Children with Special Needs

When possible, a caregiver should use a standard child restraint system to transport children with special health care needs. Some children may require special seats for a variety of medical conditions, including:

  • Prematurity, low birth weight
  • Orthopedic conditions, casts (including hip spica casts)
  • Cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular disorders
  • Autism and related disorders
  • Down’s Syndrome

Some hospitals offer special needs evaluations and fittings; Talk to your physician, nurse and physical, occupational or rehabilitation therapist for recommendations. Lateral support and positioning can be achieved in a standard seat with rolled towels or blankets positioned around the child.

 

For additional information, consider these helpful sites:

www.preventinjury.org
www.chkd.org