Purchasing a special needs stroller vs renting?

[3littlecuties]

My daughter is 8 with Down syndrome and is at a point where she still needs a stroller for places like Disney but I don't think she will fit in any of the "regular" strollers anymore. She is about 63 lbs and 49 in tall. We are heading to Disney in August and I was planning on renting one of the special needs strollers from an offsite stroller rental company. But then I started to wonder if we should consider buying a stroller because we will be heading back to Orlando next year for spring break (not doing Disney but possibly Universal and Sea World) so we would have to rent again.

I know the Liberty strollers that they rent are very expensive to purchase, but are there any less expensive options that we could consider purchasing? I'm sure we will have future Disney trips as well so it may be worth it to invest in a stroller.

 

[lanejudy]

My family was faced with that same decision a few years ago. Special needs strollers in general are quite expensive. My family ended up purchasing a Maclaren Major Elite that was gently used. It was a considerable cost savings over purchasing new -- and less than 2 rentals, plus it has come in handy for a few other events/vacations.

www.adaptivemall.com is a good place to start researching what you might want/need, though it's not all-inclusive of brands/models. Then I suggest checking your local/state special needs re-use sites and expand your search from there once you know brand/model you'd like. You can also check into whether your medical insurance will cover it for your child; ours denied the request because she didn't need it for regular everyday use.

Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

 

[lmb80129]

I agree with lanejudy. Definitely ask around and see if anyone with an older child has one that has been outgrown. I think I posted a similar question a few years ago here and someone suggested checking with our Children's Hospital. I was unaware until that post that our Children's Hospital had a mobility clinic where kids are fit with special need strollers/wheelchairs by physical therapists and a representative of a medical device company. We ended up with exactly what we needed and our insurance did pay even though our son only uses it for traveling long distances (theme parks in particular). He does not use it every day. Hopefully you may find a similar resource around you.

 

[joanchris]

Purchasing is quite expensive, I'd go for a used one, Ebay currently has a purple Convaid Safari Tilt for only $400, a great deal even at 6-700. Or even try renting one this time and see how she does in it, comfort wise, how it is to push etc.