special needs stroller?

[Anonymous]

My 11 month old is hypotonic; she does not hold her head up, sit, or crawl.
She has almost outgrown her infant car seat (which we use with a snap and go) and we are looking for a stroller that would keep her comfortable and secure. Ideally we'd like a double stroller, so that her older sister (who is 3) can ride along with her, but the ones we've tested (joovy, phil & ted, graco, mcclaren) haven't really measured up.
I am at a loss and would love to know if any of you have some advice. Do I need to start looking at special needs strollers?

Many thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you are really looking for top of the line, professional strollers for disabled kids, you should go to the Seating Clinic at Kennedy Krieger, where your daughter would be measured for a stroller that would be made for her, from OttoBeck or the like. My three year old daughter is about to get her first one, paid for by insurance. Until now, we have been fine with our MacLaren stroller, but she is riding the school bus and needs something that can be clipped into the seats.

I don't have much info about double strollers. I tend to think they are not as supportive. Does your daughter have a physical therapist? Ours was great at answering questions like this, and also great about adapting whatever high chair, stroller, seat, etc. we got for our daughter with pads, rolled up towels, etc. She was genius at this.

[Anonymous]

op here: thanks, pp, for your wisdom.
unfortunately, my daughter does not have a p/t because her disease is terminal and we questioned whether interventive therapies would contribute to the quality of her life...
in any case, i will keep your suggestions in mind and consider a "regular" stroller in the meantime.

one other question: how do grocery shop?

[Anonymous]

As to your question about going grocery shopping...Several friends of mine, who have children with hypotonia, have HIGHLy recommended this chair(link below). They use it to go the supermarket (strap it to their cart) and also put it in restaurant high chairs.

http://grandmasbabies.com/store/special-needs-infant-support-chair-p-14.html?zenid=722dd039a640e64198bb0c4d0d743245

Hopefully, you will find this helpful.

[Anonymous]

14:13 again. OP, although your child's condition is terminal, I encourage you to contact EI anyway. They are such a great source of support and wisdom about practical, everyday, adaptive matters like this. Much more so than the medical profession. I really think you are missing out.

We grocery shop in one of two ways -- either one of us uses my daughter's stroller basket and jams items into that, or we both go and use a regular cart (him) and I push her stroller.

OP, did I run into you on the Down Syndrome advice thread? I'm the CP mom who posted there, and there was a mom of a terminally ill child who posted as well. Sounds like we have a lot in common. If you'd like to chat off-line, email me me at elizabethdotbachatnlrbdotgov.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, 14:13, that was me on the Down Syndrome thread. I tried to email you at the above address, but I got a bouce. Is there another way to connect? Would very much like to talk.

[Anonymous]

CP mom here. That's so weird. Okay try my home email -- elizabethbachatrcndotcom. Or spell out your email and I'll contact you.

[Anonymous]

In some EI catalog I saw some foam cylinders that could be moulded and cut to provide support for a hypotonic child in a stroller or high chair. I can't find it now but you could try looking at Beyond Play or SuperDuper toys online.

Re. strollers, I have a Graco double and found it reasonably supportive especially with the help of rolled up towels and blankets for extra support. It wasn't the duoglider, it was a newish model last year where the small child when in the back with the toddler/heavier child in the front seat. HTH.