Interacting with your child and answering questions

[Guest guest]

,

I think it would be impossible not to worry at least a little - I think it is

only natural. Sounds like you are doing everything right to me! Keep up the

good work!

I only saw one other baby in a helmet like ours and that baby was wearing the

helmet post-operatively after surgery for cranio. Still you live in New York

and I live in Oklahoma so I agree the chances of you seeing another banded

baby should be greater then my chances!! LOL!

I'm with you - I would much rather have had someone just ask then cast

sideways glances our way. Lots of times if I caught someone staring and they

were fairly nearby I would look at them and say, " She's cute isn't she? " .

This worked great for me because then they would either agree and then ask

about the helmet or agree and walk quickly away. Either reaction solved the

staring problem!! LOL!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

, I understand how you feel. Even though Lauryn is not wearing a helmet (I think she needs one too) I can understand how sad you must feel to see your child go through this. Just wanted to say there is nothing wrong with your feelings. HUGS, (hehehehe~is your middle name Lynn too?)

[Guest guest]

Hi, everyone,

Just to set the record straight -- it doesn't make me uncomfortable

or sad to see my little guy in a helmet (see a reply to one of my

posts below). I think he is still the cutest thing in the world and

that's all he senses from me!

I just regret that he has to have a hot, hard thing sitting on his

head. That can't be too fun, although he really doesn't seem to mind

it. And, I do worry about the possibility of developmental delays,

etc., even though the studies I have read do not seem rigorous and

conclusive (I'm a scientist by training, so I have been trying to

read these studies with a scientist's eye, and not simply rely on an

emotional parental perspective!). But, I don't let any of my worries

spill over into my interactions with him.

On another note: we were in the park today and several people asked

me about his helmet. Others just stared at us sideways, especially

when he was in the swing, but that's their loss for not asking me

about it! We live in New York City, so there are plenty of kids

around, but I haven't actually seen another with a helmet or band

when we are out and about (only in the ortho's office).

One of the inquisitive folks was a nanny of a little baby with

Torticollis, and she was glad to see that something more could be

done if the repositioning techniques that the parents are trying

don't work.

Anyway, I just wanted to clear that up. Thanks again for the advice

and support! I'll keep you posted on our progress.

> > 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