Nd help with stroller/airplane for upcoming trip.

[goofyandmore]

Hi everyone. We haven't been to Disney for a few years. My daughter, who has PVL (brain injury from lacking oxygen) is now 9. She appears autistic like, doesn't speak, has sensory integration problems with sudden sound-is a sensory seeker too, etc. I haven't brought her into a store in a while because she doesn't fit into the cart anymore and often with the typical stroller, she will stand up in it if she sees something sensory stimulating to touch. Last time we were at Disney and let her walk out of the stroller at Epcot, she became very upset because she didn't understand why she couldn't just jump in the lake. She loves to swim and just the sight of water reminds her of summer pool fun.

I am hesitant to go to Disney because of the many challenges facing us with her behaviors, but I know she does love the rides, the beach, etc. and her older brothers especially love it. My oldest will be off to college next year and this is the last school spring break that he will have at the same time as his brother.

So, please help!!! First, can anyone recommend a good stroller? She is 72 pounds and about 4 foot 10inches tall.

Also, we live in NJ. We have never drove to Florida and don't know how she would handle that. She loves the van, but I think she would end up holding in her poop (sorry so graphic).

So, what the heck do I do about the plane? Her functioning level is like a toddler. So, it is hard to distract her especially in small quarters. Last time, for a bit she started banging on the window and threw her shoe at the bald guy's head in front of us-I caught it just in time. I just don't know if I can keep her seat for 2 and 1/2 hours anymore. A few years ago, we did it, but now, she is more determined.

I do know that it is better for her not to feel crowded. The night flight we took back one time was not crowded at all. So, her acting up wasn't as noticeable.

There are 5 of us-my hubby, 2 sons, me and my daughter.

Thanks!!!! Carolyn aigjr@aol.com

 

[dis-happy]

My friend has a son with severe CP. He is 18 but small, about the size of a typical 10-11 year old. Anyway, she got a fabulous stroller/wheelchair for him made by Maclaren. It's large, has a 5 point harness, folds up small, very easy to maneuver around just like a stroller. Some state agency purchased it for them, she had to apply and wait, but it was worth the wait. Hopefully you could look into something like that for your dd.

My oldest is going off to college next year as well, so I understand the "last spring break" feeling. I hope you can work out the details for a memorable trip.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Might a portable DVD player help distract her for a while on the plane? If you load up with a few good Disney movies and / or short cartoons you might keep her entertained for a while. Just a suggestion.

Hope you have a magical time!

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

http://am.stores.yahoo.net/mainbug.html

We love this stroller. Insurance covered it as a wheelchair because of DS disability.

 

[Schmeck]

We've driven from MA quite a few times - it's a long drive, (22 hrs) but we break it up into two days. Could you check with her pediatrician about something to help her not become constipated on the drive? It sounds like the plane might be too much for her, unless the pediatrician can give you something to give her to relax her a bit for the flight?

 

[KPeveler]

it sounds kinda bad, but on plane rides (we moved to japan when i was 4 and my sister was 3. my dad was navy and gone so my mom had both of us and all our luggage on a 22hr flight to japan) my mom used to drug us with dimatap (the children's cold medicine). a friend who is a dr suggested it.

we never got more than the suggested dose, and it did nothing other than make us sleepy, plus kept our ears from popping and being painful. might something like this help? Its not a sedative (i dislike the idea of drugging children) but it may help your daughter sleep for some of the trip... also, you may even be able to buy two seats for her (ask the airline) so she can spread out, or have one entire seat for just her doll or something...

 

[PatMcDuck]

When my son Sean outgrew his McClaren, we purchased a "Companion Chair". It was a few hundred $$. Worth every penny! It is like a wheelchair, without the big side wheels, so much lighter to toss in a trunk. It makes every trip to wDW with us. Sean stays in it on lines, but transfers onto rides. (Autism/Down syndrome/orthopedic complications)

It fits him easily, and he is 17 now and 160 pounds.

 

[SueM in MN]

A good place to look for special needs strollers is www.adaptivemall.com (which is the internet store that another poster put a link to). I put a link to their "Strollers and Pushchairs" page so you can see all the different types. The Maclaren strollers have been around for a long time (I remember seeing older children with special needs using Maclaren "buggies (as they were called) when I was beginning as a nurse. Their strollers are light weight, very durable and will hold a child or small adult up to 105 pounds. In most cases, insurance or Medical Assistance will pay for them because they are necessary for mobility or safety of the person using it.

If you do decide to ask the doctor about a recommendation for medication to help calm her down during your trip (either flying or driving), it's best to try if out ahead of time. Some people get hyper from medication that is meant to calm them and you don't want to find out on the plane that it didn't work the way you thought it would.

 

[RxforDisney]

If you do decide to ask the doctor about a recommendation for medication to help calm her down during your trip (either flying or driving), it's best to try if out ahead of time. Some people get hyper from medication that is meant to calm them and you don't want to find out on the plane that it didn't work the way you thought it would.

I agree! I am a pharmacist, and SueM is absolutely right. Some people (especially children) react the exact opposite of the way they are supposed to when they take medicines that are supposed to make them sleepy. But, I am not saying this to scare you away from giving any medication, you just need to be aware that this might be an issue. Your daughter has a medical problem that I am sure requires daily medication. When you place her in a stressful situation like an airplane ride or a long car trip, there is no reason to think that giving her additional medication to help her through that time is bad or unreasonable. Don't feel guilty for giving your daughter medication that will help aleviate her stress. You are not giving it to her just to relieve your stress, that is just a plesant side effect, you are doing it to help her.

OK, I am taking off my pharmacist hat, and putting on my mother hat. When I took my toddler on a plane a year or so ago, I kept with me a bag full of tricks. Little cheap dollar store toys that were new to her, so she was excited about seeing them. Things like stickers, paper, colored pencils, quiet toys, etc. The best though was a box of children's bandaids with whatever her favorite character was at the time (I don't remember). She had a blast with those. It was something that she usually did not get to play with, so she had a blast sticking them all over her, me, sometimes the chair or the window, but they came right off. I just let her do it, it was better than "trowing a shoe at the bald man in front of us." They cleaned up quickly, and she kept occupied. This may not work for your daughter, but use what you can out of it.

I hope your trip goes well!