Re: Interacting with your child and answering questions

[Guest guest]

Ana & ,

I think we all have experienced and know what you BOTH mean- it is sad to

think of your child in the band, I cried when I saw my in it the

first time and I think you have to be made of steel not to have it impact

you, just a little! Let's be honest, at first it hits you hard, and then,

you realize, hey, my child is LUCKY compared to some!! That's what helped me

stop feeling so sorry about this situation (and believe me, I cried, why me,

why us when I learned my son had tort for starters!)- I had to take him at 2

months old to the Children's Hospital for an MRI and saw many children with

just months to live. Kind of puts everything into perspective, real fast!!!

Your both starting out on an emotinal rollercoaster ride, but it will get

better and you will look back and be so proud of yourselves as parents and of

your kids (you probably already know this, but it made me feel better to say

it !!

' Mom

[Guest guest]

:

We understood exactly what you were saying before . Don't

worry, we have ALL felt a bit sad at one point or another for our

child in their new helmet.

Try not to worry about him having to wear the helmet though, it

really is so amazing that the child really doesn't even realize it's

on their cute head! Like you said, he doesn't seem to mind, that's

of course the most important thing . I cried for the first week my

daughter wore her band - but she couldn't have cared less! It is

often more difficult on us parents than the child to adjust.

I am glad you were able to talk to at least one person about your

son's helmet, it's so nice to be able to educate others. I also

wished more people would have politely asked me what Abby's band was

for instead of just staring at it or whispering to one another.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad

MI

> > > Hi, everyone!

> > >

> > > Thanks to all who offered advice and reassurance about my

son's

> > > tendency to sweat profusely in his new helmet. I didn't have

> much

> > > time to write before, and I wanted to introduce us a little

> more

> > (and

> > > hopefully get some more wisdom from those of you who have

been

> > > through this already).

> > >

> > > My son (our first child) is 8 months old, and he just got a

> > locally

> > > made Helmet 3 days ago. As I said in my previous post, I am

> > > disappointed that my pediatrician was so laid back about my

> > concerns

> > > during the 2 and 4 month check-ups, but mostly I am

frustrated

> > with

> > > myself for not researching this problem earlier. My son's

> > > plagiocephaly is mild to moderate. So we probably could have

> > solved

> > > this with aggressive repositioning earlier had we known.

> > Hindsight,

> > > I guess.

> > >

> > > We went with a locally made helmet on the advice of doctors.

> > > ly, I felt we didn't have a lot of time to think about

it

> > since

> > > he is already 8 months old. Perhaps we rushed into it and

> should

> > > have researched the other options, although most people in

our

> > area

> > > do opt for these passive devices.

> > >

> > > Since he is in the mild to moderate range, and the flatness

is

> > mostly

> > > limited to the back/right side of his head (his facial

features

> > are

> > > not really distorted), my husband and I wrestled with the

> decision

> > to

> > > put him in a helmet. His head is definitely misshapen, but

> from

> > the

> > > front, you wouldn't really notice it. So, I am concerned

that

> > maybe

> > > we are blowing this out of proportion, that we should just

let

> > well

> > > enough alone. Nevertheless, we finally decided to go ahead

with

> > the

> > > treatment, but I'm still worried about whether we are doing

> what

> > is

> > > best for him. One of the first of many difficult parental

> > decisions,

> > > I'm sure, but that isn't stopping me from worrying.

> > >

> > > The helmet doesn't seem to bother him too much, although the

> sound

> > of

> > > the velcro closure frightens him when I take the helmet off.

> If

> > he

> > > arches his back when on the floor, the helmet will scoot down

> and

> > > almost cover his eyes, which worries me a bit and seems to

> disturb

> > > him, but it usually scoots back up when he straightens out.

He

> > just

> > > went to sleep for the night with it on for the first time, so

> we

> > will

> > > see how well he does with that.

> > >

> > > I have noticed several red spots (not always in the same

place,

> > but

> > > often on the top/side of his head) when the helmet is taken

> off,

> > but

> > > they diminish greatly within an hour. The technician who

fitted

> > the

> > > helmet said this is normal, that I should be worried only

about

> > > bright red spots that don't diminish, but I am still

concerned

> > about

> > > the ones that are there.

> > >

> > > That's basically our story so far!

> > >

> > > One paranoid question for all of you: is there any evidence

> that

> > > putting an infant into a helmet/band could have negative

> effects,

> > > such as restricting head growth and brain development? I

> haven't

> > read

> > > anything terribly negative like that, but I thought I'd throw

> out

> > my

> > > fears for discussion while I'm at it.

> > >

> > > Once again, advice appreciated!

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> > For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

~ So well put. I feel so lucky that this is all Grace has wrong and that these are things that with us and her and her doctors working together on the tort and plagio we at least can correct these things. Especially when I learned this week of a friends 17 month old child dying from pneumonia I realized that there are so many worse things that could happen then Grace having to wear a helmet and have to go to PT. ~ and Grace

[Guest guest]

,

I was in no way trying to say that you are uncomfortable or sad when

you look at your child. Quite frankly, I was sad thinking of my son

being in that band. It's not something I wanted to go through or

have him go through. It was my MIL's advice that help me see things

differently. Just offering my experience.

Sorry to offend. It wasn't my intention.

Ana

> > > Hi, everyone!

> > >

> > > Thanks to all who offered advice and reassurance about my

son's

> > > tendency to sweat profusely in his new helmet. I didn't have

> much

> > > time to write before, and I wanted to introduce us a little

> more

> > (and

> > > hopefully get some more wisdom from those of you who have

been

> > > through this already).

> > >

> > > My son (our first child) is 8 months old, and he just got a

> > locally

> > > made Helmet 3 days ago. As I said in my previous post, I am

> > > disappointed that my pediatrician was so laid back about my

> > concerns

> > > during the 2 and 4 month check-ups, but mostly I am

frustrated

> > with

> > > myself for not researching this problem earlier. My son's

> > > plagiocephaly is mild to moderate. So we probably could have

> > solved

> > > this with aggressive repositioning earlier had we known.

> > Hindsight,

> > > I guess.

> > >

> > > We went with a locally made helmet on the advice of

doctors.

> > > ly, I felt we didn't have a lot of time to think about

it

> > since

> > > he is already 8 months old. Perhaps we rushed into it and

> should

> > > have researched the other options, although most people in

our

> > area

> > > do opt for these passive devices.

> > >

> > > Since he is in the mild to moderate range, and the flatness

is

> > mostly

> > > limited to the back/right side of his head (his facial

features

> > are

> > > not really distorted), my husband and I wrestled with the

> decision

> > to

> > > put him in a helmet. His head is definitely misshapen, but

> from

> > the

> > > front, you wouldn't really notice it. So, I am concerned

that

> > maybe

> > > we are blowing this out of proportion, that we should just

let

> > well

> > > enough alone. Nevertheless, we finally decided to go ahead

with

> > the

> > > treatment, but I'm still worried about whether we are doing

> what

> > is

> > > best for him. One of the first of many difficult parental

> > decisions,

> > > I'm sure, but that isn't stopping me from worrying.

> > >

> > > The helmet doesn't seem to bother him too much, although the

> sound

> > of

> > > the velcro closure frightens him when I take the helmet

off.

> If

> > he

> > > arches his back when on the floor, the helmet will scoot

down

> and

> > > almost cover his eyes, which worries me a bit and seems to

> disturb

> > > him, but it usually scoots back up when he straightens out.

He

> > just

> > > went to sleep for the night with it on for the first time,

so

> we

> > will

> > > see how well he does with that.

> > >

> > > I have noticed several red spots (not always in the same

place,

> > but

> > > often on the top/side of his head) when the helmet is taken

> off,

> > but

> > > they diminish greatly within an hour. The technician who

fitted

> > the

> > > helmet said this is normal, that I should be worried only

about

> > > bright red spots that don't diminish, but I am still

concerned

> > about

> > > the ones that are there.

> > >

> > > That's basically our story so far!

> > >

> > > One paranoid question for all of you: is there any evidence

> that

> > > putting an infant into a helmet/band could have negative

> effects,

> > > such as restricting head growth and brain development? I

> haven't

> > read

> > > anything terribly negative like that, but I thought I'd

throw

> out

> > my

> > > fears for discussion while I'm at it.

> > >

> > > Once again, advice appreciated!

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> > For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Hi, Ana

You didn't offend at all!! I just like to be clear about things --

that's my nature!

Actually, what you said made me think. We all do need to work at

making our kids feel comfortable -- they really can pick up on a lot

of our emotions, I think. Our kids probably have enough stress in

their lives just learning how to say 'ba' and to crawl without us

adding to it by being nervous and upset around them! :-)

I am, of course, sad in general about his having to go through this,

but what I meant was that I don't moan about it around him and baby

him about it. That would just add to his difficulty with adjusting, I

think. He's handling it quite nicely, thank goodness! Better than

his mama . . .

Anyway, I'M sorry to offend YOU if I did! It's been said before, but

it's amazing how things can come across in email the way you don't

intend them to!

Whew! :-)

> > > > Hi, everyone!

> > > >

> > > > Thanks to all who offered advice and reassurance about my

> son's

> > > > tendency to sweat profusely in his new helmet. I didn't

have

> > much

> > > > time to write before, and I wanted to introduce us a little

> > more

> > > (and

> > > > hopefully get some more wisdom from those of you who have

> been

> > > > through this already).

> > > >

> > > > My son (our first child) is 8 months old, and he just got a

> > > locally

> > > > made Helmet 3 days ago. As I said in my previous post, I

am

> > > > disappointed that my pediatrician was so laid back about my

> > > concerns

> > > > during the 2 and 4 month check-ups, but mostly I am

> frustrated

> > > with

> > > > myself for not researching this problem earlier. My son's

> > > > plagiocephaly is mild to moderate. So we probably could

have

> > > solved

> > > > this with aggressive repositioning earlier had we known.

> > > Hindsight,

> > > > I guess.

> > > >

> > > > We went with a locally made helmet on the advice of

> doctors.

> > > > ly, I felt we didn't have a lot of time to think about

> it

> > > since

> > > > he is already 8 months old. Perhaps we rushed into it and

> > should

> > > > have researched the other options, although most people in

> our

> > > area

> > > > do opt for these passive devices.

> > > >

> > > > Since he is in the mild to moderate range, and the flatness

> is

> > > mostly

> > > > limited to the back/right side of his head (his facial

> features

> > > are

> > > > not really distorted), my husband and I wrestled with the

> > decision

> > > to

> > > > put him in a helmet. His head is definitely misshapen, but

> > from

> > > the

> > > > front, you wouldn't really notice it. So, I am concerned

> that

> > > maybe

> > > > we are blowing this out of proportion, that we should just

> let

> > > well

> > > > enough alone. Nevertheless, we finally decided to go ahead

> with

> > > the

> > > > treatment, but I'm still worried about whether we are doing

> > what

> > > is

> > > > best for him. One of the first of many difficult parental

> > > decisions,

> > > > I'm sure, but that isn't stopping me from worrying.

> > > >

> > > > The helmet doesn't seem to bother him too much, although

the

> > sound

> > > of

> > > > the velcro closure frightens him when I take the helmet

> off.

> > If

> > > he

> > > > arches his back when on the floor, the helmet will scoot

> down

> > and

> > > > almost cover his eyes, which worries me a bit and seems to

> > disturb

> > > > him, but it usually scoots back up when he straightens out.

> He

> > > just

> > > > went to sleep for the night with it on for the first time,

> so

> > we

> > > will

> > > > see how well he does with that.

> > > >

> > > > I have noticed several red spots (not always in the same

> place,

> > > but

> > > > often on the top/side of his head) when the helmet is taken

> > off,

> > > but

> > > > they diminish greatly within an hour. The technician who

> fitted

> > > the

> > > > helmet said this is normal, that I should be worried only

> about

> > > > bright red spots that don't diminish, but I am still

> concerned

> > > about

> > > > the ones that are there.

> > > >

> > > > That's basically our story so far!

> > > >

> > > > One paranoid question for all of you: is there any

evidence

> > that

> > > > putting an infant into a helmet/band could have negative

> > effects,

> > > > such as restricting head growth and brain development? I

> > haven't

> > > read

> > > > anything terribly negative like that, but I thought I'd

> throw

> > out

> > > my

> > > > fears for discussion while I'm at it.

> > > >

> > > > Once again, advice appreciated!

> > > >

> > > > Thanks,

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > > For more plagio info