New - traumatic casting/trouble falling asleep

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. I'm new to the group. My son is 8 months old and

was diagnosed

with positional plagiocephly last week by Dr Persing at Yale University

in CT.

I started to notice the flatness on the right back side of his head at

about 3/4 months.

I believe it had to do with sleeping in the car seat for the first 6

weeks. I'd never

do that again. What a way to learn what doesn't work. So many people

suggested

that I keep him in that, and that it will serve as a good transition to

the crib since

the seat could be put directly in the crib when he was ready. Anyway,

I mentioned the flatness to the pediatrician at the 4 month visit, 6

month visit and some

sick visits in between. We were told everything from " don't worry, it

will round

out " , to " this generation of kids will have odd shaped heads because of

the

back to sleep campaign " and basically to live with it. Well you all can

imagine

how I felt since I felt

soooooo responsible for not changing his position as often as I should

have.

My peds never discussed doing that with me and the reprocussions if I

didn't.

(Both my husband and I are only children and have not been around

babies, and

being first time parents, we had no idea how to do things).

They didn't even suggest us going to a specialist since we were so

concerned.

(I would really like someday to look into a possible lawsuit)

Anyway, I found Dr. Persing in my health insurance's newsletter and here

we are today. The cast for his DOC band was made yesterday and we go

for the first fitting in 10 days. I feel terrible about all of this but

I'm so relieved

that this can be corrected. I haven't read much on this group but what

I have

read seems to be very positive in terms of the DOC band.

My son is a very sensitive boy - very verbal - lets you know when he

doesn't

like something, and loudly! He didn't not do well at all for the

casting.

The past 2 nights he has had alot of trouble getting to sleep which is

very

unusual. Anyone have children who were traumatized from the casting?

I definitely do not want to do the exit cast.

Thank you all for listening.

ann, mom of

NJ

[Guest guest]

Hi ann and welcome. I have heard of Dr. Persing here on the board and he

seems to be highly thought of. I'm glad you found him and that treatment is

moving forward. To be honest with you in the 1.5 years I have been with this

group I cannot remember anyone whose child was traumatized by the casting so

much that they could not sleep. However, that is not to say that it could not

happen - it is a pretty scary and unnerving process! Hopefully that will

smooth out very soon and all will be back to normal! Could he be teething

maybe? Or has he learned a new skill recently? Both of these can be

disruptive to sleep patterns.

I'm sorry that your ped did not offer some repositioning tips at a younger

age - my ped was the same way. We mentioned our concerns at about 3-4 months

old and several times thereafter and he always said not to worry that it

would round out. He never offered repositioning tips or stressed the

importance of tummy time. All we heard was BACK TO SLEEP over and over again.

Not that I regret putting her on her back to sleep, but it would have been

nice if the ped or someone at the hopsital would have mentioned repositioning

or tummy time! I had tremendous guilt at the time ( is 2.5 years now)

and then a whole bunch of anger at the ped and finally resigned myself to

helping her going forward and letting the past go. It wasn't easy and it took

quite a bit of time!

Best wishes with the fitting. I hope that goes very well for you and

- you deserve a good experience after the difficult casting! Keep us posted!

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma