Tips and Tricks: Freedom from the chair

Going out in public is difficult for Daniel. He often gets overwhelmed with the people and the noise. When this happens, he tends to shut down and either run or flop down on the ground. In order to combat this, we got him a wheelchair last year. You can read about that in the post Tips and Tricks: Managing Crowds.

This has been an excellent way for us to manage everyday life and still do things the other boys want to do. Yet there are times when the wheelchair limits are ability to do and see things. In these cases, we would divide and conquer.

This method is manageable most of the time. We realized this would be a problem when we planned our vacation to Colorado Springs this year. We wanted to do several things that required Daniel to walk, and neither of us wanted to stay behind. Fortunately, we found Child Harnesses by Elaine, at www.childharness.ca. (This may sound like an commercial, but I love the product that much!)

I was not sure about the harness thing at first. It is a little strange to put your child in a harness. However, it was one of the best purchases we have ever made in terms of improving our quality of life.

The harness is a simple strap setup that goes over the shoulders. There are two straps that wrap around under the arms and across the chest. I spent the extra money and had Elaine sew a handle on the back and put the two handed buckles on the harness. I also ordered two crotch straps and the parent to child tether. All total, with the upgrades, including shipping from Canada, the harness cost me $178.00.

This may seem like a lot, but it is a small price to pay for the piece of mind and the freedom we got. We were able to hike and take the Mollie Kathleen gold mine tour, which took us 1,000 feet underground. Both of these activities would not have been possible without the harness. With the parent to child tether on, Daniel can not get more than two feet from me. When he would try to flop down, instead of me attempting to manhandle him, I could grab the built in handle and lift him up. The combination of the crotch straps and strap under the arms make it uncomfortable enough he does not want to throw himself down. (The handle is not really intended for that purpose, but that is how I do it.)

If you have a child with special needs, or any child for that matter, that is prone to wander, one of Elaine’s harnesses can restore some freedom to life.

Have another way to keep your child safe in public? We would love to hear about it in the comments below. Please share this with other families.