What comes after the maclaren major?

[JellyCurls]

DC1 is 6yrs old but is already 135cm tall only weighs 20kg. When out today noticed how big she is looking in the maclaren major, legs seem to dangle below foot plate. She has Ataxic CP and bad hyper mobility so need the pushchair for walking anywhere longer than about 10 mins. So what are options when she finally outgrows the Major buggy and is it an age, height or weight criteria you go by?

Don't see OT regularly and her Physio sees her at school so basically no home contact either.

Hope someone can advise x

[Pixel]

I don't think it's age really as there are a lot of children at ds's school much younger than him who have wheelchairs, whereas we stuffed him into his Major for as long as we could get away with it because we were worried about fitting a wheelchair in the car (actually it doesn't take up any more space ). You just go straight to a wheelchair from the Major I think but they come in all different sizes and wheelchair services measure your child up. Some of the children at school have tiny little wheelchairs and I wonder why they didn't just stick with the Major for longer so I think a lot of it must be personal preference as well.
If you are worried about dd outgrowing the major you could always phone up wheelchair services and ask their advice, ours are very friendly and helpful.

[JellyCurls]

Thanks pixel, dd doesn't want to be in her buggy at all as her friends at school and evil kids in the street neighbours ask questions and street kids call her a baby which upsets but that's a whole other discussion. MS school so no other kid in her year is in a buggy or chair. Happy to keep her in major just now as light and easy to push but will ask Physio for advice. We waited 1.5yrs for buggy referral to come through last time.

[BeeMom]

Convaid does make larger strollers, but there is a social aspect as well - older children in strollers seem to be looked past instead of engaged. Bee was 3 when she got her first wheelchair, and we took delivery of her power wheelchair just before her 7th birthday. Looking back, it was one of the best things we did for her (although I still regret it sometimes - she moves a lot faster now)

[Pixel]

Ah well that makes a difference. Ds doesn't understand/care what other people think so was always happy to get in the buggy, and of course he's not at mainstream so is used to seeing children being pushed in all sorts of arrangements. In your dd's case a w/chair would probably be better if she's aware of seeming 'babyish'. I can't believe you had to wait all that time. I recall getting the Major fairly quickly after our OT referred us (never seen regularly but happy to give advice over phone when needed) and when I rang up wheelchair services to make tentative enquiries about possibly swapping it for a wheelchair we were given an appointment straight away and had the chair within a few weeks.

[elliejjtiny]

DS2 went straight from a "normal" buggy to a wheelchair when he was 4. He doesn't have learning difficulties and he is quite small so he was very aware of people thinking he was a baby. He's much happier in his wheelchair although he wants a powerchair. Can't see wheelchair services funding one of those though and I'm not sure my nerves could take it either! Maybe when he's a bit older (he's 5 at the moment)

[JellyCurls]

We got offered convaid cruiser when dc1 was 3 but handles were far too low for us to push and we were told we were not allowed to adapt as would make chair unsafe, stupidly never argued case as was still in shock at needing a chair. Still got a bit of time left in buggy but will speak to Physio soon for advice.

Thanks for your help everyone

[mymatemax]

ds2 moved to a w/chair when he was about 5 or 6. He is 10 now & on his second w/chair.
He much prefers his w/chair & his latest has big wheels & although he cant properly self propel it does make him feel more in control IYKWIM.

I wish i'd introduced ds2's w/chair at school when he was uch younger as although he doesnt need it at school he really cant manage without it on school trips but refuses it as he doesnt want the others looking or asking questions so he sits out of things he really could join in with if he would just use his w/chair.
His physio refered him to w/chair services to be measured up when we were ready to move from mac major to w/chair.

[PaperLantern]

an Ormesa Clip

[PaperLantern]

more information on the above - we too we offered a convaid cruiser, but that was ridiculous overkill for DS' needs (ASD+sensory issues+ low muscle tone). Just needed something stronger than the 2 Maclaren majors where the support metalwork had bent and they were deemed not safe to use.

Once you get past five there is apparently a wider variety of options wheelchair services can give you. best options were the clip or a wheelchair. I choose a clip. It's not perfect, it's certainly heavier than the major, but at least it doesn't threaten to collapse everytime DS gets in

[sneezecakesmum]

DGS 4.5 has just got a wheelchair after a swifty buggy from wheelchair services. They said its not appropriate for him to go to school in September in a buggy. Hated the idea of a wheelchair but I think the sentiment is right and if your DD is aware only babies use buggies then get nagging wheelchair services and your therapists for a wheelchair.