An Easy Drink – Part 3

Our final suggestion for independent drinking that  that we have found successful .  The Hydrant

The Hydrant is a sports bottle specifically designed to give those with limited mobility a way to be able to drink independently. 

 

It looks like an ordinary water bottle with an usual lid.  Not only does the lid contain an opening for a tube to go in, it also has a handle that allows it to be attached securely to any chair, as demonstrated with both a house chair and a wheelchair.  It's surprisingly stable and E has never knocked it off or pulled the tube out.

Once filled with water, E just needs to suck on the tube to get a drink.  It works really well as E brings it to her mouth using the same movement as her sign for drink and she can easily grab the tube.  For those less able to reach, it comes with a clip to attach the tube to clothing, keeping it close at hand.  

 

The tube and bite valve work in a similar manner to sports based hydration systems but also uses gravity to help the liquid flow and once it is in the tube, it only takes a small suck to get a drink.  We’ve had no problems at all with leakages, other when E spends time removing the bite valve for fun rather than drinking.

I contacted the people behind the Hydrant and they have kindly offered a few free for people to try (although they are really well priced).  If you would like one, please post a comment below asking to be included in the draw.  I’ll do a random selection  at 5 pm on Thursday  11 July and  post the winning names and get contact details then.

An easy drink – part 2

So drinking from a cup now sorted we need to move on to other ways to drink both assisted and unassisted.

Assisted first.  Like most people, we have always used sports bottles or recycled soft drinks bottles but they are still messy and difficult to manage as they require really precise mouth closure and teeth positioning.  Then we found the Camelbak eddy (we use the kids version).  It works really well even for a weak suck as the liquid stays in the straw and valve.  To help with this, I always start with it filled to the top and have never let it go less than half full.

Now for unassisted.  I scoured the internet looking for hands free drinking and discovered the fitsip.    It is a plastic water bag that goes inside a lightweight sleeve that you wear on your forearm .

Designed for small drinks while running, it has a soft  bite valve and as it lies flat, no long distance to suck.  E’s sign for a drink involves bringing her hand to her mouth so we were half way there and once it was all set up, success.  Unassisted drinking!!!!!!!!!

We’ve still got some practice to do to get it fully right as its still a bit messy at times.  Me not to overfill and E not to over drink but she loves it. 

The water bottle part only holds 200ml so it will never be a full day solution but it’s certainly an everyday solution, ideal when we are out for a walk or in the car.

An Easy Drink – Part 1

We’ve been searching for that holy grail of a tidy way to drink either assisted or unassisted for years.  Therapists say we’re doing the right thing with trying all the different things available but I now have a cup cupboard that could just about fill a recycling bin on its own.  Time for action, and this three piece post is about our latest successful steps on the journey.

Ordinary cups don’t work as they are either too wide or need you to tip your head back.  One way valve straws don’t work as we can’t get the right angle.  There are a variety of specialist cups that are getting closer but still really messy and need to be brought out and about.  Since P1 at school, E has been practising with a straw drinking her milk and can now drink from a carton with minimal squeezing at the bottom.

So we tried a straw in a cup.  

First distance to was too far, that was easy, cut the bendy straw to fit the cup.  Then I noticed (and I’m embarrassed it took me so long) that the straw will fill to the level of liquid in the cup.  So fill the cup right up and only a small distance is needed.

 

But that straw just keeps floating around.  A quick google and we find strawberi straw holders (also available on amazon).  They keep the straw attached to the side of the glass.  Not perfect as E is a bit rough so still needs someone to keep them in place.  But basically job done and now E can have a drink the same way as everyone else