My blog post about special needs seats...

I wrote this a little while ago and I thought I'd ask for opinions here.

http://mylittlefighter.blogspot.com/2008/04/just-little-blip-for-special-needs.html

I wrote it because I'm on several boards now for kids with special needs and some of the car seat questions are scary (like one lady asked how she could get insurance to pay for a britax traveller plus and her baby was only 10 months old!). We all share blogs so we can see each other's kiddos. I wanted it to be short and to the point and not preachy. Is there anything I should add or take out?

I think it sounds great. Man that Roosevelt makes me drool every time I see it. I'd maybe add a blurb about their kids' doctors not being the best place to get carseat advice. :thumbsup:

Sounds good.

With the "prescription" information, you could add that there are TECHs with special needs training and they can be looked up like other techs on the Safe Kids page. And, the "prescription" process can be LENGTHY so it needs to be started long before DC outgrows existing seat.

Some Children's Hospitals and therapy/rehab clinics have "loaner" seats to help families determine best for their needs.

IMO - very few kids with special needs need special needs seats until they are too big for "typical" seats, especially since there are more HWH seats readily available.

flipper68 said:

Sounds good.

With the "prescription" information, you could add that there are TECHs with special needs training and they can be looked up like other techs on the Safe Kids page. And, the "prescription" process can be LENGTHY so it needs to be started long before DC outgrows existing seat.

Some Children's Hospitals and therapy/rehab clinics have "loaner" seats to help families determine best for their needs.

IMO - very few kids with special needs need special needs seats until they are too big for "typical" seats, especially since there are more HWH seats readily available.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the prescription info. I didn't know it was a lengthy process. Many of the kids on the boards I frequent are severely brain damaged. It's the main reason I wanted to put something on my blog about it. I worry that many of them don't know their options. I agree that many SN kids do eventually outgrow the need for a harnessed seat. For these kids, it's not a matter of maturity, but as a way to physically keep their bodies in position.

Shauna, you might also want to point out that the Roosevelt was designed with a 35lb weight minimum simply because there are seats that RF to that weight now. Merritt did this to avoid having really small kids in the Roosevelt, especially since the majority of people who'll buy the Roosevelt will have a child with special needs. Oh...the top slots are 22¼".

Shaunam said:

Thanks for the prescription info. I didn't know it was a lengthy process. Many of the kids on the boards I frequent are severely brain damaged. It's the main reason I wanted to put something on my blog about it. I worry that many of them don't know their options. I agree that many SN kids do eventually outgrow the need for a harnessed seat. For these kids, it's not a matter of maturity, but as a way to physically keep their bodies in position.

Click to expand...

It really depends on the insurance company/policy (including Medicaid). Most seem to "routinely" deny durable medical equipment. My SIL and several friends are PTs and often have to write 2-3 letters of justification before getting approval from insurance.

In my limited experience, parents do not know about HWH. Often, I think it is because there are so many other issues to deal with [seizures, medication, feeding/nutritional issues, surgeries, hospitalization, repeated/multiple doctor visits (one of my young friends is followed by 7 specialists at last count) therapy sessions, everyday life, other sibs].

And to clarify: I meant that most kids with SN (was thinking primarily of those w/CP or other physical disabilities) will do fine in regular 5 pt harness car seats especially now that there are more "big" seats. Some kids with special needs will outgrown the need for harness rather than mature out of the need for harness, but many in the moderate/severe will not. Most will however, outgrow the ability of their care givers to safely transfer them in/out of a car seat. [Much over 50-60 lbs. and it gets dangerous to transfer kids who can not help with the transfer. Remember, they most likely have some type of very $$$ & heavy/bulky w/c or stroller to load and unload as well.]