Re: Helmet or no helmet?

[Guest guest]

Our story is very similar. At 's 2 month visit I told the

pedi. we were concerned about his head shape. He told me not to

worry and that it would round out as he got older and spent less

time on his back. Being a 1st time mom and having no experience with

plagio I accepted what the pedi. was telling me. ended up

seeing a plastic surgeon for a birthmark on his face at about 4

months, and the plastic surgeon expressed concern for the shape of

his head. We were referred to a Craniofacial specialist. At our

appointment we were sent to the STARband facility next door for a

scan of 's head. The scan showed that he had moderate

plagiocephaly and severe brachycephaly. The specialist told us we

had two options; repositioning or helmet therapy. For us we felt

that the helmet was a better option. goes to daycare and

there wasn't anyway to make sure he was being repositioned as much

as possible.

At 's 4 month visit with the pedi. I told him we were going

to see the specialist. Our pedi. told me he isn't a helmet fan and

that he does feel that 's head will round out with time. He

said that he has seen the helmets work, but feels they just do

mother nature's job in a faster time frame. He told us that it was

our decision of whether or not to get the helmet and that he would

support us in whatever decision we made.

received his STARband September 12, 2007 at almost 5 months.

He graduated December 21, 2007 at 8 months. The results are amazing.

The flats spots started to go away in just weeks. We are very happy

that we decided to do the helmet.

Good luck in your decision. Keep us posted on what you decide.

Amy

~ 8 months ~ STARband grad

>

> Hi,

>

> I was told my son had plagiocephaly at our 2 month pediatrician's

> visit. The pediatrician did not seem that concerned and told

> us, " there is not much data on use of a helmet vs. no helmet, so I

> wait and see if his head rounds out. Most children will round out

on

> their own by one year of age. " At our 4 month check up, I told our

> pediatrician I didn't feel my son's head was getting any better

and

> I wanted a referral for a neurologist, which he gave us. Upon

seeing

> the neurologist, he basically stated there is no prospective data

on

> the use of a helmet and he felt there was not much difference in

> kids placed in helmet versus not using one. Our son is almost 5

> months old now and I really don't see much change. After ready a

lot

> of blogs from Mom's who have used the helmet, I am concerned by

> waiting, we are not doing the right thing. I'm also concerned that

> our window of opportunity is closing if we decide to do a helmet.

I

> really don't want to look back and feel as if I could have done

> something, adn didn't. Although, I don't want to place him a

helmet

> if we see no results! I just feel so stressed out about all of

this.

> Has anyone decided not to use the helmet and their child's head

> eventually became round? We live in West Chester, PA and I would

> also be interested in hearing on a good place to take him, if we

do

> decide to go with a helmet. One other factor, he also has

> toricollis, and we are having a PT come out and do excercises with

> him. Our ped also seems to think this will help his flat head.

But,

> I'm not sure if I can totally trust our ped's advice. Any

> suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

>

[Guest guest]

I would go for a free eval. to one of the active band providers

(STAR, Hanger, or DOC). We had the DOC band (Cranial Tech) and were

very pleased with the entire process and results. CT says that 5

months is the best age to band. Due to listening to our ped, our

son wasn't banded till 7.5 months but the results were still

amazing. You will see results with a helmet...no doubt! As for the

head rounding out, I honestly don't believe it will. Our son

graduated with 3mm assymetry and he still (9 months later) has 3mm

assymetry but you wouldn't know unless you're his mom! I also

didn't want to not band and then 5 years down the road my son has

headaches, TMJ, ear problems, etc. due to his plagio. I would

definitely do something while you still can and your child is still

young to get awesome results.

PS: YOu will need your ped. or neurologist to write a prescription

to band but not for the evaluation. I went to the eval. then had CT

fax over their findings to our doctor. Then I called to let him

know that CT faxed over their findings and that we really wanted to

band. He wrote a prescription that day. We also paid out of pocket

then appealed our insurance and won 80% (which is what we expected

with our policy).

>

> Hi,

>

> I was told my son had plagiocephaly at our 2 month pediatrician's

> visit. The pediatrician did not seem that concerned and told

> us, " there is not much data on use of a helmet vs. no helmet, so I

> wait and see if his head rounds out. Most children will round out

on

> their own by one year of age. " At our 4 month check up, I told our

> pediatrician I didn't feel my son's head was getting any better

and

> I wanted a referral for a neurologist, which he gave us. Upon

seeing

> the neurologist, he basically stated there is no prospective data

on

> the use of a helmet and he felt there was not much difference in

> kids placed in helmet versus not using one. Our son is almost 5

> months old now and I really don't see much change. After ready a

lot

> of blogs from Mom's who have used the helmet, I am concerned by

> waiting, we are not doing the right thing. I'm also concerned that

> our window of opportunity is closing if we decide to do a helmet.

I

> really don't want to look back and feel as if I could have done

> something, adn didn't. Although, I don't want to place him a

helmet

> if we see no results! I just feel so stressed out about all of

this.

> Has anyone decided not to use the helmet and their child's head

> eventually became round? We live in West Chester, PA and I would

> also be interested in hearing on a good place to take him, if we

do

> decide to go with a helmet. One other factor, he also has

> toricollis, and we are having a PT come out and do excercises with

> him. Our ped also seems to think this will help his flat head.

But,

> I'm not sure if I can totally trust our ped's advice. Any

> suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

>

[Guest guest]

We went through a similar experience with my son and he ended up with

very severe Plagio and had to be helmeted. I'm once again going

through it with my daughter (both had tort from birth and are very

stubborn about repositioning). I noticed it right away this time

around but have yet to find something to keep her off the left side of

her head when she sleeps. Our pediatrician was better about referring

us to someone sooner this time since we'd all been there before and

we've been doing PT for the tort since she was 2 months. I'm told

they won't even consider helmeting a baby until they're 4 mo. so we

just now have an appt. next week with a pediatric plastic surgeon. I

would definitely recommend the pediatric plastic surgeon. We saw one

the first time with my son and have an appt. with a different one this

time around (only because the other doc doesn't do plagio anymore).

The plastic surgeon was extremely helpful and diligent about

documenting the problem so our ins. would pay for it.

>

> Hi,

>

> I was told my son had plagiocephaly at our 2 month pediatrician's

> visit. The pediatrician did not seem that concerned and told

> us, " there is not much data on use of a helmet vs. no helmet, so I

> wait and see if his head rounds out. Most children will round out on

> their own by one year of age. " At our 4 month check up, I told our

> pediatrician I didn't feel my son's head was getting any better and

> I wanted a referral for a neurologist, which he gave us. Upon seeing

> the neurologist, he basically stated there is no prospective data on

> the use of a helmet and he felt there was not much difference in

> kids placed in helmet versus not using one. Our son is almost 5

> months old now and I really don't see much change. After ready a lot

> of blogs from Mom's who have used the helmet, I am concerned by

> waiting, we are not doing the right thing. I'm also concerned that

> our window of opportunity is closing if we decide to do a helmet. I

> really don't want to look back and feel as if I could have done

> something, adn didn't. Although, I don't want to place him a helmet

> if we see no results! I just feel so stressed out about all of this.

> Has anyone decided not to use the helmet and their child's head

> eventually became round? We live in West Chester, PA and I would

> also be interested in hearing on a good place to take him, if we do

> decide to go with a helmet. One other factor, he also has

> toricollis, and we are having a PT come out and do excercises with

> him. Our ped also seems to think this will help his flat head. But,

> I'm not sure if I can totally trust our ped's advice. Any

> suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

>