Re: has his helmet

[Guest guest]

:

Sorry to hear of the troubles with ' helmet already Most

helmets and bands are fit rather loosely for the first couple weeks,

this allows room for the baby's head to grow into them. I am not

sure about local helmets, but I know the DOCband is made that way at

first. I would imagine that would be how local helmets are as well,

like your orthotist said.

BUT, the helmet should not just pop right off his head. I would

think it is a bit too loose and should be adjusted accordingly.

It also should not look lopsided on his head, like you mention. It

should pretty much sit horizontally across the forehead.

The helmet should come just above his eyebrows.

It also should not push his eyes closed at all.

I would definitely try to get into the orthotist's office ASAP to

address these issues, it does sound like it needs some adjusting. It

is quite common to go back a few times to the orthotist for some

adjustments, it takes some time to get that perfect fit.

The sweating does decrease significantly usually after 2 wks in the

helmet. Profuse sweat is very common for the first couple of weeks,

especially in this hot weather.

After ' body temp adjusts to wearing his helmet, the sweat will

diminish significantly. He'll still sweat, but it shouldn't be

nearly as much.

Good luck with everything, keep your chin up. The 1st couple wks are

the hardest. Let us know what your orthotist says.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad

MI

> We went down to pick up ' helmet yesterday. I have to say, he

> looks kind of cute in it, actually. Like a little linebacker.

>

> Everything seemed fine until we left the orthotist's office. (Of

> course!) It was hot as blazes yesterday and our car's AC is not so

> great right now, so his face was getting very red on the ride home,

> and the helmet also shifted and was pushing his eyebrows down. So

we

> decided to just take it off until we got home. I couldn't believe

how

> much he sweated in it! There were beads of sweat all over his head!

>

> My husband and I had a crisis of confidence and didn't make him

wear

> it much yesterday. I'm not really sure we're putting it on

correctly.

> The orthotist said that it was going to look like it doesn't fit

> (because it's the shape we want his head to be, not the shape it

> already is, so technically it really DOESN'T fit) and the only rule

> was it had to be above his eyebrows. But now that we're home -- how

> much above his eyebrows is OK? Is it supposed to look lopsided

across

> his forehead? Etc.

>

> This morning he had it on for about half an hour and then cried for

> about 25 minutes (and then I had to go to work)....

>

> .... My husband just called with this report: when he was in his

crib

> for his nap, kept trying to look above his head at the

mobile,

> and it pushed down, closing his eyes. And it has popped off once

> while he's been rolling on the floor (and then grabbed the helmet

to

> play with it and put it on Whoozit. Goofy.).

>

> So I'm not entirely sure we're putting it on right.

>

> AND we got the first denial of coverage letter from Anthem BCBS.

So,

> off to prepare appeals stuff. Sigh.

>

> - (mom to , 9 months, local helmet)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/13/02 1:57:07 PM Central Daylight Time, dj2kirby@...

writes:

<< It also should not look lopsided on his head, like you mention. It

should pretty much sit horizontally across the forehead. >>

I just want to add here that 's locally made passive helmet did not

always fit horizontally across her forehead. As her head grew into the helmet

it started fitting more and more horizontal, but at first not so much.

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

, the same thing happen to my son. But they put straps on his

helmet. We also have a local helmet. See if they could do this for

you. I am going to try and get Jeffry's pictures in here soon, then

you can see what we did. Good luck. Heidi, mom to Jeffry MN

> We went down to pick up ' helmet yesterday. I have to say, he

> looks kind of cute in it, actually. Like a little linebacker.

>

> Everything seemed fine until we left the orthotist's office. (Of

> course!) It was hot as blazes yesterday and our car's AC is not so

> great right now, so his face was getting very red on the ride home,

> and the helmet also shifted and was pushing his eyebrows down. So

we

> decided to just take it off until we got home. I couldn't believe

how

> much he sweated in it! There were beads of sweat all over his head!

>

> My husband and I had a crisis of confidence and didn't make him

wear

> it much yesterday. I'm not really sure we're putting it on

correctly.

> The orthotist said that it was going to look like it doesn't fit

> (because it's the shape we want his head to be, not the shape it

> already is, so technically it really DOESN'T fit) and the only rule

> was it had to be above his eyebrows. But now that we're home -- how

> much above his eyebrows is OK? Is it supposed to look lopsided

across

> his forehead? Etc.

>

> This morning he had it on for about half an hour and then cried for

> about 25 minutes (and then I had to go to work)....

>

> .... My husband just called with this report: when he was in his

crib

> for his nap, kept trying to look above his head at the

mobile,

> and it pushed down, closing his eyes. And it has popped off once

> while he's been rolling on the floor (and then grabbed the helmet

to

> play with it and put it on Whoozit. Goofy.).

>

> So I'm not entirely sure we're putting it on right.

>

> AND we got the first denial of coverage letter from Anthem BCBS.

So,

> off to prepare appeals stuff. Sigh.

>

> - (mom to , 9 months, local helmet)

[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

I will send some pictures in the next few days....

And yea..i bet that's why Wanda was nice..LOL>..

Thanks,

Mom to

In a message dated 8/15/2002 3:13:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time, taime@... writes:

Hi ,

I'm so happy to hear that is adjusting well!

's was loose in the beginning too.

Maybe that is why Wanda was so nice yesterday, she knew she was going

on vacation! LOL

Please keep us updated on how is doing and when you can post

some pics of your aborable newly band boy!!!

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

Thanks...I can't tell you how relieved i am that is fine in his band. I was so nervous about this.but he truly is fine. He is playing and rolling around.

I'm still a little nervous with putting the band on the right way and stuff..but otherwise..things are going well.

He does have a red spot that appears every time the helmet is taken off...and it does fade in about an hour...but it's every time so far..so they may have to adjust that..b/c i don't want his skin to wear away...but no other ones that i can see that don't fade real fast.

I can't wait to start seeing results..LOL...i hope within the next few weeks we see some....

Thanks for all your help!! Everyone!! I love this group!!

Mom to

In a message dated 8/15/2002 5:29:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time, dj2kirby@... writes:

:

It sounds like likes his new band! That's great he doesn't

mind it; if he doesn't mind it yet, I'm sure he never will!

The shifting of the band is very common like Charlotte said for the

1st couple of wks., this is one of our most common questions posted

from new DOCband parents. Abby's shifted a lot too for the first 2

wks or so. They keep the bands a bit loose to allow room for growth,

if they didn't, the baby could outgrow it very fast and need a 2nd

band too soon.

Good luck So glad everything is going smooth so far!

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad

MI

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm so happy to hear that is adjusting well!

's was loose in the beginning too.

Maybe that is why Wanda was so nice yesterday, she knew she was going

on vacation! LOL

Please keep us updated on how is doing and when you can post

some pics of your aborable newly band boy!!!

> He is doing pretty well. His personality isn't really different at

> all....he's adjusting well. He looks cute..i have to admit.

>

> We are watching for the red spots..and he took a nap with it no

problem.

>

> The hardest part is that it's so loose and and keeps moving...and

it kind of

> pushes his eyes down...or scrunches his nose. We have to keep

adjusting it

> on his head and it keeps moving. It's so frustrating..and it's

kind of hard

> to put it on...but he really is doing well in it...it doesn't seem

to bother

> him much at all. When he first got it..he kept reaching up and

feeling

> it..and then later i showed him himself in the mirror and he

smiled. I just

> hope he continues to do well and sleeps ok with it. He doesn't

even seem to

> be sweating too badly..of course we are in a/c..but even still. If

all goes

> well..then Saturday will be his first day to wear it without taking

it off

> for checks....we checked it once so far..and the red spots faded

quick..and

> it was mostly on his forehead b/c he was sleeping on it...so it

pushed down

> on it..

>

> I just hope that b/c the helmet is shifting so much...that it still

will

> work. Charlotte had said that for the first few weeks it will be

pretty

> loose and that it will get better after that.

>

> And i asked if she thinks he will need a 2nd band (i know i'm

jumping the gun

> a little bit) and she told me to ask in 4 weeks...lol..so i guess

she'll know

> better how he is growing.

>

> Oh..and Wanda wasn't there...so i was lucky..lol. She's on vacation

this

> whole week..so poor Charlotte is there all by herself. So if we

call...it

> gets transferred to (i think she said the Charlotte office) b/c

it's too hard

> for her to answer calls..but that Lynn or jennifer (i think) will

get the

> call and email Charlotte and she'll call me right back. Charlotte

is so

> nice!!!

>

> Anyway, that's about it. We'll see how he's doing the rest of

today and

> tomorrow. I'm just glad he's still smiling and playing...he's just

extra

> tired b/c he missed one of his naps today b/c of the appt..and it

was

> stressful..but otherwise..he's doing good.

>

>

> Mom to

[Guest guest]

:

It sounds like likes his new band! That's great he doesn't

mind it; if he doesn't mind it yet, I'm sure he never will!

The shifting of the band is very common like Charlotte said for the

1st couple of wks., this is one of our most common questions posted

from new DOCband parents. Abby's shifted a lot too for the first 2

wks or so. They keep the bands a bit loose to allow room for growth,

if they didn't, the baby could outgrow it very fast and need a 2nd

band too soon.

Good luck So glad everything is going smooth so far!

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad

MI

> He is doing pretty well. His personality isn't really different at

> all....he's adjusting well. He looks cute..i have to admit.

>

> We are watching for the red spots..and he took a nap with it no

problem.

>

> The hardest part is that it's so loose and and keeps moving...and

it kind of

> pushes his eyes down...or scrunches his nose. We have to keep

adjusting it

> on his head and it keeps moving. It's so frustrating..and it's

kind of hard

> to put it on...but he really is doing well in it...it doesn't seem

to bother

> him much at all. When he first got it..he kept reaching up and

feeling

> it..and then later i showed him himself in the mirror and he

smiled. I just

> hope he continues to do well and sleeps ok with it. He doesn't

even seem to

> be sweating too badly..of course we are in a/c..but even still. If

all goes

> well..then Saturday will be his first day to wear it without taking

it off

> for checks....we checked it once so far..and the red spots faded

quick..and

> it was mostly on his forehead b/c he was sleeping on it...so it

pushed down

> on it..

>

> I just hope that b/c the helmet is shifting so much...that it still

will

> work. Charlotte had said that for the first few weeks it will be

pretty

> loose and that it will get better after that.

>

> And i asked if she thinks he will need a 2nd band (i know i'm

jumping the gun

> a little bit) and she told me to ask in 4 weeks...lol..so i guess

she'll know

> better how he is growing.

>

> Oh..and Wanda wasn't there...so i was lucky..lol. She's on vacation

this

> whole week..so poor Charlotte is there all by herself. So if we

call...it

> gets transferred to (i think she said the Charlotte office) b/c

it's too hard

> for her to answer calls..but that Lynn or jennifer (i think) will

get the

> call and email Charlotte and she'll call me right back. Charlotte

is so

> nice!!!

>

> Anyway, that's about it. We'll see how he's doing the rest of

today and

> tomorrow. I'm just glad he's still smiling and playing...he's just

extra

> tired b/c he missed one of his naps today b/c of the appt..and it

was

> stressful..but otherwise..he's doing good.

>

>

> Mom to