Important Considerations For Purchasing A Pediatric Wheelchairs
- Pediatric wheelchairs come in all shapes and sizes. There are a few important things to remember when you're choosing wheelchairs for children, that you might not think of if you're only familiar with adult wheelchairs.
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1) Can the wheelchair grow with the child?
2) Can the child get in and out of the chair on his own or will he require assistance from friends and teachers?
3) When seated in the chair, is your child tall enough to reach tables and counter tops?
4) How big are his friends? Will your child be able to socialize comfortably from his chair?
5) Special needs of the child. Can your child use his arms with a manual chair or will he need more support? - Some children do very well with a walker or manual wheelchair that is small enough for them to get in and out of easily, should they want to play on the floor and that keeps them on eye level with their friends. Another advantage of manual wheelchairs is the exercise they provide. Wheelchair users who have full use of their upper body often benefit greatly from the cardiovascular and muscular exertion that their manual wheelchairs require.
- However, if your child is not able to use his arms well, a child-size electric wheelchair might turn out to be the order of the day. There are many wheelchairs on the market that can be expanded to grow with your child as he increases in size. They can also be raised up or tilted back to help with the care and feeding of your youngster.
- In the case of a child with special needs, consult with his physician and phsical therapist to make sure the wheelchair you decide on can meet his needs comfortably but doesn't come equipped with a lot of bells and whistles you don't want to pay for and your child will never miss.