by Joyce Slaton posted in Products

There are many car seats on the market custom-made for children with special needs, but they are expensive: about $550 to $2000, or more. Since special needs parents have just a few other expenses, buying a special needs car seat may be difficult, if not impossible.
But there are options. And though you may know know it, there are experts known as CPSTs ? child passenger safety technicians ? who have received special needs training. These experts are educated in how to safely restrain children and install car seats properly, as well as in finding just the right seat for children with special needs. And here?s a little secret they know, but you may not: They always try mainstream seats before special-needs seats. Why" ?As long as a child can fit in a traditional seat we really want to leave them there,? says Oakland, California CPST Kimberly Wilkinson. ?Often, insurance will only pay for one seating option every five years ? if parents use that money for a car seat, they may not have the money for a special adaptive highchair or something else.?

?Conventional seats far less expensive ? you can get them for under $100,? points out the Juvenile Product Manufacturer?s Association (JPMA)?s Director of Child Passenger Safety Joseph M. Colella. ?They?re also easier to get. You can just order them online; no waiting for insurance forms to go through. They?re also so much easier to use. Some of the larger special needs seats require a heavy-...