[tri-med] Re: When do you start using a wheelchair?

We got Keren her special needs stroller (Otto Bock's Kimba) last summer 
(she was a year-and-a-half old).  It's certainly heavier than a regular 
stroller, but I wouldn't exchange it for anything right now!  As soon 
as we had her in it she was able to sit up so much better.  When we 
took her to church (where folks were used to seeing her weekly in her 
umbrella stroller) the biggest comments were suddenly, "Wow!  She's 
grown so much!" and "Keren looks so much more interactive!"  She hadn't 
changed that much within a week (obviously!), but suddenly she was able 
to be up and see the world without slumping :) .

I'll let Debbie pipe in with her experience, but I know Claire has the 
Kimba and she's a good bit smaller than Keren.

Hope this helps!

Loren (wife to Kraig, mom to Keren Elyse, T18, 2 1/2 years old 
(9/27/02), and Clarissa Joanne (7/17/05) )
Southeast Michigan
http://webpages.eng.wayne.edu/~ad6075

On Tuesday, July 26, 2005, at 08:47 PM, Irene Smith wrote:

> Just curious, when do you start using a wheelchair for your triers that
> don't walk?  Is due to age, weight or just due to convenience?
>
> Since Caroline is still well within the weight limit for a stroller 
> (she's
> about 23 pounds) so we just use that.   She needs some support for her
> torso, but she holds her head up.  We just keep the wheelchair at a 
> recline
> so she doesn't slouch.   I would guess the wheelchair would allow her 
> to sit
> upright better.  The only equipment we need for her is her feeding pump
> which usually fits just fine attached to the stroller.
>
> I wonder if there would be advantages I am not aware of for using a
> wheelchair rather that just a stroller.  I am also going to ask 
> Caroline's
> dr and therapist, but I would love other opinions and thoughts.
>
> Thanks,
> Irene
> (Christina -3  1/2 y.o,  Caroline - 2 yo with partial trisomy 17p, 
> Kallie
> Marie, born 6/23/05)
> http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/c/carolinerochelle 

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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