recommendations/advice hypotonia

vamom

New member
My ds just had his evual with his specialist and he would like us to see a physical therpist for a car seat fitting. Ds is a new 8 yrs, 52", 64#, mostly legs. He is currently in a briatx husky but his days are numbered. He has been very happy in the husky, but he tends to slump and lay against teh harness. He really wants a booster and I think he could pull off very short rides under the right conditions, but it would be alot for him physcially.

I would like input on how to proceed, I worry that the pt's around here will not be up on the best safety. I have seen what other children ride in and it therapy and it is scary. There was one ped specialist that was a tech and super on top of things, but she moved to CO.

I have been thinking of the roosevelt or the monza. He likes the look of the monza.

He has long skinny legs that tend to go numb, which freaks him out. He is in the center of a 2007 toyota prius so he has support for his feet which seems to help, but he still has some issues. The radian really bugged him and he had apnea issues in it.

We have a rstv which he has trouble leaning against as well and is not great for him sleeping which he still does a lot of. That and it would drive me crazy on a day to day basis.

Anyone know if there is a special needs tech in the southern portion of VA or there about? Any experience with dealing with medicaid paying some of the bill?

TIA
 
ADS

ctbcleveland

Well-known member
I am not in any position to comment on his special situation, but I do recall someone mentioning that there are positioning harnesses that can help to keep a child in a booster when they have special needs. I am going to hunt for the link for you.

Some links referencing them. Maybe you could contact the people who chimed in on ideas.

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=127899

ETA: This isn't what I was looking for, but came across this list of special needs carseat products. It has a 2010 date on it. Anyone know the source site in terms of reliability?

http://www.carseat.org/Resources/173_spec_needs.pdf
 
Last edited:

vamom

New member
I have been thinking of the roosevelt or the monza. He likes the look of the monza.

TIA

Thanks for responding. I have seen that list and done research on what seat options are out there. The list is missing the two recaro positioning boosters.
I am torn between the recaro monza and the roosevelt. I am looking for advice on the two or a similat product and recommendations for where to find a special needs tech or if I need one, and how it works with a pt.

tHANKS
 

Pixels

New member
There are a few SN techs from this site listed in this thread. There is also a link to all techs who are certified, and you can search by SN training. Just enter your state and SN training. The search engine only returns exact matches.
 

vamom

New member
Thanks. Turns out that a person I attended college with and who lives across teh street is sn trained. I woul dhave never guessed in a million years. There is also an instructor in teh city, will most likely call her.

For now, I have found a ped pt who seems to know what is going on. Ds has a fitting scheduled with her and a durable good provider for measuremnets and what not.

I am so torn about what to do. He really wants to use a booster. This is teh first time he has really asked, but he is now aware enough to notice. Well actually I think everyone is out of boosters and in teh front seat, but he does no that is dangerous. Even if he had no issues, he is far, far away from passing the 5 pt in my car.

I am open to advice, but my short list is the pilot, monza reha, and the roosevelt.
 

flipper68

Senior Community Member
First, wait and see what the PT and the medical supply people come up with regarding seats. He's old enough to be actively involved in choosing a new seat and that alone could make him accepting of continued 5 pt use.

Then, if DS continues talking booster, have him practice (buy an inexpensive HBB - do pay attention to seat depth as leg numbness is already an issue) sitting up straight and in correct position (no slouching, no leaning) on short trips. Have him keep a tally of the number of times he finds himself and that you or another passenger find him out of position.

Since he knows the safety issues involved, he might discover on his own he doesn't have the strength and stamina to maintain correct position for the long haul.

He may also discover that the booster provides LESS leg support and is more uncomfortable.

Also discuss long trips your family make as well as how much he tends to sleep in the car. Point out how it will be almost impossible for him to remain in proper position when he sleeps (I'm assuming he has even lower tone when asleep).
 

vamom

New member
Went to the pt. We really liked her. She did a bunch of measurements, asked questions, made recommendations, and pointed out some stuff I hadn't connected. At first she said he legally did not need a seat, but then she switched and was concerned about keeping him as safe as possible. She said she knows nothing about carseats, just what the patients needs are.

The durable goods person also did measurements. She only has experience with the britax traveller. She said she has done only a handful of seats.

So I told her what seats I had looked at and she was going to look in to them.

According to her, Merritt was not real friendly or interested in working with her. She didn't get any info on the recaro either.

Her guy had snugseat has not returned her calls or email. Apparently I am contagious (no one ever calls me back, lol).

She wanted me to decide on the roosevelt, pilot or columbia. And I hate making decisions, especially on something so expensive that insurance will only cover ever 5 years or so.

She said that she liked the pilot the most and it was taller then the roosevelt. The columbia is even bigger.

Help anyone?
 

vamom

New member
Snugseat rep is coming to my house next week to try the pilot out and rep is trying to get columbia to ship a demo of the spirit.If I can figure out how to post pics, I will.
 

safeinthecar

Moderator - CPS Technician
The Roosevelt is ,at it's most basic, a Husky with an extra harness slot. It will fit in any vehicle the Husky does, only you have the option of not having to use a tether if you have a l/s belt.

The spirit is very similar, but the supports pivot 180 degrees to get out of the way.
 

safeinthecar

Moderator - CPS Technician
The Colombia is very institutional in feel and look. The Monza is the most mainstream booster in appearance, and has a nice foot prop option, as well as a swivel base. You have the option to use it without the positioning harness also.
 

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