Re: Second band Questions

February 23, 2002

My son was just casted for his second band and receives it on

Monday. I decided to go for the second band because 1) He received

quite a bit of correction with the first band so his head is now a

completely different shape than what he started with so he will start

the second band with a much wider base to work from in the back and

completely different pressure point areas. I felt the first band

lost its effectiveness after his head changed so much so a new band

would be needed for the new shape. I did ask quite a few graduates

here and on other boards about their opinions. I had several parents

say they saw even greater correction with the second band than with

the first. 2) My son is just 14 months going into his second band.

I know once he is 2 no more decisions are left. I'm going to do

everything possible NOW for him to have a normal head. Hope this

helps you with your decision. I know it was very tough on me to

think that my son would be in a band for at least another 4 months

and probably a total of half of his 18 months when he graduates, but

it is only a small drop of time in his lifetime and one which he

won't even remember.

Candy, mom to (DOCbanded #1, 10/5/01, #2, 2/25/02)

land

>

> Hi All,

>

> I would like to write to you on the progress of my daughter Kaanthi.

>

> She is 9 months now. She had her doc band when she was 6 months

old.

> She did get around 40-50% correction. There is still flatness on

her

> right side.

>

> Today we had an appointment. Our orthotist gave us the initial mold

> and told us to talk to our pediatrician about getting a new band.

We

> are just not sure as of what to do. We are not sure what sort of

> incremental benifit the new band is going to bring.

>

> If any of you have experience with the second band please let us

know

> as what what kind of progress it made. As usual it's all too

> difficult issues to decide. If the improvement is not going to be

> significant then we can just use the same band for next 2 months or

> so and avoid the pain of putting our baby for a second casting.

>

> Thanks for your help

>

> Prasad (dad of Kaanthi)

February 23, 2002

Prasad:

Good to hear from you again. It sounds like Kaanthi has rec'd good

correction in her band thus far.

Of course the decision to get a 2nd band or not is entirely yours &

your family. It is a difficult decision to come to & is one of our

more commonly asked questions in the group. I have not heard of

anyone who has been disappointed with the decision to get a 2nd band

for their child. From what I was told, the bands lose their

effectiveness after about 4-4.5 mos time, even if it still fits the

child's head. A new band would most likely be more effective to the

child's head with new " fresh " pressure points (make sense?).

Kaanthi is still plenty young enough to get more improvement.

Remember too, the casting is not easy, but it does not hurt your baby

one bit! I know how you feel about not wanting to put her thru

another casting, but in the long run, you'd probably be happy you did

and she'll never remember it!

Please let us know whatever you decide & what your pediatrician

says. Best of luck :-)

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad 6/22/01

MI

>