Re: Chandler's new helmet

July 12, 2002

Grier:

I am glad to hear you have rec'd Chandlers new helmet & seems to be

giong ok so far.

To answer your questions, I'm definitely happy to hear you left the

helmet off last night. I didn't have a local helmet, but I'm

surprised to read they used such a powerful smelling glue inside it.

We had pad added to Abby's STARband at first too, but it didn't have

a strong gluey odor to it.

Is the smell gone now?

And most bands are always loose in the beginning. This allows room

for the head to grow into it, so the child doesn't out grow it right

away. It's probably ok like your orthotist said, esp. being passive

design. As long as it's not coming off his head!

I hope you're able to get to the full 23 hrs a day soon. Best of

luck with it! Please keep us posted.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad

MI

> Good morning, everyone! First let me thank everyone for making me

feel so

> welcome here! It really has taken a lot of the stress off of me

knowing

> that I have others to " talk " to that really understand what we are

going

> through.

>

> Chandler got his helmet yesterday and did great at the fitting.

While they

> were fitting the foam, it kept slipping down over his eyes and he

would

> just giggle and giggle. I guess he thought it was a new form of

> peek-a-boo. Once the helmet was ready, he didn't seem to mind or

really

> even notice the helmet at all.

>

> My husband () and I do have a few concerns though:

>

> 1) Because the ortho had to add another small piece of foam right

before we

> left with the helmet, the glue fumes are almost overwhelming. We

decided

> last night that those fumes may not be good for a 5.5 month old, so

we

> chose to let him have one last night helmet-free while it aired

out. Did

> anyone else with a locally made helmet experience this? If so, how

long

> did it take for the glue smell to go away and is it something we

should

> even be concerned with? We are planning on starting the 23 hour

helmet

> wearing after we get home today.

>

> 2) The helmet seems fairly loose- -not loose enough to fall off and

> Chandler can't get it off. The ortho explained that the extra room

is due

> to the helmet being passive and allowing the head to fill in where

it is

> currently flat and also for basic growing room. Locally made

helmet users,

> is this about what you experience, too?

>

> Thanks for indulging my questions and I'm posting pictures from

yesterday

> below. I'm still new at this whole posting thing so I hope the

attachments

> come through.

>

> Grier

> Mom to Chandler (5.5 months- Helmet starting today)

July 13, 2002

Hi Grier,

1) We have a locally made helmet for our son but did not experience

any fumes from glue. Sorry, I can't help you there.

2) Our helmet didn't really seem loose but our orthotist said that

his helmet model was both active and passive as it applied pressure

but allowed room for the head to grow as well. We have seen great

results so far.

Good luck!!

Dana (mom2)

helmet 04/17/02 - present