Being physically challenged should not be a reason why a child should miss out on the normal activities of childhood and growing up, especially in an era where a child wheelchair is so readily accessible.
It would be painful and detrimental to the child’s self-esteem if he sees himself not able to do what normal children could do. In order to avoid this painstaking situation, parents of a child who is handicapped should be able to choose the right type of child wheelchair in order to help the child move from one place to another and enables them to see the world better than they are used to.
Choosing A Child Wheelchair
In choosing the child wheelchair for your child, you must put into consideration the many factors such as the transportation. Though an electric char is very popular among kids, a lighter wheelchair would be most appropriate for transportation purposes.
Choosing a lightweight child wheelchair would be a prudent idea since you will be moving your child within your house and transferring him from wheelchair to bed so often. You might want to choose one with a detachable hardware in order to have the wheelchair placed close to another chair or bed as possible to save some back strain. Another consideration is that you must choose the right kind of wheelchair which the child can use when he or she goes to school or any activities in particular. Yet the most important factor that you should bear in mind is that you choose a child wheelchair that is based from the doctor’s recommendation.
Consider The Size of the Child Wheelchair
Always take in mind that the child wheelchair you will be buying would suit the size of your child and prepare a larger wheelchair as the child grows. There are wheelchairs in the market wherein you can adjust the size in order to cater to people who are heavy and have a larger body build. The front frames of the wheelchair for the legs can be adjusted as the child grows. Always make sure that the wheelchair that you will be buying is durable enough to last for up to 10 years.
Another thing that you should make sure is that the child should feel comfortable when he or she is seated on the child wheelchair. Selecting the cushions for the wheelchair is important in this aspect. It should not be too soft and not too rough. It would be very uncomfortable if the pediatric wheel chair would be too thin or too thick. Ensure that the child wheelchair has a footrest that is low enough so that the feet feel comfortable as it is rested there.
When transferring your child from wheelchair to bed make sure that you provide enough support during the transition. Remove the handles if you are about to transfer the child. Put your knees close to the child’s knees and make him hold your back firmly. In a synchronized manner, pull the child up into the bed making sure that when you are doing it, he or she is well supported. Place him softly on the bed and slowly lay him down to bed.
When transferring your child from wheelchair to chair, place the child wheelchair beside the chair and do the same movement as you did with transferring him or her from wheelchair to bed. Always ensure that you provide enough support when doing so.
You might also want to ask for some health teachings from a trained professional – a nurse, midwife or a nursing aid to teach you on how to ambulate the child and transfer him or her from wheelchair to another chair or bed.
Though it is not as important as the comfort and the size of wheelchair, another factor that you might want to consider is its color and the design. It is suggested for a pediatric wheelchair that the color should be very lively, there is no need to go for a depressing gray colored child wheelchair or boring brown handles. There are wheelchairs that have a lively color shade such as red, pink or blue. You could also decorate the wheelchair with colorful stickers since this would be very attractive for children.
Don’t buy a Cheap Child Wheelchair!
There are a lot of things that can be considered when purchasing a pediatric wheelchair. Don’t even consider buying very cheap wheelchairs since some of these low costing wheelchairs are not very durable and can break easily. Remember that your child’s safety is one of your prime concerns. The wheelchair should be movable enough to allow you to maneuver it easily. You want a Pediatric Wheelchair that is very comfortable, so selecting the cushions should importantly be taken in mind.
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spinlife.com telegraph.co.uk wvdhhr.orgA child wheelchair is one of the bests you can give to someone who needs it.