Pediatric Wheelchair in NYC (rental or purchase)

February 14, 2024 4:43 PM

My 6 year old son fractured his leg skiing this weekend. He's in a full leg cast. He needs a 14 inch seat pediatric wheelchair (12 inch could also work). I've ordered one on Amazon, but it won't arrive until Friday night and I'd love to find him one - purchase or rental - in the meantime. I've called various wheelchair stores but no one seems to have a pediatric wheelchair.

Any suggestions on how I could find one tonight or first thing tomorrow to use for the next couple days so he can go to school? Realize this is a longshot!

posted by slide to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

Huh - my kid went through something similar, and he got his through the hospital when it happened. That's not an option for you? Maybe reach back out to them? Otherwise, the general term you're looking for is "durable medical equipment" so maybe you can search for that rather than specifically a wheelchair store?
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:57 PM on February 14 [3 favorites]

Cloud of Goods Rentals, NYC has pediatric wheelchairs; Tripadvisor reviews
Medical Arts Chemists (Brooklyn) Pediatric Wheelchairs for sale
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:23 PM on February 14

NuCare Pharmacy & Surgical (Phone: [phone])
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:28 PM on February 14

Response by poster: Thank you all! The hospital couldn't help us unfortunately and couldn't find somewhere that had one. I tried Cloud of Goods, but it cancelled the order b/c no one could fulfill it. I'll try the other options you flagged Iris Gambol! Tried other places but not those. Thanks very much.
posted by slide at 6:54 PM on February 14 [1 favorite]

When my 6yo broke her ankle and wasn’t allowed to put weight on it, we ended up just using a stroller (the hospital told us a wheelchair would arrive, it didn’t, the stroller worked fine). Some strollers have foot/leg rests that are adjustable come up to seat height so should work with a full leg cast. If you don’t have one maybe a friend with a toddler has one you can borrow for a couple days.
posted by maleficent at 7:30 PM on February 14

Response by poster: Thanks Maleficent! That’s what we’re doing but he’s embarrassed about being in a stroller and doesn’t want to go to school in it, plus he couldn’t push himself around in it and he values his independence. So looking for the wheelchair.
posted by slide at 8:37 PM on February 14

A wheelchair will be hard for your kid to use independently. The world is hard to experience when you are so short, and crutches are required to transfer to chairs. By the time he figures it out, he won’t need the chair. Let your kid stay home and wait for your delivery.

Have you got a physiotherapist arranged for your son? You could try getting your son set up with Pediatric PT, and work with that clinic on equipment rental. That would take time though
posted by shock muppet at 11:40 PM on February 14 [1 favorite]