RE: Advice on casts: clothes, clothes, & baby items

[Guest guest]

Hi again!

You know what? We do post these baby items time and time again, so

yes, we should compile it into a file here, shouldn't we?!

I have a bunch of hints and tips on my website (old but mostly still

relevant) at http://ponseticlubfoot.freeservers.com/

Yes, you'll probably do sponge baths until the casts come off-

though we got to soak in the sink on cast removal day at the U

of Iowa (some docs use cast saws to remove instead of soaking).

There are products made to cover casts in the bath/shower, but I've

never used them. Probably not good to try the breadbag and

rubberbands unless you live really close to your doctor.....you'll

most likely get water in there......

Pretty much any outfit works with the casts as long as the legs

aren't skin-tight. So, yes, he'll be able to wear sleepers while

you're in the casting phase (typically a total of 8-10 weeks

including a 3 week post-tenotomy cast if he has tenotomies) After

he's in the brace, you'll want outfits that snap all the way around

the legs without closed cuffs- no built-in feet in the outfit.

If it's your first baby- look for highchairs/swing/stroller etc that

doesn't have a solid unmoveable bar between the legs.

Hope this helps!

& (3-16-00, left clubfoot)

> We just had a 2nd ultrasound today (24 weeks) and we found out that

> both feet are club.

>

> I was suprised there was not a File containing tips for clothes and

> baby items.

>

> I was hoping someone could share their advice on what clothes we

> should look for/avoid with the casts. Will the baby be able to

wear sleepers with feet?

> We are due October 30 - it will be chilly in Pittsburgh. So

advice on cold weather clothes

> would be helpful.

>

> Also, should we bother with a baby bathtub, will we be doing sponge

> baths for the first 3 months? How do you bathe your baby with

plaster casts?

>

> Any other tips on baby items to look for/avoid would be greatly

appreciated.

>

> Thank you,

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

My daughter has bilateral club feet as well and things are going well. She's 17

mos old and her little feet look just dandy! Are you going to find out if

you're having a boy or a girl or are you waiting for it to be a surprise?

As far as clothing options for the very few weeks your baby will be in casts:

sleepers are fine. Footie ones keep their toes warm and protect the plaster as

well. My daughter had a selection of tights that we used when she wore dresses

as she was born in Feb and it's darn cold around here! However, as soon as you

are moved to shoes which could be anywhere from 3 - 4 weeks to several months

depending on the severity of the feet you will need clothing that has no feet

for the first 3 mos and beyond as it's easier if you just plan for that until

they are just in the shoes 12 - 14 a day as well. You'll also want clothing

that snaps all the way down so that you can unsnap it completely for diaper

changes since you don't want to have to keep taking the shoes on and off for

this.

Blanket sleepers work but you'll have to cut the feet off. It's best to get the

ones that zip between the legs instead of up the leg but they are very hard to

find. The best thing really is a sleep sack. When your baby is wearing the

shoes it's likely they won't fit in the standard ones but you can modify a

pattern and just cut the bottom bigger. I believe there's a pattern for one in

the file section. These make diaper changes easier as well. Especially when

they are small and you are changing them more often.

I had a few bigger socks I put on her casts when she was wearing clothing with

no feet as I felt it kept her toes warmer. The tiny ones just don't work for

this so don't waste your money. Later when she started wearing shoes I bought

all kinds of 'fancy' socks because it was my small rebellion for not being able

to have all of those cute shoes. I don't know if this would work as well for a

boy but I suppose there are cute socks out there for them as well - just no

ruffles!

As people ask what you need be sure to let them know you'll need items that work

with casts and then the bar. Strollers and high chairs need to be able to be

used with the shoes on meaning they can't have a permanent post in the way of

the feet (if that makes sense) and clothing needs to work as well. But most of

all, enjoy the process and know that your baby will be just fine.

Hope some of this helps.

Chris

Advice on casts: clothes, clothes, & baby items

We just had a 2nd ultrasound today (24 weeks) and we found out that

both feet are club.

I was suprised there was not a File containing tips for clothes and

baby items.

I was hoping someone could share their advice on what clothes we

should look for/avoid with the casts. Will the baby be able to wear sleepers

with feet?

We are due October 30 - it will be chilly in Pittsburgh. So advice on cold

weather clothes

would be helpful.

Also, should we bother with a baby bathtub, will we be doing sponge

baths for the first 3 months? How do you bathe your baby with plaster casts?

Any other tips on baby items to look for/avoid would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

[Guest guest]

Hi there. Congrats on the pregnancy! Yes, get a tub. They are only in casts for

a couple of months and you will use it. Of course, we just use a hand towel in

the tub to lay baby on and keep her from slipping, so guess you could go without

the tub. Anything knit in the legs is great. Also, socks two sizes larger than

you would normally need for over the cast (we only had one club foot here so a

sock was a must to keep the other leg from getting friction sores from rubbing

against the cast). Sleepers with feet won't work, in fact most sleepers won't

work with the cast because they are made to be snug. Maybe if you used a size

too big they might work? We just used gowns. Those work wonderful! Blankets are

great too. So easy to throw over any outfit and make it instantly warmer! For

baths, I put a bag over baby's leg and tied it snug with a shoe string for

baths. Oh, and there was always a sock over the cast inside the bag, just in

case any water leaked. But I only did this about once a week since it's such a

pain. Really though, babies don't get too dirty or smelly so it's not a big

deal. Just keep the diaper area super clean at changing time, clean up any spit

up carefully (especially in the folds of the neck) and check between fingers for

lint, lol. Otherwise, they stay pretty clean on their own, especially if it's

cool out and they won't be sweating anyway. It seems overwhelming at first, but

it really works out all right and your baby is your precious baby no matter

what! Congratulations again!!!

Marcia

Advice on casts: clothes, clothes, & baby items

We just had a 2nd ultrasound today (24 weeks) and we found out that

both feet are club.

I was suprised there was not a File containing tips for clothes and

baby items.

I was hoping someone could share their advice on what clothes we

should look for/avoid with the casts. Will the baby be able to wear sleepers

with feet?

We are due October 30 - it will be chilly in Pittsburgh. So advice on cold

weather clothes

would be helpful.

Also, should we bother with a baby bathtub, will we be doing sponge

baths for the first 3 months? How do you bathe your baby with plaster casts?

Any other tips on baby items to look for/avoid would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

[Guest guest]

Hi -

Your story sounds like mine. My husband and I found out our baby (we are

waiting to find out the sex)-has bilateral clubfoot during our 22 week

ultrasound. I am 32 weeks now and anxiously waiting to meet our bundle of joy.

Is this your first baby? It is our first, so we were surprised to find out

about the clubfoot. We were thrown a loop, but feel so much better after doing

some research and finding support groups like this one. We are lucky to live in

a time where we can jump on the computer and ask questions and people answer

you! Most importantly, it is people we don't know and they are willing to lend

their love and support. I feel it through reading emails and receiving personal

ones who just want to help and educate. Also, both of us are lucky to know the

baby has clubfoot via ultrasound, many people do not find out until they

deliver. At least we can prepare ourselves for options. We really won't know

until our babies are here safe and sound--then the corrective

processes start. My husband and I are going to go with the Ponseti method and

we will most likely go with Shriner's hospital since they take care of the

costs. What a blessing! I am meeting with the pediatric ortho on Monday thru

my hospital first, so we will see what his/her game plan is. If you want, keep

in touch since we seem to be in the same boat and we can swap our experiences.

It will be helpful.

KC

PS. This is my first post to the nonsurgery group. I belong to the clubfoot

group as well, but have learned quite a bit from this more interactive group.

Thanks for all the education.

basenjimommy wrote:

We just had a 2nd ultrasound today (24 weeks) and we found out that

both feet are club.

I was suprised there was not a File containing tips for clothes and

baby items.

I was hoping someone could share their advice on what clothes we

should look for/avoid with the casts. Will the baby be able to wear sleepers

with feet?

We are due October 30 - it will be chilly in Pittsburgh. So advice on cold

weather clothes

would be helpful.

Also, should we bother with a baby bathtub, will we be doing sponge

baths for the first 3 months? How do you bathe your baby with plaster casts?

Any other tips on baby items to look for/avoid would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

[Guest guest]

To be honest, with he was in the casts for so long, I got tired of tugging

clothes over

them so he wore shirts. That's it. We put a blanket over him in the car

and he just wore

his onsies shirts. that worked the best. We didn't have to fight anything. No

clothing got

caught on the plaster or the fiber glass, in the winter we put really cool daddy

socks on

him and he didn't know any different. It was great for the cast changing

days, didn't get

plaster everywhere. For bed, well shoot, he didn't move enough to get the onsie

dirty, so

we left him in that and changed his shirt in the morning.

With his shoes on, even with shorts that don't snap in the middle I just tug

them down

around his knees and he's just fine with it. They don't make as many 2T summer

stuff

with snaps anymore. hang in there. You'll be surprised how fast the time

goes.

10-09-03 mitchells 16 hours

> ,

> My daughter has bilateral club feet as well and things are going well. She's

17 mos old

and her little feet look just dandy! Are you going to find out if you're

having a boy or a

girl or are you waiting for it to be a surprise?

>

> As far as clothing options for the very few weeks your baby will be in casts:

sleepers are

fine. Footie ones keep their toes warm and protect the plaster as well. My

daughter had a

selection of tights that we used when she wore dresses as she was born in Feb

and it's

darn cold around here! However, as soon as you are moved to shoes which could

be

anywhere from 3 - 4 weeks to several months depending on the severity of the

feet you

will need clothing that has no feet for the first 3 mos and beyond as it's

easier if you just

plan for that until they are just in the shoes 12 - 14 a day as well. You'll

also want

clothing that snaps all the way down so that you can unsnap it completely for

diaper

changes since you don't want to have to keep taking the shoes on and off for

this.

>

> Blanket sleepers work but you'll have to cut the feet off. It's best to get

the ones that

zip between the legs instead of up the leg but they are very hard to find. The

best thing

really is a sleep sack. When your baby is wearing the shoes it's likely they

won't fit in the

standard ones but you can modify a pattern and just cut the bottom bigger. I

believe

there's a pattern for one in the file section. These make diaper changes easier

as well.

Especially when they are small and you are changing them more often.

>

> I had a few bigger socks I put on her casts when she was wearing clothing with

no feet

as I felt it kept her toes warmer. The tiny ones just don't work for this so

don't waste your

money. Later when she started wearing shoes I bought all kinds of 'fancy' socks

because it

was my small rebellion for not being able to have all of those cute shoes. I

don't know if

this would work as well for a boy but I suppose there are cute socks out there

for them as

well - just no ruffles!

>

> As people ask what you need be sure to let them know you'll need items that

work with

casts and then the bar. Strollers and high chairs need to be able to be used

with the shoes

on meaning they can't have a permanent post in the way of the feet (if that

makes sense)

and clothing needs to work as well. But most of all, enjoy the process and know

that your

baby will be just fine.

>

> Hope some of this helps.

> Chris

> Advice on casts: clothes, clothes, & baby

items

>

>

> We just had a 2nd ultrasound today (24 weeks) and we found out that

> both feet are club.

>

> I was suprised there was not a File containing tips for clothes and

> baby items.

>

> I was hoping someone could share their advice on what clothes we

> should look for/avoid with the casts. Will the baby be able to wear

sleepers with feet?

> We are due October 30 - it will be chilly in Pittsburgh. So advice on cold

weather

clothes

> would be helpful.

>

> Also, should we bother with a baby bathtub, will we be doing sponge

> baths for the first 3 months? How do you bathe your baby with plaster

casts?

>

> Any other tips on baby items to look for/avoid would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Thank you,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, !

Congrats on the upcoming birth of your baby! It will be here before you know it

so store up on sleep now while you can! (Actually, I now get more sleep than I

did BEFORE my baby was born, but that's a whole other post.)

We found that footed sleepers fit just fine. Gerber ones in particular. They

come 3 in a package. I don't know who had given me a pack of them and I was

actually going to return them b/c I thought they were " cheap " but to my surprise

they were sooooooo comfy and stretched perfectly over the cast , I ended up

buying 3 more packs. (And then more in the next size up.) I also put

" unfooted " clothes on and just used regular infant socks from the gap or

old navy or wherever over both feet. Clothes with snaps in the front are easier

in general when you're talking newborn baby clothes.

I would keep the tub. You'll eventually need it anyway.

Also, those sleep sacks (Halo) work great, even now that sleeps with his

shoes and bar on. He fits in them just fine, so no need for a special adjusted

sleep-sack pattern.

Best of luck and let us know when baby comes along!!!

mommy to (12/15/04 RCF FAB 16/7)

basenjimommy wrote:

We just had a 2nd ultrasound today (24 weeks) and we found out that

both feet are club.

I was suprised there was not a File containing tips for clothes and

baby items.

I was hoping someone could share their advice on what clothes we

should look for/avoid with the casts. Will the baby be able to wear sleepers

with feet?

We are due October 30 - it will be chilly in Pittsburgh. So advice on cold

weather clothes

would be helpful.

Also, should we bother with a baby bathtub, will we be doing sponge

baths for the first 3 months? How do you bathe your baby with plaster casts?

Any other tips on baby items to look for/avoid would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

[Guest guest]

Hi

There are some practical tips on my website at

http://www.clubfoot.co.za/practical_tips.htm

Your baby can wear sleepers with feet when wearing casts, but not after

casting when in the full-time FAB wear for 3 months. (Foot Abduction Brace

- the name for the bar with shoes attached that holds the correction once

the feet have been treated - there are some pictures of wearing his on

my website)

We used our baby bath a lot - just not during the casting - but that

typically lasts for 4-6 weeks and 3 weeks more if a tenotomy is done. When

they are in the FAB, you take it off for an hour a day and that's around

bathtime, so your baby can have a nice soak.

For cold weather we used mostly warm fleecy sleeveless 'dungarees' with

snaps. You can put a vest under and something else warm over. For 23 hour

FAB wear, snaps all the way through the legs are a necessity - you need

quick access for diaper changes otherwise you have to keep on taking the

shoes off to get the pants down, which is a pain. Winter is probably easier

than summer as the casts and shoes keep their feet pretty warm.

A fleecy sleepsack keeps them toasty warm in winter and you don't have the

problem of blankets kicked off which happens all the time when they're

wearing the FAB. We used the Halo ones, they usually have a special running

where you get a better price if you buy more than one.

http://www.halosleep.com/

Hope this helps,

and

24 Jan 2003, wearing FAB 10-12 hours at night

www.clubfoot.co.za

Moss

STEPS CHARITY

www.steps.org.za

Advice on casts: clothes, clothes, & baby

items

We just had a 2nd ultrasound today (24 weeks) and we found out that

both feet are club.

I was suprised there was not a File containing tips for clothes and

baby items.

I was hoping someone could share their advice on what clothes we

should look for/avoid with the casts. Will the baby be able to wear

sleepers with feet?

We are due October 30 - it will be chilly in Pittsburgh. So advice on cold

weather clothes

would be helpful.

Also, should we bother with a baby bathtub, will we be doing sponge

baths for the first 3 months? How do you bathe your baby with plaster

casts?

Any other tips on baby items to look for/avoid would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

[Guest guest]

I could fit the sleepers with feet on Aidan while he was in the casts. However,

knowing he'd have things on his legs and feet before he was born we didn't get

many of those outfits. I mostly put him in long gowns which for us worked

great. The sleep sacks also work well.

The tub you will definitely use later but during cast time I just used the metal

slant that came inside the tub and put it on the bathroom counter. I'd lay him

on it and just spread his legs usually putting a washcloth over both ends of the

casts to avoid getting wet. Then I'd just give him a sponge bath.

Buy rubbing alchole to clean the casts of poop and mole skin works well to wrap

around the edges of the casts. If the casts start to frey you could get some

sharp edges.

Always check the toes to make sure they are nice and pink and the circulation is

not being cut off. A little swelling is normal. I used Qtips to clean between

his toes. Oh, also, I used a black permeanent marker to mark the edges of the

cast where his toes came out. That way if there was any sleeping I could tell

if the toes didn't line up to the black mark line.

When you put the baby to sleep put a pillow under the knees and lower legs.

Keeping them elevated helps to reduce swelling and is more comfortable for the

baby.

Finally, as far as clothes go, snaps, snaps, snaps, snaps!! I think that about

covers it.

Please don't hesitate to ask any questions. Best of luck. You'll get through

it. Until then don't let the thought of it overwhelme you. You're already well

ahead of the game. Enjoy your pregnancy.

Hugs,

Jenn & Aidan (blcf shoes 16/7)

basenjimommy wrote:

We just had a 2nd ultrasound today (24 weeks) and we found out that

both feet are club.

I was suprised there was not a File containing tips for clothes and

baby items.

I was hoping someone could share their advice on what clothes we

should look for/avoid with the casts. Will the baby be able to wear sleepers

with feet?

We are due October 30 - it will be chilly in Pittsburgh. So advice on cold

weather clothes

would be helpful.

Also, should we bother with a baby bathtub, will we be doing sponge

baths for the first 3 months? How do you bathe your baby with plaster casts?

Any other tips on baby items to look for/avoid would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

[Guest guest]

,

I found the easiest most comfortable way to do a sponge bath was to

put the baby on one of those giant yellow bath sponges. I found it

at Wal-mart in their baby bath section. I would put the giant sponge

on the kitchen counter and put a towel over it so the sponge would

stay clean and dry and just washed her off in the kitchen. I would

hold her head over the sink and use a cup of water to wash her hair.

The sponge just gave her a more comfortable surface to lie on then

just using a towel. It also kept her from rolling. I think the

sponge was just a few bucks. If you do get a baby bath tub for later-

make sure it is a big one that older babies can sit in. The infant

ones are too small by the time the baby will be ready for a " big

girl bath " . We used a blue one made by Safety First that had a

removable, machine washable, terry cloth liner. It could be used for

infant or older baby. We used this tub until our daughter was able

to sit well on her own in the real tub. We only used it for a few

moths, but I do think it was worth the money.

As far as clothes go. We pretty much avoided any outfits with pants

or feet in them. The casts will keep baby's legs warm. If it gets

real cold put socks over end of the casts. My daughter lived in

onsies. We found a lot of long sleave and turtle neck onsies at Old

Navy. For summer makes awesome one-piece outfits for boys or

girls with the snappy crotch. We have about 10 of them! When they

are infants the sleep sack style of jammies work the best. I liked

the zip up style. The ones with the " scrunchie " bottoms always

worked up on her legs. When she was to big for the bag-style

sleepers we just used the onsies and a light blanket. I have noticed

that most parents have comented that their kids slept much better on

their tummies with casts or braces on, I know mine did. If you

insist on " back-to-sleep " just place a rolled towel or blanket under

baby's knees to take the pressure off of her back.

Good Luck and congratulations!!!!

Jen, mom to:

Ava 1/18/02

Addie 8/2/04 (Dobb's Brace 16/7)

PS Lucky you for finding all this info out well in advance! We were

caught by surprise with CF and were refered to a Dr. that told us

that there was really no difference in the method she used and the

Ponsetti method. After 6 mos of treatment without ideal results, we

found Dr Dobbs. We had to start back at square one with casts and

second tenotomy. Addie's feet look awesome. I just wish I knew then

what I know now!

> We just had a 2nd ultrasound today (24 weeks) and we found out that

> both feet are club.

>

> I was suprised there was not a File containing tips for clothes and

> baby items.

>

> I was hoping someone could share their advice on what clothes we

> should look for/avoid with the casts. Will the baby be able to

wear sleepers with feet?

> We are due October 30 - it will be chilly in Pittsburgh. So

advice on cold weather clothes

> would be helpful.

>

> Also, should we bother with a baby bathtub, will we be doing sponge

> baths for the first 3 months? How do you bathe your baby with

plaster casts?

>

> Any other tips on baby items to look for/avoid would be greatly

appreciated.

>

> Thank you,

>

>

[Guest guest]

I cut all the feet out of our sleepers. They are ok with casts but not the

FAB. Other than that we didn't have probs with clothes really, except ones

with feet in and I always tried to buy stuff with the snaps as they are

easier. It is easier with a girl i think as i like the little boy clothes

jeans and stuff and you have to undo a shoe to get them on but once on that

is it...... We used to just top and tail while he was in casts which is

easier anyhow with a new born but he was was in the FAb at around 7/8 weeks

then we bathed on his hour out of the shoes. It does get easier!!!! by the

way my son is now 2 and runs around and is into everything and he is now a

trampoliner!!!!

Rach, Steve & Connor

-- Advice on casts: clothes, clothes, & baby

items

We just had a 2nd ultrasound today (24 weeks) and we found out that

both feet are club.

I was suprised there was not a File containing tips for clothes and

baby items.

I was hoping someone could share their advice on what clothes we

should look for/avoid with the casts. Will the baby be able to wear

sleepers with feet?

We are due October 30 - it will be chilly in Pittsburgh. So advice on cold

weather clothes

would be helpful.

Also, should we bother with a baby bathtub, will we be doing sponge

baths for the first 3 months? How do you bathe your baby with plaster

casts?

Any other tips on baby items to look for/avoid would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,