New here

August 18, 2010

You're one sharp cookie, Cheri. I'm impressed that you were on the

problem since 8 weeks, and that you're trying to control internal

humidity, rather than the shape of the helmet in order to address the

red spot. It certainly won't be long before you're looking at a

perfectly round noggin.

You hardly require assistance from the likes of me! But, since you

asked:

On Aug 18, 2010, at 12:14 AM, Cheri M wrote:

> 1. Those with the Doc Band, how close to the ear was the band on

> the side opposite the Velcro? My son's is pretty close to his ear

> and when it shifts, it bends it just a bit. I'm kind of annoyed

> that the opening for the ear wasn't placed better. Is that a common

> problem and how worried should I be about the ear bending over?

>

We had a different helmet. But it is a common problem, and I think

the Orthomerica guideline on rotating helmets may be generalized:

expect excessive shifting to stop within two weeks, then request a

cutaway if necessary. In any case, the ear should not be the contact

which stops helmet rotation, once the head has grown into maximum

contact with the helmet. Light rubbing is a judgment call: more

shaping in that spot, versus child comfort.

> 2. After cleaning it with alcohol, is it okay to put it in front of

> a fan on high? The first few days it got kinda stinky. I'm

> anticipating it happening again since we're starting over. The fan

> really helped dry it faster.

>

That's an interesting question. Is it possible to dry a helmet so

quickly that sanitization is impaired? I wouldn't think so, but I do

remember 10 min. being the rule for thermometers when I was a nurse's

aid. Sunlight, I know, is a great booster for both drying and

sanitizing. So I used a light bulb, rather than a fan, to simulate

the windowsill when it wasn't available. Not everyone is aware that

there are different concentrations of isopropyl alcohol available, too.

> 3.Dressing, do most of you have to take the band off when you're

> dressing your kids? My son is a pretty big baby so he's already

> wearing larger sizes that are on the bigger end right now on him.

> Guess that's a good thing.

>

STARband is bulkier, but with us it depended on the clothes. I don't

think you lose a significant therapeutic benefit by removing the

orthoses for dressing. The sutures are supposed to be flexible, so

there's no reason to be shocked if the head shape immediately looks

worse; that's just as immediately reversible. The deformation of

underlying fluids and tissues is more of a concern, but that seems to

happen on a scale of days. So, this loss would be simply

proportional to how much skull plate is grown in that time interval

-- not a heck of a lot.

> 4. In the hot weather, do you just say every 2 hours you'll take it

> off real quick to wipe their heads and the inside of the band? I'm

> just trying to avoid the problem we just had with the red spot

> forming.

>

I wouldn't even worry about a time limit, using the same reasoning as

above. I'd take a wider view of this, though, as a problem of

balancing the need of the skin to acclimate, against the prevention

of breakdown. Taking the band on and off isn't necessarily the best

available tool, adding a little bit of abrasion and taking away a

little bit of acclimation. Wipedowns are perfect for making an

uncomfortable baby more comfortable in the short-term, and there's

certainly a high correlation between the two problems. However, less

clothing, more air conditioning, maybe dehumidification might be a

better line of attack, followed by extending the break-in schedule,

and, last of all, adjusting the fit to be less aggressive.

> I'm so looking forward to a time when I don't have to worry about

> his head shape and whether the way he's laying is making things

> worse. I'm finding it hard to relax when he's wearing the band.

> Should I continue to be careful the way he's laying? CT says no, I

> don't need to worry. And he can sleep in any position he likes,

> which is flat on his back of course.

>

I agree. One would expect the normal force to be redistributed away

from the flat spot by the helmet. Maybe gravity even helps pull the

flat spot into the void space, but that probably doesn't amount to

much, so I'd expect no position effect at all, after considering any

tiny counter-productive flexing of the helmet that might occur.

> Thanks in advance and thanks for the supportive group.

>

As always, glad to be here!

Thad Launderville

town, VT

Clara age 2, STARband '10

August 18, 2010

We do not have the DOC band, but we do get pretty sweaty heads here (both of my

7.5mo old twin boys are in helmets). Twin A started his helmet about 3 weeks

before Twin B. His head sweat constantly, poor kid, his head smelled horrid, but

he did not get any sores at all (we have a " passive " plastic shell type helmet).

Twin B has been in his about a week and is still sweaty, but he did get a sore.

Because it is a clear plastic helmet, I can see the pressure points even when he

is wearing it. His sore is in one of those pressure points, so we went in this

morning to get his helmet adjusted, we still want the pressure there, but

obviously not the sore. In my opinion the sore is an indicator of needing a

minor adjustment, not from being sweaty. The paperwork with our band also said

to expect " excessive sweating " the first two weeks, and that seems to be right

on. Twin A still sweats some, but Twin B is still sweating a lot, in the same

conditions. We don't remove it to wipe up the sweaties, just that one hour a

day.

Also regarding the ear (again, different type of helmet, so not sure), but our

orthotist said that it can lightly touch the ear, but if it is bending it at

all, or applying pressure, it needs to be adjusted.

Good luck!

>

> Hello,

>

> I've been reading the archives and catching up on posts the last few weeks.

> My son got his Doc Band last Thursday to treat his brachy which was measured

> at 94%. I had been trying to deal with the flat spot since he was 8 wks

> using positional techniques but nothing helped. I had to wait until he

> reached 4 months before our insurance would cover the little bit that they

> did.

>

> So the break in period went fine. He didn't really care that he was wearing

> it until it was time to goto bed and he couldn't rub is eyes like he likes

> too. Poor guy. He did develop a pretty bad red spot on his right temple this

> last Sunday so after going into the CT on Monday I was told to leave it off

> until the spots gone. I put the band back on tonight and hopefully all goes

> well. I'm going in at 10 pm to take it off and check for redness. We've had

> some pretty hot weather here in SoCal this last week and I'm looking forward

> to it cooling down for his sake. I think his sores happened because I didn't

> take it off soon enough when he was hot and sweating.

>

> This weekend we were out and about several times. I really wasn't sure what

> type of reactions I'd get to people seeing him wearing it. I admit I was a

> bit anxious. So far nobody has even asked me about it. They either ignore

> him or they stare and just don't ask. I'm prepared with my reply for when I

> am asked about it so either way, I just thought it has been interesting the

> lack of inquires.

>

> I have a few questions that I've been wondering about since I've actually

> started this journey.

>

> 1. Those with the Doc Band, how close to the ear was the band on the side

> opposite the Velcro? My son's is pretty close to his ear and when it shifts,

> it bends it just a bit. I'm kind of annoyed that the opening for the ear

> wasn't placed better. Is that a common problem and how worried should I be

> about the ear bending over?

>

> 2. After cleaning it with alcohol, is it okay to put it in front of a fan on

> high? The first few days it got kinda stinky. I'm anticipating it happening

> again since we're starting over. The fan really helped dry it faster.

>

> 3.Dressing, do most of you have to take the band off when you're dressing

> your kids? My son is a pretty big baby so he's already wearing larger sizes

> that are on the bigger end right now on him. Guess that's a good thing.

>

> 4. In the hot weather, do you just say every 2 hours you'll take it off real

> quick to wipe their heads and the inside of the band? I'm just trying to

> avoid the problem we just had with the red spot forming.

>

> I'm so looking forward to a time when I don't have to worry about his head

> shape and whether the way he's laying is making things worse. I'm finding it

> hard to relax when he's wearing the band. Should I continue to be careful

> the way he's laying? CT says no, I don't need to worry. And he can sleep in

> any position he likes, which is flat on his back of course.

>

> Thanks in advance and thanks for the supportive group.

>

> Cheri & , 4 1/2 months

>

August 19, 2010

I would really recommend taking off a sweaty band to towel off the band and the

head. Some babies break out in rashes if they are too sweaty. Your babies' skin

may not be as sensitive, but in general I would say it is better to be cautious.

The sweating subsides after a week or two, and then there isn't much need to

towel off the head between the one hour break.

-christine

sydney, 4.5 yrs, starband grad

> >

> > Hello,

> >

> > I've been reading the archives and catching up on posts the last few weeks.

> > My son got his Doc Band last Thursday to treat his brachy which was measured

> > at 94%. I had been trying to deal with the flat spot since he was 8 wks

> > using positional techniques but nothing helped. I had to wait until he

> > reached 4 months before our insurance would cover the little bit that they

> > did.

> >

> > So the break in period went fine. He didn't really care that he was wearing

> > it until it was time to goto bed and he couldn't rub is eyes like he likes

> > too. Poor guy. He did develop a pretty bad red spot on his right temple this

> > last Sunday so after going into the CT on Monday I was told to leave it off

> > until the spots gone. I put the band back on tonight and hopefully all goes

> > well. I'm going in at 10 pm to take it off and check for redness. We've had

> > some pretty hot weather here in SoCal this last week and I'm looking forward

> > to it cooling down for his sake. I think his sores happened because I didn't

> > take it off soon enough when he was hot and sweating.

> >

> > This weekend we were out and about several times. I really wasn't sure what

> > type of reactions I'd get to people seeing him wearing it. I admit I was a

> > bit anxious. So far nobody has even asked me about it. They either ignore

> > him or they stare and just don't ask. I'm prepared with my reply for when I

> > am asked about it so either way, I just thought it has been interesting the

> > lack of inquires.

> >

> > I have a few questions that I've been wondering about since I've actually

> > started this journey.

> >

> > 1. Those with the Doc Band, how close to the ear was the band on the side

> > opposite the Velcro? My son's is pretty close to his ear and when it shifts,

> > it bends it just a bit. I'm kind of annoyed that the opening for the ear

> > wasn't placed better. Is that a common problem and how worried should I be

> > about the ear bending over?

> >

> > 2. After cleaning it with alcohol, is it okay to put it in front of a fan on

> > high? The first few days it got kinda stinky. I'm anticipating it happening

> > again since we're starting over. The fan really helped dry it faster.

> >

> > 3.Dressing, do most of you have to take the band off when you're dressing

> > your kids? My son is a pretty big baby so he's already wearing larger sizes

> > that are on the bigger end right now on him. Guess that's a good thing.

> >

> > 4. In the hot weather, do you just say every 2 hours you'll take it off real

> > quick to wipe their heads and the inside of the band? I'm just trying to

> > avoid the problem we just had with the red spot forming.

> >

> > I'm so looking forward to a time when I don't have to worry about his head

> > shape and whether the way he's laying is making things worse. I'm finding it

> > hard to relax when he's wearing the band. Should I continue to be careful

> > the way he's laying? CT says no, I don't need to worry. And he can sleep in

> > any position he likes, which is flat on his back of course.

> >

> > Thanks in advance and thanks for the supportive group.

> >

> > Cheri & , 4 1/2 months

> >

>

August 19, 2010

Hi and welcome!

1. Yes, it's a common problem. Touching is okay, but bending is not. The goal

seems to be to have it as close-fitting as possible without actually pressing/

folding the ear. Ask to have it trimmed at the next adjustment, and make sure to

tell them it's bending his hear if they balk.

2. Yes, put it in front of the fan, and make sure your baby's head is really dry

before you put it back on. Maybe put him in front of the fan, too! I washed my

helmet twice a day with alcohol instead of once, and that made a world of

difference. And, never miss a shampoo!

3.Yes, I took the band off while dressing my son. The shirts wouldn't fit over

it. My routine in the am was to take the helmet off and wash it with alcohol,

put it in front of the a/c to dry, and dress him and do his tort. stretches

while it was drying.

4. Yes again, I think taking it off on a regular schedule and wiping it out is a

great idea. Do you have to do stretches for tort? If so, wipe it while you're

doing stretches. Or, wipe it each time you change his diaper. That way, you

won't forget.

Good luck with treatment!