It’s important to make your home as safe as possible for your special needs child

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How to make your special-needs child’s life easier and safer around the home.

If you have a special needs child at home, you’ll know that as well as the rewards it can also be challenging at times.

Just as with any child, it’s important to secure your home to make it as safe as possible for your son or daughter, avoiding the usual bumps and bruises associated with growing up.

As any parent soon discovers, children have an unswerving knack of finding the sharpest corners, most slippery surfaces and valuable ornaments to play with, and keeping an eye on your busy baby, toddler or child is tough at the best of times.

However, supporting a child with special needs can pop another dimension in to the mix – not only do we have to make sure that the house is safe and secure, but we also need to find as many ways as possible to make their lives easier as well as the environment safer.

So, here’s the lowdown on the best aids on the market at the moment, for making life safer, easier and more comfortable for your child.

The bedroom

The bedroom is a small haven for most children, and it’s important to maximise independence while making it as comfortable and safe as possible for your kids.

One of the main issues for people with reduced mobility is reaching accessible spaces for playing, and the overbed tables are an ideal solution. Tables with tilting tops make drawing and painting a breeze, while transfer boards, mattress protectors and sheets now come in a range of cool colours to make bedtime more fun.

Bradshaw manufactures great beds to make lifting and reclining a breeze – choose the Low Bed for an accessible, safe and handy alternative to conventional frames.

The bathroom

You never realise how many problems the humble bathroom can cause until you are faced with using the room, with a special needs child. The good news is, from simple tap turners to great bath lifts for kids, there are a range of products designed to make life much easier for your child. The Mountway Splash bath lift has been designed as an ultra lightweight, affordable bath lift, which weighs just six and a half kilos. It is battery powered, and lifts comfortably and safely.

Aquajoy also offers a great range of bath lifts and supports for kids, with a range of funky covers and accessories that brighten up the bathroom as well as making it a safer, more convenient and accessible place to splash about!

The kitchen

You want to make your child as independent as possible, and the kitchen is a great place to explore, learn and develop skills. However, there are relatively few products on the market that are really designed to help your kids make the most of cooking, experimenting and fixing meals and drinks.

The Gripware high sided dish makes for easy eating, promoting independence while keeping surfaces safe from spills, while products such as the Prima perching stool provide an ideal safe environment for meal times.

There is also a great range of cutlery available for kids with gripping challenges, including the Good Grips Youth range, to make dinner time safer and more comfortable...

Making life easier for your child in the home needn’t be an expensive or daunting task. Focus on practical support first, and then make meal, bed and playtimes fun by introducing bold bright colours, cool gadgets and a range of items that both help promote your kids’ independence, and make everyday activities more fun.