Re: Having a hard time with the STARband

[Guest guest]

I'm very sorry to hear of the trouble you are having with your STARband. I

will agree with what some of the others have told you and say that it should

be loose for the first couple of weeks. Yes, the idea is for the head to grow

into the band to some degree. As the head grows the band applys gentle

pressure to the spots that need to be held to allow the flat areas to grow

out and round. If the band is slipping over the eyes or impeeding your baby's

vision then a visit to the ortho to have that area trimmed is definitely in

order. As far as the hard time adjusting, it is pretty uncommon for babies to

have difficulty adjusting, but it does happen. Take it slowly. He does not

have to start going 23 hours right on schedule if he is not ready. Take it at

his pace. If it is causing trouble while he is eating then take it off while

he eats if necessary until he starts adjusting. Every baby adjusts at his/her

own speed and some just take longer! I would definitely recommend a visit to

your ortho right away to share your concerns and get his/her assistance in

resolving ALL issues. If you haven't already, you may want to see if he/she

can show you pictures of other babies he/she has treated or see if he/she can

provide references for your review. You are paying for the product (one way

or another) and it should be exactly right and you should be supplied with

adequate explanation about the fit and process of treatment with the band.

Make sure you really get the explanation you need and want from your ortho

and don't leave until he/she has answered all of your questions and made all

of the adjustments that are necessary to get it fitting correctly.

Hang in there. I know how frustrating this must be for you. If you don't get

satisfaction with your ortho you do have some other options you could

explore. Give your ortho a chance to make it right (and by that I mean

satisfactory to you the customer), but remember you do have some other

options if it becomes necessary.

Good luck and let us know how things go.

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

Hi

I'm really sorry to hear that you are having a hard time with your STARband. While its true that the bands should be somewhat loose in the beginning, I don't think that it should be slipping over his eyes. The reason why it is loose at the start of treatment is to prolong the usage of the band. If the band was made to have a tight and snug fit in the beginning, once your son starts growing, he would outgrow the band and would need to be casted for subsequent bands.

Is there a way that you can get in to see your ortho as soon as possible and address your concerns with him. Don't leave until you are happy with the answers. Does your ortho have any parents that you contact to see how they felt about the treatment they received there. The problem may not be the band, it could be the ortho himself. Maybe try to get a second opinion. The key to having success with any band, whether it be a STARband, DOCband or locally made helmet depends on how experienced and well trained they are. Most kids adapt to the bands relatively quickly. I'm sorry to hear that your son isn't adjusting as well. Try to give it a little bit of time and see if comes around. You are not giving up the rest of his babyhood by getting him the band. Instead, you are giving him an easier future by getting his plagio treated, and you should be commended for that!! It is hard to see out babies wearing this hunk of plastic on their heads, and yes it can be quite painful too...I had two babies in bands so I really had my share of bumps and bruises! Be sure to do some extra snuggling with him during the hour that the band is off. There are other ways that you can snuggle with him too, read to him, give him baby massages, etc. And trust me, once he does start walking, you will be so happy that he's wearing the band!

My twins also wore the STARbands. We went with them for the same reasons you did, the travel and the cost. I can honestly say that I have never regretted having them wear the STARbands, but then again I had a wonderful ortho who had tons of experience. I hope things start to look up for you and your son. This whole thing is hard enough without adding these extra worries. If you don't mind, can I ask where you go to get the adjustments done? Maybe someone here has used them and might be able to give you some input.

Please keep us updated on how things are going!

Niki

Kaylie & Danny (STAR grads)

Phila., PA

ashersmom15 <scott_chris@...> wrote: Hi--my son is 6 1/2 mos. old and we received his STARband on Monday afternoon. So far we have had nothing but trouble. I think the band is too loose and told the orthotist so; he added a little padding at the base around the back of the nack but it still shifts. He told me, and I confirmed this talking to Orthomerica today, that it should be somewhat loose so he will have room to grow. But I don't see how they can classify this as active remolding if it's not actually pressing on (molding) his head, and we're just waiting for the head to grow? Plus the cutout for the face seems too small, it's a squared shape and keeps slipping over his eyes.But my biggest concerns are that my son is not tolerating the band. Yesterday we did one hour on, one off; today it's 2 hours on, 1 off. He fusses and cries and thumps on the band. He's short tempered and seems to have a hard time doing his regular activities. When I lay him on his back in the band I think it may be hurting bis neck. I can barely feed him in the band, because it makes his chin touch his chest when he has it on in his high chair, so it's hard to get food in his mouth. He's not eating or drinking as much as usual, and has been spitting up a lot, which he does when he is upset. Tomorrow he is supposed to begin sleeping and napping in the band. I don't know what to do or where to turn. We have an appointment next week with the orthotist for adjustment but by then he is supposed to be wearing the band 23 hours a day. I'm afraid I've made a really poor decision here. We decided on the STAR over the DOC because of distance--4 1/2 hours each way driving if we had gotten the DOC, plus it cost three times as much. But maybe we would have had the same problems with that as well. I also feel like I am giving up the rest of my son's babyhood, since he'll likely be walking by the time he comes out of the band. I can't snuggle him anymore because he keeps bopping me in the face with the helmet.Any words of advice, anyone? Please? mom to Asher 7/15/01, banded 1/28/02For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

I, too, agree with all of the other posts you have been receiving about the fit of Asher's StarBand. The fit must be loose to allow for growth. You must also have a good relationship with your orthotist -- that is very important!! If you are not happy with him/her I suggest to try to find another. (I know that is very easy for me to say, but it is important.)

I do not think that the helmet should be so loose so as to slip down over Asher's eyes. I would call and get an appt. ASAP and have the band looked at and possibly adjusted.

As far as Asher not tolerating it -- my son, (who tolerated his very well), was first put in the band on August 10, 2001. He was weaned into it (1hr. on, 1 hr. off; 2hr. on, 2hr. off etc.) for several weeks. He was not in the StarBand full-time until August 22, 2001. So what if it took a little longer, it was easier for him - and that was what was important to me.

Hang in there -- it does get easier!! Good-luck and let us know what happens.

AnnMarie and (01/25/01)

Re: Having a hard time with the STARband

I'm very sorry to hear of the trouble you are having with your STARband. I will agree with what some of the others have told you and say that it should be loose for the first couple of weeks. Yes, the idea is for the head to grow into the band to some degree. As the head grows the band applys gentle pressure to the spots that need to be held to allow the flat areas to grow out and round. If the band is slipping over the eyes or impeeding your baby's vision then a visit to the ortho to have that area trimmed is definitely in order. As far as the hard time adjusting, it is pretty uncommon for babies to have difficulty adjusting, but it does happen. Take it slowly. He does not have to start going 23 hours right on schedule if he is not ready. Take it at his pace. If it is causing trouble while he is eating then take it off while he eats if necessary until he starts adjusting. Every baby adjusts at his/her own speed and some just take longer! I would definitely recommend a visit to your ortho right away to share your concerns and get his/her assistance in resolving ALL issues. If you haven't already, you may want to see if he/she can show you pictures of other babies he/she has treated or see if he/she can provide references for your review. You are paying for the product (one way or another) and it should be exactly right and you should be supplied with adequate explanation about the fit and process of treatment with the band. Make sure you really get the explanation you need and want from your ortho and don't leave until he/she has answered all of your questions and made all of the adjustments that are necessary to get it fitting correctly.Hang in there. I know how frustrating this must be for you. If you don't get satisfaction with your ortho you do have some other options you could explore. Give your ortho a chance to make it right (and by that I mean satisfactory to you the customer), but remember you do have some other options if it becomes necessary.Good luck and let us know how things go. Marci (Mom to )OklahomaFor more plagio info