Re: A New Plagio Mom Needing Help

[Guest guest]

Do NOT Panic

The helmet (and it sounds like you're getting a helmet) won't throw Jenna

off at all. My son, like so many others here, adjusted faster than we did,

and I'm sure you're daughter will too. that you have caught the plagio at

four months is wonderful, and you'll be amazed how quickly you begin to see

her head shape begin to change.

We're only 3 weeks into it, and everything has become pretty natural, the

learning curve is more like a learning lane change on an empty highway.

Situations will arise over the span of the treatment, but nothing that a

quick chat with your docs or a fast line here on the group won't

resolve.

Sometimes the helmet can be useful! rolled off our friend's couch the

other night, but his DOC Band, not his noggin, crashed into the wrought iron

leg of their coffee table! 1 Point for the Band!

So far we've stuck to using stickers to decorate. Walmart had a good sized

arts and crafts section, so we stocked up on everything from different sized

letters to sparkly planets/fish/ and animals. The smaller stickers seem to

work better, not having to conform to drastic curved surfaces on the band.

Larger ones tend to get creases.

If a sticker doesn't want to come off, goo-gone worked for us, HOWEVER!

Don't let it get on the inside of the helmet, or into any material on the

helmet (like velcro, don't know if you'll have that) I spent most of my hour

scrubbing the velcro fastener with a soap laden toothbrush trying to get the

smell out!

There are many well designed painted helmets you'll find in here. Being a

wimp, I've not gone that route, but there is plenty of help around if you

want to try it.

Good luck and Welcome!

--

's Dad

Joe O'Connor

streams2oceans@...

Charlotte, NC USA

[Guest guest]

Hi Kay! Glad to have you with the group.

My daughter also wore a locally made passive helmet that was pretty a full

helmet that covered her whole head. There were air holes drilled all over it

and it was clear plastic. We had good success despite starting at what is

considered " late " - she was 9 months old when we got it. Your baby should do

very well with it considering the early start you are getting. It is great

that your dr was on top of this and got you started right away without delay.

Your ortho is right - your baby will likely adjust to the helmet immediately

if not within a day or two. wore hers 23 hours the very first day with

no problems at all!

Decorating is lots of fun and helps to make the helmet look less " medical " .

We used stickers only and changed them every week. If you use stickers you

might want to get some Goo Gone (you can find it at Hobby Lobby or s)

- it takes off the sticky residue left behind by the stickers. Check out

www.plagiocephly.org/support. There is a whole section on decorating!

You guys are going to do GREAT - for all the worrying it turns out to be a

lot less stressful then one might think. When you see that head rounding out

and looking great it will all be worth it! Stick with us and keep us posted.

I think you will find this group to be an outstanding source for support,

advice and friendship.

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

Kay- you will so surprised how fast your child will adapt to the helmet! Grace has always hated hats and anything touching her head so I was dreading putting this helmet on her (the ultimate evil for a hat hating child I thought) She has now been in her helmet for one week and she is great in it. She has not cried or fussed or tried to pull it off. Actually I think she likes the protection and you can tell how proud of herself she is in it! We eased her into it as far as sleeping per the orthotists orders and she still sleeps 8-10 hours with the helmet on now. I hope that this helps out a little bit!! Thanks and Gracie

[Guest guest]

Hi Kay,

The best advice I received, through another mom in this group, was to have

the baby wear a hat all day starting about a week before you pick up the

helmet. I had my son wearing all kinds of hats pretty much all day long,

including nap times, and he adjusted to the helmet with no problem. In

fact, he fell right asleep within the first five minutes of wearing it. I

think my husband and I had a much more difficult time adjusting to the

helmet, but mostly the anticipation of it. By the time he finally picked it

up I was so relieved to be beginning the process.

Good luck, and please keep us posted!

~, 's mom (6 months old)

A New Plagio Mom Needing Help

Hello Plagio Parents! I am so grateful to have found the website

before my daughter's diagnosis this week. She has been diagnosed

with moderate/severe plagio. No torticollis. She is getting fitted

for a cranial molding helmet tomorrow...so I am guessing in about 1.5

weeks we will begin a four month journey. I am looking for words of

wisdom/lessons learned from those of you who have already been

through this. Any pointers on how to ease the transition to the

helmet? Ideas on decorating? Moral Support? I live in Indianapolis

Indiana and the helmet is not the Band I hear so much about, but my

dr. says it is more of a full helmet. My daughter is four months

old and not rolling over or sitting up yet...she isn't much for tummy

time though I am working on it. Dr. says minimize time on back....so

please send me your ideas so that I can be prepared and can help

Jenna adjust as painlessly as possible (my dr. says it will be harder

for me than her....is this true?) What Kind of success rate have you

all Had. Thanks so much for your help.

Kay

Mother to Jenna

Indianapolis

For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Hey Kay- it is so true the adjustment is more often difficult for the parents yet our little ones seems to bounce right through the whole process. If you made it through casting you have really made it through the tough part and it all gets better here. As far as tummy time-just keep trying and if she cries let her cry a little then reposition-and continue to try and extend it a minute every few days that she is there and she will adjust. If you have a boppy you can lay her on the boppy so she is still able to see what is going on put on her favorite video-if she has one or maybe try starting to use a video with her tog et her mind off of being on her tummy. One of our other mothers suggested wearing hats on them before they get the helmet- I think that is a great suggestion. We used the DOC band and had great results-you are starting at such ayoung age that is wonderfull!!!!!! You will see progression in no time at all and that will make the process so much easier and rewarding. There is often a smell that goes along with wearing the helmet so get some yummy smelling shampoo to wash miss Jenna's hair with and alcohol to clean the inside of the helmet. Are you able to decorate the helmet or does it come decorated? If you can decorate it and put her name right or a catch phrase right on front. That makes it easier- had his name on the front so instead of peoples staring goggly eyed-they often said hello Mr. and he loved the attention. Also having it directed makes it look less sterile and scary and more pleasing to mommy and daddy's eyes as well. If you have an exersaucer you might want to try standing her in that and using pillows to support her until she gets the hang of it and that will keep her off her back as well. Also given the new helmet Jenna will likely sweat a lot in the beginning so know that you have to dress her cooler and maybe keep a fan in her room to keep the air flowing-that will only last about 2 weeks until her little body adjusts and then things will return to normal. I will attache a few links here that might help you. Keep your chin up you sound like agreat Mom doing what is best for her little one and after a few weeks you will be so used to it and if you are like me you might actually miss it for a moment when it is gone. You have found a great group here with a lot of info and support so welcome-we are eager to hear about Jenna's progress and adjustment and are so glad you found us!

Beck Mom to

Memphis, TN

doc grad

LINKS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Click here: Let's Decorate!

Click here: Two Peas in a Bucket -- Scrapbooking Supplies

Click here: Stickers Galore! Scrapbooking Supplies

Click here: Stickopotamus

Click here: : Plagiocephaly Files-- try looking in the folder of the other members kids

[Guest guest]

I agree with you Kay. I feel like It has been my fault as well. My

husbands friend was over way back when was quite small. He always

would play on his back (not tummy). He had said " you know he can get a flat

head if you keep him in that position all the time " . I just laughed at him

and said " yea right, ha ha "

Now I feel horrible that I did not take him seriously. I am fortunate to

have a wonderful peds doc as well to get me started with all this therapy

while is still so young. I tell ya what...I have plenty of friends

who are having babies and I'm sure to tell them all about " back to sleep,

tummy to play "

(new plagio mom to )

[Guest guest]

> Thanks for your encouraging message Beck. I am doing fine...just

dreading Tues...cuz my head cuddling time will be down to a minimum.

And I must admit there are moments when I am embarrased that I let

this happen. I knew about plagio a little from a child birth class.

I just had no idea it was such a big deal. I guess I am lucky my ped

has called it out on our visits...but his instructions

to " reposition " her were so casual. If someone would have told me

that the treatment is a helmet...you can bet I would have gotten lots

more aggressive....

Your pointers are great ones! In the winter months, what do you

usually dress them in for bed. Luckily her room is already kind of

chilly.....we usually bundle her up real good...but now I guess we

won't have to.

We got to pick out a design with butterflies on it for her helmet.

It helps....but it still looks mostly white as the butterflies are

pretty spread out. I only saw a picture..she doesn't get it till

Tues.

This site has been great to learn ahead...the head smell is something

I have read about...I am surprised it exists with the DOC band since

it is open at top.

Will keep you posted.....thanks.

Kay

Mother to Jenna

Hey Kay- it is so true the adjustment is more often difficult for

the

> parents yet our little ones seems to bounce right through the whole

process.

> If you made it through casting you have really made it through the

tough part

> and it all gets better here. As far as tummy time-just keep trying

and if she

> cries let her cry a little then reposition-and continue to try and

extend it

> a minute every few days that she is there and she will adjust. If

you have a

> boppy you can lay her on the boppy so she is still able to see what

is going

> on put on her favorite video-if she has one or maybe try starting

to use a

> video with her tog et her mind off of being on her tummy. One of

our other

> mothers suggested wearing hats on them before they get the helmet-

I think

> that is a great suggestion. We used the DOC band and had great

results-you

> are starting at such ayoung age that is wonderfull!!!!!! You will

see

> progression in no time at all and that will make the process so

much easier

> and rewarding. There is often a smell that goes along with wearing

the helmet

> so get some yummy smelling shampoo to wash miss Jenna's hair with

and alcohol

> to clean the inside of the helmet. Are you able to decorate the

helmet or

> does it come decorated? If you can decorate it and put her name

right or a

> catch phrase right on front. That makes it easier- had his

name on the

> front so instead of peoples staring goggly eyed-they often said

hello Mr.

> and he loved the attention. Also having it directed makes it

look less

> sterile and scary and more pleasing to mommy and daddy's eyes as

well. If you

> have an exersaucer you might want to try standing her in that and

using

> pillows to support her until she gets the hang of it and that will

keep her

> off her back as well. Also given the new helmet Jenna will likely

sweat a lot

> in the beginning so know that you have to dress her cooler and

maybe keep a

> fan in her room to keep the air flowing-that will only last about 2

weeks

> until her little body adjusts and then things will return to

normal. I will

> attache a few links here that might help you. Keep your chin up you

sound

> like agreat Mom doing what is best for her little one and after a

few weeks

> you will be so used to it and if you are like me you might actually

miss it

> for a moment when it is gone. You have found a great group here

with a lot of

> info and support so welcome-we are eager to hear about Jenna's

progress and

> adjustment and are so glad you found us!

> Beck Mom to

> Memphis, TN

> doc grad

> LINKS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

> <A HREF= " http://www.plagiocephaly.org/support/decorate.htm " >Click

here: Let's Decorate!</A>

> <A HREF= " http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/ " >Click here: Two Peas in

a Bucket -- Scrapbooking Supplies</A>

> <A HREF= " http://www.stickersgalore.com/ " >Click here: Stickers

Galore! Scrapbooking Supplies</A>

> <A HREF= " http://216.206.62.115/start.asp " >Click here:

Stickopotamus</A>

> <A HREF= " Plagiocephaly/files/ " >Click

here: : Plagiocephaly Files</A>-- try looking in the

folder

> of the other members kids