Tips for keeping warm
Keeping warm is often more important if you have a disability or have limited mobility.
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The lovely people at Netbuddy have put together these tips from carers and professionals to help people who are caring for someone with a learning disability this winter.
We think lots of these are great ideas for all children too:
Legwarmers
I've found legwarmers to be a really good extra layer of warmth for my daughter. They are really easy to slip over her clothing and then remove once indoors. I use adult ones that cover her entire leg. Actually, they don't even look as daft as they sound!
Wheelchair cosytoes
A really cheap way of keeping someone in a wheelchair warm is by adapting a child's sleeping bag into a cosy toes. You can pick up a small sleeping bag from somewhere like Argos for around £5. A few nips, tucks and holes for straps and you're there!
Use visual storyboards
Create visual storyboards showing different types of weather and appropriate clothing for each. This can help the person you are caring for choose the most appropriate clothing
Be a role model
Your child may be more likely to put on a hat, gloves, etc. if he/she sees family members consistently doing the same. You can also make a game of it. Try to make dressing for the cold weather fun by seeing who can get their coat, hat, and gloves on the quickest.
Alternative head covers
Jamaal can’t bear to wear any hat under any circumstances. We can sometimes get him to wear a hoodie and have also been successful with a deep fleece ski type headband or a buff, but we don’t push it if he really doesn’t want to wear it.
Help with heating
There are a number of government funded schemes across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, which provide help with heating, insulation, storage heaters and boiler replacement. www.disabilityalliance.org
Slankets for kids
Did you know you can now get slankets for kids? I think they will be great for people in wheelchairs.
Sleep tight
We had 12 years of Andrew waking during the night. A health professional suggested we wrap a quilt cover over the bed and tuck it in tightly either side under the mattress, so his bedding doesn't come off, and he feels snug and tightly tucked in. It worked instantly, and he has slept better ever since.
Fingerless fleece gloves
Persuading my son to wear gloves has always been a battle as most gloves are made of wool, which he doesn't like. It is also a visual impairment issue as a lot of his information comes through his fingers. The most success we have had has been with fingerless gloves made of fleece. This year I have bought two cheap pairs the same colour, so if we lose one we will still have a pair.
Ear flaps
We just bought a Velcro ear flap winter hat and pulled the earflaps down under Zara’s chin and this tended to work for us
Coats & wheelchairs
Greg uses a wheelchair. I finally realized that if I make a large vertical slit up the back of his coat it makes it easier to take his coat on and off.
Warm & weighty duvets
For the warmth of a duvet without the weight on feet and legs, make small bean bag cushions and put one on each corner at the end of the bed. You don't get cold like you do with a bed cradle but you get the same benefit.
It's a wrap!
For someone of any age a “haramaki” (belly wrap) is brilliant, especially for people with less movement. By keeping your middle warm your whole body warms very effectively. It is easy to get on over or under clothing and more comfortable than bulky layers.It stretches with you which is great for people sitting in chairs. Various available but kids ones too at www.nukunuku.co.uk
Puppet love
"Rosie wouldn't keep gloves on so I bought her 2 glove puppets and she happily keeps them on."
able2wear
able2wear supplies warm-lined capes, jackets and snugs specially designed for wheelchair users. They've also got wheelchair waterproofs and various fleece garments. Very useful! www.able2wear.co.uk
