Written by Hulet Smith, OT
Childhood is a time of exploration. For kids who rely on wheelchairs for mobility, the ability to explore and enjoy all the world has to offer can be hampered. Today’s modern lightweight manual wheelchairs can be customized to meet each child’s needs, opening up the world for kids who need mobility assistance.
1. Best Over All: Ziggo Lightweight Pediatric Wheelchair
2. Best Adjustable: Pediatric Manual Wheelchair with Hemi-Height
3. Best Tilt in Space: Kanga Pediatric Tilt in Space Wheelchair
4. Best Vinyl: Medline Kidz Pediatric Wheelchair
5. Best on a Budget: Wallaby Pediatric Folding Wheelchair
As we all know, children grow FAST and having a wheelchair that can keep up will not only save you money in the long run but your child can stay with the same, familiar wheelchair for years to come. Some growth adaptable features include expanding seat size and armrests. Be sure the keep the weight capacity in mind also! This isn’t a feature that can grow with your child, so make sure to pick a wheelchair with a high enough capacity.
Legrests are a very important part of wheelchairs. They provide extra comfort and can help secure the legs in place when necessary. However, which one is better? What kind provide the support I’m looking for?
The two kinds of legrests that are usually offered are elevating legrests and swing-away leg rests. Elevating legrests are ideal for those who need to extend their legs for pressure redistribution, medical conditions, or injuries. They are mainly used to enhance the comfort of the user as the angle can be adjusted for preference.
Swing-Away legrests stay in the down position but have footrests that swing to the side, making it easy to enter and exit the wheelchair. The down position also enforces proper sitting posture and prevents any slipping and slidding from the seat. Patient transfers can easily been done with these legrests, ensuring no snags or complications.
Most wheelchairs on our list have the option to upgrade to elevating leg rests should you want to add them on!
A looked over and underrated feature to consider is the rear wheel size. Wheel size can affect floor to seat height, manuverability, and elbow flexion. Typically, larger wheels help navigate rougher terrain such as inclines because each roll takes less effort than if it were a smaller wheel. It also helps minimize the amount of average pushes needed to navigate your daily route.
Depending on the chair’s build, larger wheels can also mean a bigger chair. This can minimize indoor manuverability or any other space that is on the narrow side. Be sure to check for overall width and chair diameter when looking through the different wheelchairs!
Arguably one of the best parts about any wheelchair is the ability to customize it to your liking! Thankfully our top 5’s are pretty customizable, with some having more options than others. This is very important to consider because you want to be able to replace worn cushions or purchase upgrades that enhance the overall wheelchair experience.
Upgradeable features that ensure comfort can include armrests, legrests, and headrests. Look out for safety features as well! These can include harnesses and belts.
Last but most certainly not least, is to look for how easy it is for the wheelchair to be transported. With children who go to and from school or go shopping with their guardians, portability is key.
Check for the size of the wheelchair when folded and if the wheels can easily come off for quick disassembly. Make sure to also look for what other parts of the wheelchair may be necessary to remove for transport: armrests, legrests, and headrests. Number 2 on our list, the Pediatric Manual Wheelchair with Hemi-Height, is a great example of a wheelchair that has many removable and replaceable parts!
An economical chair that safely provides freedom of mobility, our #5 choice for best pediatric manual wheelchair is the Wallaby Pediatric Folding Transit Wheelchair from Drive Medical.
This manual wheelchair weighs just 33 pounds and the durable frame of this highly maneuverable mobility aid comes in bright red or blue. It easily folds down and fits into a passenger seat or standard trunk so you can take your child exploring. It has transit tie-down brackets for use on public transportation too. This wheelchair can be adjusted to accommodate activities including changing clothes, eating, and studying.
This pediatric wheelchair has thickly padded armrests for a comfortable place to lean on during transfers, and if getting them out of the way would be more beneficial, they can fold away during transitions. Both height-adjustable footrests swing out of the way to eliminate obstructions while getting into and out of the chair. A pelvic belt keeps the user safe and secure and encourages good posture while the chair is moving, and the calf strap provides leg support. The push handles are height adjustable for caregiver comfort and provide control over direction and speed.
Available in seat widths of 12 or 14 inches, this sturdy manual wheelchair has a weight capacity of 150 pounds. An economical option, this pediatric wheelchair is highly compact, very adjustable, and full of safety features.
Boasting a modern design combining safety, accessibility, comfort, and style, our #4 pick is the Kidz Pediatric Wheelchair by Medline
This pediatric wheelchair has a 14-inch wide contoured seat supported by a dual axle and provides a supportive ride for hours at a time. The dual-axle design makes it easy to adjust the seat to hemi-height, which gives the user the option to self-propel the wheelchair with their feet. It also makes it easier to get in and out of for shorter users.
The seat is made of easy-care water-repellent vinyl upholstery and it can support a user weighing up to 250 pounds. This highly adjustable mobility aid has telescopic handlebars for a caregiver. The seat height can be adjusted to hemi-height for foot propulsion, and the armrests and leg supports are movable. Anti-tippers on the flat-free tires come as standard equipment. The armrests and calf supports feature thick padding to help prevent pressure sores, and both arms flip back to ease transfers. The leg rests are adjustable and fully detachable. The durable frame comes with a lifetime warranty.
The flexibility and adjustability of this pediatric manual wheelchair makes this a top pick, and with anti-tippers coming standard when they are usually optional add-ons, this wheelchair demonstrates its commitment to user safety.
Build your own wheelchair with our #3 choice, the Kanga Pediatric Tilt in Space Wheelchair from Inspired by Drive.
This tilt-in-space manual wheelchair allows for expansion of the frame over time to keep up with the growth of your child. The tilt-in-space feature is especially beneficial for kids with spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, muscle diseases, head injuries, or those who can’t easily reposition themselves to shift pressure from one point to another or redistribute weight.
The many seating and positioning cushions available provide the opportunity to build your own wheelchair ranging in widths of 10, 12, and 14 inches. The armrests on this manual wheelchair are depth-adjustable, height-adjustable, and they can be removed. The back canes are angle and height adjustable, and you can choose to only recline the backrest. Lightweight and foldable for compact transport, this pediatric wheelchair provides minimal to moderate support, depending on the cushions added.
It made our list at #3 because of its weight redistribution properties to fend off pressure sores and its expandable frame that provides a long service life, even while your child is still growing.
Our #2 pick, the Viper Pediatric Wheelchair with hemi-height by Drive Medical, is great for kids who want to propel with their feet.
Ideal for users less than 5 feet tall, this manual wheelchair is a great choice for kids who prefer to use their feet or a combination of their hands and feet to self-propel in a wheelchair. Its dual-axle capabilities allow for lowering the seat from standard height to hemi-height, which is especially beneficial for users with weakness in the upper body or injuries to the arm or hand. The lightweight carbon steel frame is black powder-coated and strong enough to accommodate users weighing up to 250 pounds. The 12-inch model weighs 30 pounds, and the 14-inch model weighs 31 pounds.
The desk-length arms work well at a school desk or table, and they flip back to make transfers easier. This lightweight wheelchair has mag-style long-lasting, flat-free rear tires that require little to no maintenance. There is an aluminum landrim on each tire, and wheel locks add to this wheelchair’s stability. You can choose from swing-away footrests or elevating leg rests, both of which can be adjusted or removed.
The impossible to beat, Ziggo Lightweight Pediatric Wheelchair from Circle Speciality, Inc, slides right into the number spot on our list! With colors the kids will enjoy and easy-to-use features caregivers will love, this wheelchair truly does have it all.
Built for practicality, the Ziggo is perfect for both indoor and outdoor use as it’s slim enough to maneuver through tight spaces yet durable enough for outside travels. Adding to it’s slim design are the quick release, precision urethane, rear wheels and the solid PVC front wheels. These quick-release wheels enable this wheelchair to swiftly be taken apart, which allows it to easily fit in the back of your car's trunk. The robust yet lightweight stainless steel frame is covered by nylon upholstery for longevity and durability.
Storage is provided by a back pocket on the chair, and the arms flip up to facilitate easier transfers. This wheelchair comes standard with padded, desk-length arms for easy desk accessibility as well as calf straps, pelvic belt, height adjustable footrests, plastic footplates, and push-to-lock brakes. Highly customizable, the Ziggo Lightweight Pediatric Wheelchair comes in multiple sizes for growth adaptability: 12” , 14”, 16”, and 18”. The 16 and 18 inch models even have a foldable backrest to account for their larger size.
For a custom ride, the Ziggo has optional anti-tippers, replacement seat belts, and a trunk harness which provide safety and additional security (sold separately). With optional elevating leg-rests, replaceable cushions, and a headrest with an adjustable mounting bracket, you can enhance the already comfortable Ziggo to another level!
The long list of standard and optional features, attractive price, and maneuverability make this wheelchair popular with parents and caregivers, while the good looks and color options are appreciated by the users.
A: Manual wheelchairs are safer, and today’s models are lightweight, come in different colors and are easy for kids and their caregivers to use. They are less expensive than electric models, fold up easily for transport, and grow as your child grows.
A: Seat widths for pediatric wheelchairs range from about 10 inches to about 16 inches depending on the model. Seat depths for heavy duty wheelchairs range from about 8 inches to about 16 inches. Back heights range between 8 inches and 20 inches.
A: The measurements that determine the correct size for a wheelchair include overall dimensions of rheight, width, and depth, width between the arms, folded width, seat dimensions, seat-to-floor height, seat-to-arm height, and back dimensions.
A: You do not need a prescription unless you plan to submit an insurance claim to have the cost covered.
Since a pediatric manual wheelchair can be a significant tool in expanding a child’s world and enhancing development and life satisfaction, it’s important to find the model that will provide the most opportunities for freedom of exploration.
The Ziggo Lightweight Pediatric Wheelchair takes the cake on our list because of it’s budget-friendly price point, durable yet lightweight design, and variety of customizations. It can easily maneuver in tight spaces and quickly disasembles to take on-the-go! The best part is that this wheelchair can be upgraded to a larger size to grow with your child. With the Ziggo Wheelchair, you can get the quality you deserve at an incredible price.
If you still haven't found what you're looking for, view our entire selection of Pediatric Wheelchairs. You can also read about products for special needs children and adults, and you can stop by Caregiver University to research additional reviews and buying guides.
Co-founder/CEO of Rehabmart, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, husband, and father. Passionate about connecting special needs kids with superb nutrition, sensory integration, and complementary health strategies. Excited about Rehabmart's mission to become the premier online educational platform which empowers caregivers by spotlighting innovative devices and interventions to achieve optimal patient response and recovery.
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