A child may need several different types of seating throughout the day, depending on where they are and what activity they are carrying out.

They may need supportive non-mobile seating for school use, comfortable leisure seating for relaxing with the family, as well as functional seating which provides a stable, supportive position for feeding and play.

It is important that the child's occupational therapist and physiotherapist are involved in the choice of chairs.

Good seating is the key to many activities. By reducing the amount of effort and energy wasted trying to stay sitting up straight, a child will be more able to carry out other important daily activities, e.g. feeding, playing and learning.

• it will reduce the automatic reflexes and abnormal movements often associated with disabilities such as cerebral palsy which result in whole body movements such as an extension spasm. Careful positioning will inhibit these reflexes so that these spasms can be controlled
• it will provide support for children with floppy muscles, who need extra support to sit up straight
• it may help to control postural problems from forming or getting worse. It may also help keep the child's body in a particular position once corrective surgery has taken place. If the child is left in an asymmetrical position for a long time, a permanent postural problem will occur and deformities may result.

• it will improve the child's head control if they can sit up straight with their upper body supported. This will lead to improved eye contact, communication and social skills, together with a greater ability to carry out essential daily living activities, such as feeding
• it will improve hand and arm control. A good, supportive seating system will allow children to use their hands for functional activities, such as using communication equipment or propelling a wheelchair
• it will make nursing care easier. A good posture may increase a child's independence so that a parent needs to do less. It will also make activities such as transfers much easier and prevent a lot of time being wasted on continually repositioning the child
• it will improve the capacity of heart and lungs. A stable upright posture allows the heart and lungs to work efficiently within the rib cage

• the appearance of the equipment is often a high priority. Parents usually want a seating system that looks as standard and unobtrusive as possible. However, many such chairs do not provide the necessary support. Remember that a more complicated and supportive system will not only enable the child to sit up straighter so that psychologically, they feel better, but it will also help to prevent a permanent abnormal body posture
• ideally, the cost of a seating system should not be the deciding factor when choosing. It should be chosen for the benefits it will bring to the child, rather than because it suits the budget. Remember, that systems that appear, initially, to be more expensive, may turn out to be more cost effective in the long run, e.g. if it can be adjusted for comfort or adapted as the child grows or their condition changes



• parents are unlikely to use a chair which they do not like the appearance of, or find easy to position the child in, however much it costs
• the measurements taken to determine the correct seat size for a child are the same as those for an adult, i.e. - seat height, depth and width, backrest and armrest height
• children often grow more quickly in height than width; some children may need the seat size to be specially adapted, or use an insert or bean bag cushions to fill any space. Chairs that 'grow' with the child are available
• children requiring some degree of postural support will need a chair with adjustable seat dimensions and support pads, so it can be adjusted exactly
• like all of us, children using supportive seats need to have their position changed at regular intervals throughout the day to prevent them becoming chair shaped due to contractures. Remember, that the floor is an appropriate alternative place for younger children to play or sleep, providing they have the positional support equipment they require
• many chairs have trays as accessories which may be necessary if the child is in an integrated nursery/school and the chair is too high to fit under the tables. Unfortunately, a tray separates the child from working with his peers.
• tables are available with adjustable height legs and some have an adjustable angle top which is useful for children with poor head and trunk control. Adjustable height is useful in multiple user settings and for use with standing equipment
• trays and tables with a semi-circular cut-out allow the child to have their forearms supported while they play/works
• family meal times may be more manageable and enjoyable, if a supportive chair can have a podium or raised wheeled base to make it into a supportive high chair
• conductive education furniture is considered to be for treatment and therefore should only be used under supervision from a therapist or similarly qualified person.

Provision may include:

• support chairs


• corner seats


• modular seating.

Before making any decisions about buying equipment, it is advisable to contact a paediatric occupational therapist (OT) who will come and assess your child's daily living needs. The OT will advise on possible solutions and may be able to provide some items of equipment on loan.

If you decide to buy equipment and gadgets privately, it is best to try them out first. Arrange a visit to a Disabled Living Centre (www.dlcc.co.uk) which have a range of children's equipment on display, and from where you will be able to get information on what may be most suitable for you and your child.

About us Our partners Terms & conditions Jobs at Youreable designed by