child sweating in helmet

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Welcome the group!!! You have found an excellent source of moms and dads

that are currently going through your experience or have already finished

treatment. I can totally relate to your dissapointment with your ped- mine

was the same way and if it wasn't for this group, I would not have had the

inclination that she may be wrong- good for you that you were your child's

best advocate and got the ball rolling to a rounder head

It sounds as if you may have a locally made band or STARband, although I am

unfamiliar with those and I'm sure you'll get tons of advice on the goo

problem. My son did sweat quite a bit, and the head will adjust to the new

temperature in about a week's time. In the beginning my hubby was told (and

this was for a DOC band), to take it off every 3 hours to wipe off the sweat

(unfortunately, I was not aware of this and he developed a heat rash!). I

have heard that you can have holes drilled in some for better ventilation,

depending on the type of helmet you have. Good luck- this probably seems

like a slow process, but it will be over before you know it, with great

success to share I'm sure!

' Mom (tort resolved, DOC grad)

[Guest guest]

Hi, everyone,

I'm new to the group, and I have a question that I hope some of you

can help with.

Some info about us first. I had been concerned about my son's head

shape for some time and had asked our pediatrician about it at every

visit (2 month, 4 month, 6 month), but he kept saying 'it will round

out, don't worry, just try to keep him off that spot if you can'.

Well, it didn't round out completely, and after 6 months he finally

referred us to another doctor. That doctor said that my son's

plagiocephaly is mild to moderate, but after reading everything I

could find about this, we decided to go ahead with the helmet

therapy. He just got his helmet today.

I have been kicking myself for not pushing this during the earlier

visits, but I think that early on I was more worried about so many

other things (feeding, sleeping, etc.) and this just didn't seem like

such a big deal. I am frustrated that our pediatrician sort of down-

played the problem, and I intend to tell him that I think he should

be more aggressive in telling parents how to reposition their

children.

Anyway, my question is about the helmet. My son has had it on for

only an hour today so far, but he is sweating profusely in it, and it

is not very hot in our apartment. The technician had said to coat

the helmet lightly inside with cornstarch, which I did (very lightly,

like dusting a cake pan with flour -- not much at all), but this has

turned into a gooey mess that cakes to his head or runs into his

eyes. Did anyone else's child sweat like this in the helmet? Does it

get better? Any suggestions?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Hi :

Welcome to our group!! We're glad to have you . Profuse Sweating

is VERY common & normal for the first week or 2 while your child is

in his helmet. The sweating should diminish greatly after a week or

so after your son's body temperature adjusts to having the helmet on

his head. I would imagine that as long as your orthotist told you it

was ok for cornstarch, that is fine, BUT while your son is sweating

so much, maybe you should consider not using anything at all if all

it is doing is creating a bigger mess!! Rest assured though, the

sweating will definitely get better as time goes by. In the

meantime, you might want to consider dressing him a bit cooler.

How old is your son now? What type of helmet or band is he wearing?

A DOCband, STARband or a locally made helmet?

Best of luck!! How are you handling seeing your son in his helmet?

I had a very difficult time for the first wk or so while my daughter

was in her 1st band! But Abby couldn't have cared less! Is your son

tolerating it well? MOST do, it's so amazing how adaptable babies

are, thank goodness! Time will go by fast & your son will soon have

a rounder head .

I'm so sorry to hear how laid back your pediatrician was.

Unfortunately, most of our other group parents had the same problem

with their ped. as you have. But I'm glad you didn't sit back - you

did it all on your own!! Good for you.

Welcome again, glad to have you.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad

MI

> Hi, everyone,

>

> I'm new to the group, and I have a question that I hope some of you

> can help with.

>

> Some info about us first. I had been concerned about my son's head

> shape for some time and had asked our pediatrician about it at

every

> visit (2 month, 4 month, 6 month), but he kept saying 'it will

round

> out, don't worry, just try to keep him off that spot if you can'.

>

> Well, it didn't round out completely, and after 6 months he finally

> referred us to another doctor. That doctor said that my son's

> plagiocephaly is mild to moderate, but after reading everything I

> could find about this, we decided to go ahead with the helmet

> therapy. He just got his helmet today.

>

> I have been kicking myself for not pushing this during the earlier

> visits, but I think that early on I was more worried about so many

> other things (feeding, sleeping, etc.) and this just didn't seem

like

> such a big deal. I am frustrated that our pediatrician sort of down-

> played the problem, and I intend to tell him that I think he should

> be more aggressive in telling parents how to reposition their

> children.

>

> Anyway, my question is about the helmet. My son has had it on for

> only an hour today so far, but he is sweating profusely in it, and

it

> is not very hot in our apartment. The technician had said to coat

> the helmet lightly inside with cornstarch, which I did (very

lightly,

> like dusting a cake pan with flour -- not much at all), but this

has

> turned into a gooey mess that cakes to his head or runs into his

> eyes. Did anyone else's child sweat like this in the helmet? Does

it

> get better? Any suggestions?

>

> Any advice appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

>

>