Re: 4 month old. Too late for repositioning? Referrals in Fremont California?

[Guest guest]

Hi there. At 4 months, if you are diligent about repositioning, you

can really get results. From what I have heard, with plagio, no one

ever gets 100% correction with repositioning or with the helmet. If

you do both, you have a better chance. There are people on this

site who have had excellent improvement with repositioning. The key

is to take it one hour at a time. Tummy time to keep him off his

head is important and it will also get your baby crawling sooner

which will help. I went through the same thing you went through.

My doctor was so non-chalant about it all and I really regret not

being more prudent with repositioning. I also regret not getting

him into his helmet sooner because the fastest growth period of a

babies head is between 4 to 8 months. This is when you will get the

best correction I wish I had known that earlier because I would

have gone right away to get that helmet. I gave my baby until 7

months to round out and because I got really worried that it wasn't

improving fast enough. Then I found this site and a bunch of info

on plagio. It can take months to get through the whole process of

referrals, casting, fitting etc so it is good that you are getting

started now. My advice is to get the ball rolling now even if you

decide that you don't need or want the helmet because it does take a

long time. My baby is now 10 months old and has been in his helmet

for about a month. I am amazed by the improvement in his head

shape.

Good Luck.

(mom to Kale)

--- In Plagiocephaly@y..., " jensenlr2002 " <lezlieanddarren@a...>

wrote:

> I am completely NEW to this website as well as to plagiocephaly in

> general. I have basically made my own diagnosis within the last

few

> days because my four month old's flat spot has not " gone away "

like

> everyone said it would. Now that I know what to look for, the

> asymetry is very obvious to me (i.e. eyes and ears). My ped. says

> wait and see it will go away, but after what I have read in the

last

> day, I don't buy it. I have called her today and insisted for a

> referral to a specialist and in the meantime, I have begun the

> repositioning that I have read about. While I will obviously

> continue with the repositioning, my question is, since my son is

four

> months, can repositioning alone be successful or will I ultimately

> have to resort to the helmut. I know it depends on the severity of

> things, and since I haven't seen a specialist, I don't know how

truly

> severe it is. To me, it looks to be on the moderate side -- but

who

> knows what the specialist will say. I am really in the beginning

> stages here, and any help that anyone can give will be really

> appreciated. Also, if you have any referrals to give, I

appreciate

> it. I live in the Fremont, California area. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

It was at 's 4 month appointment that the doctor realized that

's head was not going to round out " on it's own " . Her

flattening was severe enough that there was really no mention of

repositioning except for while we were waiting to receive her band.

We didn't consider any other method due to the fact that also

has tort that we have been working out with stretches but not enough

for her to be comfortable in all positions. So repositioning was

VERY difficult in the time we had before the band. would cry

for HOURS and would only give in to complete exhaustion. It was a

very painful experience for me and my husband emotionally. Also I

didn't want to risk " losing time " by waiting to see if the

repositioning worked. I think it all depends on how receptive your

child is to it and if you are actually seeing results because I know

there are some here who have had much success with repositioning.

& (6 months, banded 8/26/02)

--- In Plagiocephaly@y..., " jensenlr2002 " <lezlieanddarren@a...>

wrote:

> I am completely NEW to this website as well as to plagiocephaly in

> general. I have basically made my own diagnosis within the last

few

> days because my four month old's flat spot has not " gone away " like

> everyone said it would. Now that I know what to look for, the

> asymetry is very obvious to me (i.e. eyes and ears). My ped. says

> wait and see it will go away, but after what I have read in the

last

> day, I don't buy it. I have called her today and insisted for a

> referral to a specialist and in the meantime, I have begun the

> repositioning that I have read about. While I will obviously

> continue with the repositioning, my question is, since my son is

four

> months, can repositioning alone be successful or will I ultimately

> have to resort to the helmut. I know it depends on the severity of

> things, and since I haven't seen a specialist, I don't know how

truly

> severe it is. To me, it looks to be on the moderate side -- but

who

> knows what the specialist will say. I am really in the beginning

> stages here, and any help that anyone can give will be really

> appreciated. Also, if you have any referrals to give, I appreciate

> it. I live in the Fremont, California area. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

We started repositioning at 13 weeks. I too like Christy made an

appt with Cranial Tech for the free consult. 's flat spot was

moderate with some mild face asymmetry. They measured her head so I

had a base line and would know if repositioning would work. I also

immediately make an appt with a specialist because it can take

several weeks to get in. I ended up canceling it because the

repositioning is working.

also has Torticollis, so her head would only turn in one

direction. I am convinced if the tort had caught earlier she would

have never had the plagio.

's plagio seemed to get worse before it started to get better

and I thought for sure she would have to get banded but I kept

working at the repositioning and then boom one day it looked

better. The improvement was confirmed by measurements again done at

Cranial Tech for free. We just got another big jump in her ears

going back to where they belong. From above her right ear was about

1-½ inches forward when we first started and now it is only about ¼

inch. Her right cheek is still fuller that the left but I am the

only one who can tell.

Take photos, get measurements or videotape your baby's head. It will

be super hard to see if it is improving without something you can

refer back to. I did all three because I am neurotic and needed this

for myself. But for me the measurements were the most valuable

because they are not subjective.

The key to repositioning is tummy time, tummy time, tummy time. It

is just so important. I also got a sleep positioner that forces

her to sleep in the position I put her in. The positioner has large

cylinders that are firm; I sung them right up against her body and

she it not able to turnover. I tried all the others but because this

is the only one that works for me..although she is able to push

herself around in her crib but she is forced to take the positioner

with her. (thinking of cribs, many of use with plagio babies used

bassinets. If you are using one, please change to a crib because the

bassinet pads are so thin) Carry your son as much as possible, no

swing, no infant carrier, and no bouncy seat. When you do use your

stroller, roll up a blanket under one shoulder to keep him of the

flat spot or you could use the sleep positioner in the stroller.

About 5 weeks is a good amount of time to see if it will work, it

wouldn't be corrected in 5 weeks but you hopefully will be an

improvement. At four months your son is still young enough to get

great results from repositioning. If he is going to need the band,

even at 5 ½ months you should see great results. Most likely he

wouldn't be banded for several weeks anyways, just because of the

waiting time to get referrals, get appt, the insurance approval. So

definitely start that whole process, you can always cancel an

appointment if you decide that repositioning is working and if it

doesn't work then you have lost no time.

Keep up updated on your progress.

Heidi – Mom to 6, 4, and 5 months (tort/plagio)

--- In Plagiocephaly@y..., " jensenlr2002 " <lezlieanddarren@a...>

wrote:

> I am completely NEW to this website as well as to plagiocephaly in

> general. I have basically made my own diagnosis within the last

few

> days because my four month old's flat spot has not " gone away " like

> everyone said it would. Now that I know what to look for, the

> asymetry is very obvious to me (i.e. eyes and ears). My ped. says

> wait and see it will go away, but after what I have read in the

last

> day, I don't buy it. I have called her today and insisted for a

> referral to a specialist and in the meantime, I have begun the

> repositioning that I have read about. While I will obviously

> continue with the repositioning, my question is, since my son is

four

> months, can repositioning alone be successful or will I ultimately

> have to resort to the helmut. I know it depends on the severity of

> things, and since I haven't seen a specialist, I don't know how

truly

> severe it is. To me, it looks to be on the moderate side -- but

who

> knows what the specialist will say. I am really in the beginning

> stages here, and any help that anyone can give will be really

> appreciated. Also, if you have any referrals to give, I appreciate

> it. I live in the Fremont, California area. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE who responded to my

email about whether it was too late to reposition my four month old.

I feel so bad that I am just now getting back to you, but we left to

go on vacation the day after I posted my message, and we just got

back last night. I sat down this morning to check the site, and I was

so glad to see the advice that people had given me. I really

appreciate it. Although we just started last week, my husband and I

have been very vigilent about repositioning, and believe it or not,

we both think that we are already beginning to see results.

Unfortunately, we didn't take pictures when we first started, but I

will be doing so today so that I can monitor things. Any other

advice about repositioning techniques/success etc. would be greatly

appreciated.

Thanks again,

Lezlie - mother to , four months.