Upsee User Manual
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e.g. favourite toys, musical games,
friends/siblings. Go at your child’s pace
and do not force him/her to move in
the Upsee. Leave it for a while and
try again – they will get the hang of it
eventually.
3.10 Will the Upsee draw unwanted
attention to my child’s disability?
This is a very sensitive question, and
one which is difficult to answer. The
parents we have worked with have
found that the harness looks like
a cool waistcoat, and the double
sandal is unobtrusive, so it is not
immediately obvious that their child
is using the Upsee. However, the more
important thing for them has been the
opportunities for family participation
which they feel far outweighs
everything else. While using the Upsee
may draw attention, it is without fail
positive and encouraging. Nonetheless,
if you are uncomfortable with this, the
Upsee can be used equally successfully
within the privacy of your own home or
garden/back yard.
My child’s development and
the Upsee
4.1 I hope that my child achieves
independent standing. Will using the
Upsee help?
Upsee has potential to enable your
child to progress in his/her standing
abilities. If your child has potential to
progress, the Upsee provides
the opportunity to attempt weight
bearing through their legs and to
initiate stepping. A child with little
ability to bear weight through their
legs can still experience standing in
the Upsee. Every child’s potential is
different and we are unable to predict
what your child may achieve.
4.2 How can my child make any
progress using the Upsee?
Generally, progress may be achieved
when a child becomes more actively
involved in the activity of standing and/
or walking. It is important that if your
child starts to initiate weight bearing
and/or stepping, you allow them to
use their own ability by adjusting the
level of support given by the Upsee and
also allow them to take the lead with
stepping.
Take care not to make the connecting
straps too loose – this will may allow
your child to sway in the Upsee, which
could make you unstable. The amount
of progress will vary from child to child
– some going much faster than others.
It’s very important to remember
that all children will benefit from the
experience of dynamic standing with
their parent, and that this may be
your child’s maximum potential at this
stage in their development.
4.3 My child does not initiate stepping.
Can using the Upsee help?
The Upsee provides an opportunity