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Kids at home
There is a wealth of specially designed products aimed to help children achieve greater levels of comfort, security and independence. This is an overview of some of the types of equipment available.
Suppliers of products for children. Clicking on a highlighted name will open their showcase page in a new window:
BaKare Beds
The Bambach Saddle
Seat Company
C & S Seating
Careflex
JCM Seating Solutions
Kinderkey
Kingkraft
Lisclare
Mangar
Mobillity Aids Centre
Otto Bock
Theraposture
Tough Furniture
JCM
Seating's new Triton seating system (right) has been designed to
provide versatile postural support in various different situations -
the seat is compatible with different bases so that it can be used throughout
the child’s
daily routine including play, school, recreation and rest. There are models
to suit the smallest of children from 6 months of age, as soon as they
are ready to adopt a seating position, right up to adult size.
For
children with challenging behaviour, who can be hard on traditional furniture,
something really robust is required. Tough Furniture has a range that
includes bedroom and dining room furniture, as well as specialist items,
like this widescreen TV cabinet (left), to protect delicate equipment
from damage.
BaKare Beds' height-adjustable cot (right) provides an environment which is cheerful as well as safe. Options include protective padding for the sides, and clear perspex instead of railing-style sides, for unrestricted visibility.
Specialist
seating can make a great difference to a child's comfort, control and
stability. A well designed system such as JCM's Star X (right) provides
good support and manoeuvreability with a range of height adjustments to
enable the child to be included in the activities going on around them.
Various supportive accessories are available for greater posture management.
Pressure relief seating, such as Careflex's Hydrotilt chair (left) assists with even distribution of pressure, preventing the circulation problems, pain and sores associated with pressure points when people are immobile for long periods.
The abduction
seating system (left) provides good support while inhibiting abnormal
tone and movement.
Cleverly designed to offer supportive seating in a range of situations around the home, Mangar's 'Sub' (right) is based on the seat section of their Surfer Bather bath seat, with an adjustable backrest, harness, and head support. It can be used as a supportive seat anywhere that its securing suckers can be fixed safely.
Standers, whether dynamic or static are important aids to improving weight-bearing, bone density and muscle bulk.
Both physically and psychologically, children can benefit from the greater access and independence a stander can give.
The EasyStand Magician (right) from the Mobility Aids Centre, is a sit-to-stand unit which provides a natural transition to standing, thus reducing the child's anxiety about the procedure.
A variable height table such as the one shown on the left from Kingkraft, can be used with a wide range of wheelchairs, providing a level or sloping work surface that is accessible and easy to keep clean.
A secure bed such as the Kinderkey model (right) keeps children who
are liable to injure themselves safe and comfortable. The company's
bumper system works on 
a
profiling bed with a new profiling sheet. The bumper was designed in
response to a hazard notice HN200.10 from the MDA regarding the safety
of cot sides. Occupational therapists throughout the country are now
using the bumper system successfully with the clients in their care.
It is also being used in hospices, respite centres and care homes for
the elderly.
