New and Anxious-need to change name:)Kai and

[Guest guest]

,

Just wanted to ask how old Kai was at the time of casting? With six weeks

gone by, it could be that his head shape has changed drastically, depending

on his age. I know you don't want to second guess this guy, but make him

answer all your questions whether he hates it or not- I know that Debbie can

tell you her problems with her STARband (most have great stories to share),

and would hate to think that this guy seemingly knows what he is doing, but

can't admit to you that he's a little clueless (Doctors and egos!). Just

keep in mind that mistakes can happen, so be very on top of this and if it

takes calling his boss to get their take on it- do it! This all breaks down

to a product made for your child, paid for one way or another by you, so make

sure you are completely satisfied. I know how it is, you don't want to act

like a know it all, but you know what, we here online have done so much

research and talked with other experienced parents, that yes, sometimes we do

know more than they do (and that's a hard pill for them to swallow- but oh

well!) Or at least we have the knowledge to know that mistakes happen, and we

have every right to question, so be bold if you have to- this is a one time

deal, and you don't want to second guess your stance 2 years later. Your

window of opportunity closes all the time, so make sure your not stuck with

something that's a waste of time and energy. Not saying this is the case,

and don't want to alarm you, just want to keep you aware and on target! Good

luck- thinking of you and Kai!

' Mom

[Guest guest]

Hi, Debbie, thanks for writing, my posting didn't show up for a day

either, I was beginning to wonder! What does, 23 hrs straight, 7 hrs

a day mean, do you mean 7 days a week, maybe? As for how much

experience with the STARband our orthotist has had, I know that he

designs and makes his own helmets for post surgery babies, and is a

little irritated that he now has to use the STARband for

plagiocephaly instead of his own, so I don't think he has tons. He

worked in a clinic previously that did alot of plagiocephaly helmets

before this, but not sure they were STARbands.-Might go ahead and do

what Orthoamerica recommends, just wondering if the way he modifies

his helmets makes it necessary to take it off more often to relieve

pressure, I hope not, don't really know the dynamics of all that. I

hope this second helmet works too!! I emailed him yesterday about my

cconcerns over not recasting, trying not to seem too know-it-all! I

haven't received a response yet, so wonder what he'll say. By the way

he didn't say to have it off while sleeping, just to take it off when

he eats, as an easy schedule the baby would get used to. By the way,

in Orthoamerica's booklet it mentions being able to take the helmet

off for short times if the baby is eating messy foods that might get

on the helmet, or needs ex for tort, swimming etc. In the booklet

they mention that you normally do ex. for tort 3x/day. Our Dr. orig.

told us 6x/day, but we've gotten down to 3-4x since we started TRYING

to wear the band, thinking about getting a referral to First STeps

just to see how Kai is progressing since we've never seen a PT. He

seems to be doing much better, sleeps on the opposite side etc. I

wouldn't really notice it now. Well, I'll be quiet, thanks to all of

yyou! (Kai's mom in Columbia, Mo)

-TH- In Plagiocephaly@y..., " debbieandabby " <dj2kirby@c...> wrote:

> --- In Plagiocephaly@y..., " kaneko1232002 " <kaneko1232002@y...>

wrote:

> He said that having it off for a

> short length of time isn't going to hurt and is much better for the

> skin, as far as moisture goes. He said this is what he has

discovered

> over time, he has his own wearing schedule, different from

STARband's

> recommendation. He recommends taking it off whenever the baby eats,

> for example.

>

>

> Hi :

> I dunno about that. I would go by what Orthomerica suggests, which

> is to keep the band on for 23 hrs straight, 7 hrs a day. This

keeps

> the pressures persistent which promotes rounding faster. I don't

know

> why your orthotist would recommend taking the band off while Kai is

> sleeping? How much experience does your orthotist have with the

> STARband?

> It is VERY normal for babies to sweat profusely (sp?) for the first

> week or 2 while wearing the band - Kai wasn't in his long right?

> After the baby's body temp adjusts to the helmet on their head, the

> sweating diminishes greatly. So after Kai is in his next band for

3

> wks or so, I bet his sweating will be much less than what is has

been.

> I hope his new band fits him properly & you can start Kai's head

> rounding!!!

> Let us know how the new band fits - I hope everything works out!

> Debbie Abby's mom DOCgrad

> MI