5 Common Mistakes OTs Make When Prescribing Children’s Equipment…
…And Why They’re More Common Than You Think
You don’t have to be doing paediatric equipment prescription every day to make mistakes with it. In fact, that might be exactly the point.
A lot of OTs working with children right now — whether they’re new grads finding their feet, solo practitioners in regional areas, or therapists who’ve found themselves the “only paediatric OT around” — are prescribing assistive technology and complex children’s equipment without a huge amount of support around them. And in a sector that’s changing as fast as the NDIS is, that’s a lot to navigate alone.
We’re not here to scare you. Mistakes in this space are incredibly common, and they’re rarely about a lack of caring. They’re usually about a lack of context — the kind that comes from experience, peer support, and good clinical supervision.
These are five of the most common ones we see.
1. Product before process
You’ve got a mum who came to the appointment armed with a screenshot from Source Kids, a quote from a supplier, and a firm opinion on the colour. She’s done her homework — and you can see why she’s excited.
But here’s the thing: the product doesn’t come first. Goal setting does. Assessment does. Trial and evaluation does.
Skipping — or rushing — the clinical process to land on a piece of equipment the family already wants is one of the most common pitfalls in paediatric AT prescription. It puts families at risk of ending up with equipment that doesn’t actually meet their child’s needs. And it puts you at risk of a prescription you can’t clinically defend.
Families want answers. That’s understandable. But our job is to make sure those answers are the right ones.
2. Over-reliance on the AT representative’s knowledge
AT reps are genuinely excellent. They know their product range inside out, they’re generous with their time at trial, and a good one can make a complex process feel a lot more manageable.
But there’s something important to hold onto here: you are the prescribing clinician. The AT rep brings product knowledge. You bring clinical reasoning — the ability to bring together what you know about this specific child, this specific family, and this specific context, and match it to the right solution.
Leaning on the rep to fill in the gaps in your clinical thinking is a risk — not because reps aren’t helpful, but because it’s not their role. That part is yours.
3. Incorrect sizing
Sizing children’s equipment is genuinely hard. Children grow, delivery times are long, and sometimes what fits at trial doesn’t fit at delivery.
But “it’s hard” isn’t the same as “there’s nothing we can do about it.” There are strategies — practical, clinical strategies — that reduce the risk of equipment arriving in a size that no longer works. The mistakes happen when we skip the measurement, make assumptions, or take too much of a guess without documenting our reasoning.
The consequences of getting this wrong aren’t small: poorly fitted postural supports, seating that’s outgrown within months, mobility equipment that can’t be adjusted. For children, incorrect sizing isn’t just inconvenient. It can actively limit function and participation.
4. Delivery without the details
Delivery day has a special kind of energy. The family is excited. The child is excited. Finally, after weeks (or months) of waiting, the equipment is here.
And then the OT packs up and leaves.
But delivery isn’t the finish line — it’s a checkpoint. Training, maintenance planning, re-fitting, and review are all still ahead. What happens at that delivery appointment sets the foundation for whether the equipment actually gets used, stays safe, and continues to meet the child’s needs as they grow and change.
Equipment that’s delivered without those details often ends up in the corner of the living room.
5. Thinking you have to know it all
Here’s the one that trips up even the most experienced clinicians: the idea that if you’re prescribing this equipment, you should already know exactly what you’re doing.
You don’t. And you never will — not completely. Products change, clients are unique, and most OTs doing this work aren’t specialising in complex equipment prescription. It might make up a fraction of your caseload. That’s not a failing. That’s the reality of paediatric practice in Australia right now.
What matters isn’t knowing everything. It’s knowing how to think it through — with the right support around you.
SO WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT?
That’s exactly the question we love helping OTs answer.
At Kids + Co.Lab, we offer online 1:1 and group clinical supervision for paediatric occupational therapists across Australia — and paediatric AT prescription is one of the areas we support most. Whether you’re working through a complex case, building your confidence in this space, or leading a team of clinicians who need more structured support, we’ve got something for you.
We also offer in-house training and professional development for practice owners and team leads who want to upskill their whole team in paediatric AT prescription — not just manage it case-by-case.
If you want somewhere to start, our on-demand webinar “Families, Function, Future: Kids Equipment Prescription from Referral to Real-Life” walks you through the full AT process, start to finish.
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