United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi. My daughter is 16 mos. old and was injured at birth. Her progress has been extraordinary with physical therapy and she has regained nearly full mobility. Her orthopedic surgeon has scheduled surgery on 7/31 to loosen the tight muscles and perform a tendon transfer. Despite the worries of surgery and the fact that her father is currently in Iraq, I find that I am obsessed with one detail. How big is the cast going to be? What car seat will accommodate for it and safely carry a 20 lb. baby? He also said that after the cast she would be in a brace. Is the brace usually the same size as the cast?
Help (and prayers) requested!

Hi! If you tell us what hospital you are going to there might be someone here whose child has gone there and they might have pictures for you to see.

Other than that- you can look here on this page to see some of the splints/casts, etc. that are used...
http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/splints.html
also check the listings for surgeries at other places off this page http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/homepage.html - look at sarah's page there.

On this page you can see all the splints that my daughter has worn post surgically - they are right at the top of the page: http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/homepage2.html
With those splints in mind and remembering that we purchased this back when she was two years old - we had the Century Next Step which is actually still great... For this recent surgery Maia does great in a booster seat - the Graco.

There are MANY carseats of that type (Century Next Step) but in case your daughter's arm will be out to the side like the airplane splint - then try to find one that has a less rounded side. (more flat)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 65-3118257
see how this one has 'big' sides? that probably won't work too well

whereas something like this might work better
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 65-3118257
or this
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 65-3118257

but not this
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 65-3118257

try to get one that has adjustable straps from the front (I wasn't able to find any the last time I shopped but people have said that they are around)

good luck and don't worry about the car seat... it'll work out fine - better than you think.

And yes - Maia and I will pray for your little one and your husband - can you tell us when her surgery is?

big hugs,
francine

Thanks. Her surgery is scheduled for July 31 at the University of Iowa. Her doctor demonstrated that her arm would be up at a 90 degree angle (like signaling a turn on a bicycle). I assumed the carseat would have to have clearance for the entire width of the cast? I do know that I will have to get one that allows rear-facing because the only working vehicle we have right now is a pickup - stick shift - (and it's her right arm). I wonder if I could get the insurance company to buy us a car??? LOL.

You know what? Is there an Easter Seals near you? I heard a long time ago that sometimes they will lend you a car seat for things like this - give 'em a call - you never know!

Pepper,
I used to be a child passenger safety Tech (trained parents to use car seats)... if you would like to like to talk with me e-mail me your number and I will call you... kristie@jesusway.org

Another option is to contact a CPS Tech in your area...
check out this web site to help you find someone:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/ ... /index.cfm
Some Techs have seats to give away to families in need. But every area is different.

Most children that are 16 months old and 20 lbs ride forward facing. I honestly do not think there is a seat that will accomadate the splint that you are talking about and be rear facing. Also if your truck has an air bag there is NO WAY to put in a car seat rear facing.

Good luck and Blessings,
Kristie

We used the Alpha Omega carseat by Cosco. It worked out great and I know that it can be rear facing or front facing and then even turns into a booster when they get bigger (up to 80lbs.) It had the strap adjustor in the front between the legs and we just pull out the slack and angle him in then snap it and tighten the straps. It worked great and is a nice built seat all around! Good Luck to you for surgery!

The Alpha Omega looks so small across the shoulder area... What size was your baby post-surgery? Did the cast hang over the edge?

Thanks!

Actually it is rather big (one of the biggest I could find) in the shoulder area...that is why I picked it. My son is 2 and weighs about 30 lbs. and is 39 inches tall...so he is not much of a baby anymore. I have put a bath towel behind him to build him out of the seat but that was just because I think he is more comfortable that way.