Non-Walkers

[coreybreeze]

Hi! I'm a regular lurker but haven't posted regularly in a long time.

I'm wondering if there are any moms of non-walkers out there. My DD Libby remains undiagnosed. She just turned three and isn't walking yet. I am desperate to connect with someone in a similar situation. So many issues seem to be popping up now. Carrying her everywhere is starting to become impossible- she weighs 40lbs. She's outgrown her highchair and is maxed out for her carseat. I'm wondering about potty-training. I'm wondering at what age do we start thinking wheelchair? (Her therapists think now, I'm thinking not yet)

Anyway, sorry for the rambly thoughts. I hope to hear from you.

[Steve's Wife]

Well, we're a little younger than your's, my daughter is 20 months. She's been crawling since November. Her therapists think she might walk by 2, but really, no one can be sure. I would probably not be wanting a wheelchair so early either. Maclaren makes strollers that go to 55 pounds, so I would rather use one of those. In fact, I'm in the market for one because I know we'll get a lot more use out of it than would a typical 2 or 3 year old.

I fully expect her to be in diapers into her 3rd or 4th year because I don't think she'll cognitively be ready until then, maybe even later.

[KatWrangler]

Take a look at this site. Now I don't know anything about them. I found them via Google. The have special needs strollers/push chairs.

http://www.adaptivemall.com/allstrolpus.html

[starlein26]

Hi! My son is 6 and has been immobile since around 26 months (he had a brain tumor.)
He got his first wheelchair at 3 1/2, but we used it sparingly. Baby jogger makes great strollers for larger kids. We used one until recently and he now has a SN stroller (a patron). Does your daughter bear weight? Is she using a stander?
As far as seating at the table (for meals), a wheelchair is helpful for that. How's her balance (does she sit on the floor alone?) If it's good, then a tripp trapp chair might be helpful.

We built our son a chair with a toy system (quadro), otherwise we all eat at a low dining table (we cut the legs down).

Sorry for rambling on in an illogical way ...kids are all awake and needy. I'll be back later if you have more questions...

[MotherWhimsey]

We've got different issues going on, my son can walk most of the time, but he uses a wheelchair to conserve energy.

I would totally get the wheelchair. First off, if she can get one she could push on her own it might be good for independence. If she wouldn't be able to push one on her own, It'd still be nice to not have to worry about her getting bigger and harder to carry. It takes a few months to get a chair after you start the process, so I'd do it before it reaches the "I need it NOW!" point.

[coreybreeze]

Thanks for the link- that's great. I think the thought behind a wheelchair vs. adapted stroller is that insurance money only goes so far. So if we order her a pushchair now, if she needs a wheelchair further down the road, there might not be money for it.

She crawls really well, but when she starts preschool next year, I don't know how well that will work. Kids already tend to treat her like a baby- I don't want her to be crawling around on the floor while the other kids are doing tabletop activities.

[coreybreeze]

starlein: we love our baby jogger too. I use it all the time. The only time it stinks is if you're trying to go in a store or something. They are so huge. They are really bad in dr. offices (where we seem to spend entirely too much time!) because they take up like half of the office.
She does bear weight. She can actually pull to stand, she's just extremely off balance once she is standing. She can sit unsupported if she sits in the dreaded W position.
We've tried gait trainers but she's not quite there yet.
Off to google tripp trapp chair ....