Parent Solution: Traveling Bed Adaptation

Parent Solution from Have wheelchair will travel

HAVE BED WILL TRAVEL

There are many obstacles when traveling with a disability and I’d like to thank Jayne who sent me a message sharing the bed adaptation she has made for her daughter Jess.

Jess sleeps in a hospital bed at home with her head raised as she can’t sleep flat in a regular bed due to the risk of aspiration. Jayne says “this makes it pretty difficult for us to have a night away from home. I saw this camping chair in a catalogue recently and thought we could make it work as a bed for Jess. I got some high density foam cut to fit the chair and made a cover for it. Jess LOVES her travel bed and sleeps really well in it, we even tested it out by taking her on a 5 week road trip. The bed/chair folds flat and even with foam on it, it folds flat enough to store easily in the van. I wish we had though of this years ago!

Jayne says she “got the chair from Rays Outdoors (although have since seen similar ones at Anaconda), It’s called Wild Country Mesh Lounger and I go it on sale for $60. The high density foam was cut to size and cost me about $20. The white piece in the photo, above her knees, is a knee block, it’s part of her symmetry sleep system we use to keep her hips aligned in bed.”

It is fantastic to be able to share these ideas in the hope of solving someone else’s travel problem. Thanks Jayne and Jess.

TRAVEL BED WITH SIDES
After sharing Jayne’s great solution for a travel bed the other day I was asked if I had any ideas for rails. I didn’t, but Melissa has shared her solution for keeping her son from rolling out of a travel bed.

Here is what she had to say, ” I bought this at Menards for like $80, the Hammock folds up and you can put it in a carry bag for easy travels! We adapted it with the Suspenders to prevent him from rolling out! “Another great idea from a parent. Thanks for sharing Melissa.

P.S. Thanks for sharing the story. I wanted to add that many of our Facebook friends in the US have said they have found this chair in Walmart and Costco. I hope that helps others. Julie

Helpful Articles

• Why Using a Wheelchair Is the Opposite of Giving Up
• Turning Off at Bedtime {Tip 11 of 31}
• Establishing Routines at Bedtime {Tip 9 of 31}
• Sleep for Your Child with Special Needs – Why It’s Crucial and How to Get More of It!
• Let’s Get a Good Night’s Sleep
• Do It Yourself Calming Bottle
• DIY Sensory Rooms on a Budget!
• Can a Weighted Blanket Help My 20 Year Old?
• Starting Your Day off Right: Making the Most of Morning Routines
• Can I Get Help with My Child’s Behavior?
• Are Too Many Toys & Games Hurting Your Child’s Health?
• Interactive Technology May Be a Double-Edge Sword for Children