Re: samantha's helmet adustment -how tight/loose should it be?

[Guest guest]

Helen,

I'm so glad to hear that is adjusting to her helmet nicely.

I'm not all that familiar with helmets since my twins wore bands, but

it is quite common for there to be a loose fit at the beginning of

treatment. As grows, and as her head grows, the helmet will

have a tighter fit. However, if it is covering her eyes, you might

want to see if your ortho can trim away some of the helmet so that it

doesn't come so low down. How old is ? Was she able to pull

the helmet off again? Definitely give your ortho a call and them

about that, it sounds like it may be a tad too loose. Let us know

how it goes!

Niki

Kaylie & Danny (STAR grads)

Phila., PA

> Hi everyone,

> My daughter got her helmet last Friday. She actually has taken to

it

> quite well. The orthodist said it would be a little loose for the

> first couple of weeks because of her flat spot. He said it should

> tighten up when her head grows. I am constantly pushing it back on

> her head because it keeps going down on her eyes. This morning

when

> I went in to get her in her crib, she had pulled the helmet

> completely off, had her arm through the hole on top and was chewing

> on it. I am glad she is enjoying her helmet, but should she be

able

> to take it off? How loose/tight should her helmet be? She is

> wearing a helmet, not a band. The physical therapist yesterday

> thought it was too loose and needed some adjusting. Does anyone

have

> any suggestions?

>

> Helen and .

[Guest guest]

Hi - My daughter Naomi got her STAR Band on 2/8/02 and my orthotist

told me the same thing about it being loose for a while and then it

would tighten up. It definately was loose, but not so much that she

could pull it off. It was loose enough to come just a bit over her

eye. This part in particular drove my husband and I nuts. But - it

did not bother Naomi at all. We did discuss it with the orthotist,

and he was of the opinion that she should have as much of her band as

possible and didn't want to cut it down. He felt that as she grew it

would raise up and the pressure would be needed against her forehead.

So, sure enough that is what happened. It is no longer anywhere near

her eye and I am glad he didn't cut it down.

So, I do think you should call your orthotist, because the helmet may

be a bit loose if she can take it off. Maybe they could adjust it

slightly. But after that it still will be a bit wiggly, so don't

worry about that part, as her head rounds out, it will tighten up.

Good luck and keep us posted.

, mom to Naomi (7/27/01, Banded 2/8/02)

> Hi everyone,

> My daughter got her helmet last Friday. She actually has taken to

it

> quite well. The orthodist said it would be a little loose for the

> first couple of weeks because of her flat spot. He said it should

> tighten up when her head grows. I am constantly pushing it back on

> her head because it keeps going down on her eyes. This morning

when

> I went in to get her in her crib, she had pulled the helmet

> completely off, had her arm through the hole on top and was chewing

> on it. I am glad she is enjoying her helmet, but should she be

able

> to take it off? How loose/tight should her helmet be? She is

> wearing a helmet, not a band. The physical therapist yesterday

> thought it was too loose and needed some adjusting. Does anyone

have

> any suggestions?

>

> Helen and .

[Guest guest]

Helen:

I'm so sorry - I didn't reply to this yesterday for some reason, I

completely missed your post (blonde moment?hehe). Anyhoo, the band

should'nt be so loose that is was completely off 's head

(that's funny she was chewing on it). It is very common for bands to

be somewhat loose for the first couple of wks while a child wears

it. They make them looser to allow for growth. I'm not sure how

locally made helmets work, Abby had both a STARband & a DOCband.

How's she doing now? Give your orthotist a call if it is that easy

to pull off or comes off while she is sleeping, that's not right.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCgrad

MI

> Hi everyone,

> My daughter got her helmet last Friday. She actually has taken to

it

> quite well. The orthodist said it would be a little loose for the

> first couple of weeks because of her flat spot. He said it should

> tighten up when her head grows. I am constantly pushing it back on

> her head because it keeps going down on her eyes. This morning

when

> I went in to get her in her crib, she had pulled the helmet

> completely off, had her arm through the hole on top and was chewing

> on it. I am glad she is enjoying her helmet, but should she be

able

> to take it off? How loose/tight should her helmet be? She is

> wearing a helmet, not a band. The physical therapist yesterday

> thought it was too loose and needed some adjusting. Does anyone

have

> any suggestions?

>

> Helen and .