclined at a 45 degree angle, and flat. We have a foam insert that keeps DJ's head from flopping from side to side. We found that DJ prefers the stroller as he gets older because he can lay on his side and drain out any excess secretions.
The Kid-Kart wheelchair has a detachable seat which can be fixed onto one of two bases: a base with wheels and a stationary base to make it a feeding chair. The chest supports help to position DJ correctly since he has poor trunk control. A rehabilitation specialist from home health comes periodically to make adjustments for DJ's height. For further information: A helpful article about choosing your first stroller can be found at the web site for Exceptional Parent magazine (www.eparent.com) - Louise Kinross, "What you should know about the first wheelchair," 2000.
Bathing
DJ loves the bath. Either Davis or I held DJ and used a plastic cup to scoop water over him. This was a good time to wash away the sweat on his back and clean his face thoroughly, particularly his eyes.
Bath Chair:
As our children get older and heavier, you need to look into some alternatives. Many parents get a bath chair. Bath chairs are designed to support children with poor posture and poor trunk control. Most bath chairs offer tilt and recline features, and have frames that can be adjusted for changing heights. Some bath chairs also have seatbelts. Check with your physician about using a bath chair to see if it can be covered by medical insurance. Generally a bath chair is ordered through a physical or occupational therapist, who will size it correctly for your child. Some considerations that you may want to discuss with your therapist before getting a bath chair include: the size of your bathtub, the angle of recline that is needed, the weight of the chair if it needs to be removed daily, and whether you need a foldable or flexible frame for storage or for traveling.
When DJ turned four years old, it became increasingly difficult to lift him out of the tub by myself. We started bathing DJ in a Rifton Blue Wave Bath Chair.
Bathing Without Water:
Sometimes, your circumstances do not permit traditional bathing methods. When you are in the hospital or your child is very sick, it can be difficult to bathe your child in a tub. You may just have trouble lifting your child in and out of a tub so bathing is infrequent. Whatever your circumstances, there are bathing products that are available in grocery and drug stores that do not require water.
For example, Aveeno Creamy Baby Cleanser by Johnson & Johnson is a very gentle, non-foaming cleanser. It is soap-free and tear-free so it is good for the smallest babies. It can be used without water and just wiped off with a soft cloth or tissues. As my friend, Theresa, puts it, this cleanser is great for "barfy toddlers" because it completely eliminates the smell of vomit. We found that this is a great product for traveling on long car trips with DJ.
We have also used Comfort Bath by Sage Products, Inc. This rinse-free cleanser comes in a package of 8 disposable washcloths. The washcloths contain a moisturizer and have a soft fragrance so your child’s hair smells as though it was newly washed. You can use these washcloths at room temperature or you can microwave them so they are warm. For more information, visit their web site at www.sageproducts.com.
Last update
Tue, Jan 27, 2004