The Theraposture Mascot Cot is perfect for Kayden and his parents

Kayden is a lively and ‘chatty’ young boy who loves everything Disney. From Mickey Mouse to Frozen, he loves all characters whether they are princesses or not. He also enjoys music and to sing. Kayden has Hydrocephalus, which is fluid on the brain. He also has a brain injury and has just been diagnosed with the rare generic condition L1 Syndrome which means he may suddenly have issues with moving his legs in the future. Currently Kayden can walk short distances at home however for anything more he uses a wheelchair. Due to his limited and unstable mobility, being able to sleep safely was a key need. 

Our OT recommended the Mascot – it was the best cot by far.

His parents started to look for a specialist cot – the Theraposture Mascot Mk2 was the proven solution. Kayden’s mum, Alison, picks up their story: 

“We started the process of adopting Kayden back in 2022. Previously he had being falling out of bed, as he is top heavy due to his condition, so we needed to make sure he was going to be safe with us.  We were provided with an NHS inflatable triangle to keep him safe however it just didn’t work and there is no way I was putting Kayden in that, he wouldn’t like it.  So we started looking for a specialist cot. As Kayden was from Derbyshire and we live in Nottinghamshire we did experience challenges with funding however both our occupational therapists (OTs) were brilliant at making sure Kayden got the best care bed for his needs.”

“We first saw the Mascot at the Kidz Middle exhibition in Coventry during March 2023. We knew then it was the bed for Kayden as it looked so much better than the others we had seen with horrible looking locks and poor finishing. The difference with the Theraposture cot was that it did not look like a medical bed, the wood was lovely, it had nice curves, and the locking mechanisms were all discreet. It said quality to us.”

“To get the Mascot funded, we had to do four different video meetings with four different companies so our OTs could assess which was the best product for Kayden. The Mascot was the only one that they couldn’t find any faults with.  It was quite an easy choice in the end as there was such a massive difference between this bed and the others. You could see with the other cots that Kayden could get his hands under the platform when lifted which was not safe as he is nosey and likes to fiddle with things.  He couldn’t do that with Mascot; it ticked every safety box. Our OT did her report and recommended the Mascot – it was the best cot by far.”

The service from Theraposture has also been brilliant, especially their approachability either on the phone or at exhibitions. Nothing has been too much trouble for them to sort out and they were supportive when we were going through our funding challenges.

The Pink family have now had their Mascot cot for 18 months and it continues to deliver all the safety and reassurance they need. Alison continues: “It’s made a huge difference to Kayden as he is safe and when we have the doors open and the mattress low, he can climb in and out independently.  He’s loves being in his Mascot during the day as well as bedtime. He can play with his tablet and toys and can chill out if it’s a bit noisy downstairs. It helps me immensely from a peace of mind point of view as I know he can’t hurt himself at night and if he wakes up, I can get to Kayden without the risk of him falling out.  Also, when I need to change him, I can lift up the platform, so I don’t have to bend over and risk straining my back.”

The Mascot from Theraposture is an electrically powered, adjustable care cot for children with disabilities. It is the only fully modular specialist care cot in the world that can be adapted for changing needs; negating the need to buy new cots in the future.  

It is available in a range of platform sizes and with access on one or both sides, with a choice of door heights from 60 to 98cm.  Kayden’s Mascot has safety padding on all sides and doors with soft windows for visibility. 

When asked to sum up why she thinks the Mascot is better Alison says:  “It’s the quality, you can see it.  It’s interesting as my husband Douglas is impressed with the mechanics as he understands these kinds of things whereas I look at the aesthetics which are lovely. “

“We have gone for an 8-door Mascot so we have access both sides. The other big advantage with the Mascot is that it is modular so I know if we need higher doors or different panels, we can swap to these without having to buy a new cot.”

“The service from Theraposture has also been brilliant, especially their approachability either on the phone or at exhibitions. Nothing has been too much trouble for them to sort out and they were supportive when we were going through our funding challenges. They sent us swatches so we could choose the padding fabric for Kayden and they answered all our questions along the way, we never felt guilty about phoning them.”

As Kayden continues to grow and develop with his family, he thrives in a loving atmosphere with siblings around. Alison and Douglas have two other young children and two older daughters. Together they enjoy going to theme parks like Alton Towers and Drayton Manor; zoos and farm parks – any place where Kayden can interact with people and animals. “He’s such a chatter box, he’ll talk to anyone!” says his Mum.

 We trusted Theraposture from day one and will always recommend them.

In conclusion and to help other parents in a similar situation, Alison adds:  “My advice for other parents seeking funding for a care cot is stick to your guns and don’t be fobbed off. Listen to your OT and be persistent with getting the cost covered for the piece of equipment you think is right for your child. Do some research before you decide so you know what’s out there.  Looking online or going to exhibitions like Kidz is well worthwhile.  Cots may look the same from different companies, but they are not.  Always ask questions to find out the details and differences. We trusted Theraposture from day one and will always recommend them, they’ve made a massive difference to our lives.”