Re: Unsure what to do - get the doc band or not????

June 10, 2009

Hi-

My son wore 2 DOCBands from Cranial Tech beginning at 17 months old and it was

SO worth it. I highly recommend going forward with it, even at this late age. I

was in agony over my son's head shape and I just felt like I had to try anything

to help it and I'm so glad I did. We could have gotten a STARBand but it is only

recommended to 18 months of age, so I went to Cranial Tech because they band

babies up to 24 months old (and have a ton of experience doing it). Follow your

gut. Even after two bands, my son's head is not perfect (though so much better

then when we started), but it was so worth it. Just have realistic expectations

and you'll feel better knowing you tried. My son's pics are in the Older Plagio

Kids folder under Jake W. if you're interested. Please keep me posted and ask

any other questions you may have. Good luck!

Jake-2.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)

Jordan-5

>

> I am a first time mom of a beautiful 15 month old boy. My husband and I have

been going to physical therapy for the last month and a half for our son's tort.

We've seen improvements with his neck movements and is favoring his left side

less and less. Our P.T. states that it is a mild case of tort. and it is up to

us whether or not to get the doc band. Due to the tort. his left side of his

head is flatter than the right side. Our son also has a flat spot on the back

of his head because he sleeps on his back. Our P.T. also states that a child's

head grows rapidly and once he starts rolling over and not being on his back,

his head can look completely different in the next month or so. I made the

appointment with Cranial Technology for a consultation appointment. I am also

looking into the Star band. I feel awful that my son might have to wear a

helmet for a few months. I have mixed feelings about the doc band but I also

want to do the right thing for my son and do not want to regret not doing it

later on. Sorry for rambling on. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

>

June 10, 2009

Hi ,Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. We go July 1st for our consultation appointment for the doc band. I am anxious about going. The more I speak to people the better I feel that I am doing the right thing. How long did your son have to wear the band for? Did your son also have tort.? Thanks again for sharingFrom: <nwilkens2275@...>Subject: Re: Unsure what to do - get the doc band or not????Plagiocephaly Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 3:58 PM

Hi-

My son wore 2 DOCBands from Cranial Tech beginning at 17 months old and it was SO worth it. I highly recommend going forward with it, even at this late age. I was in agony over my son's head shape and I just felt like I had to try anything to help it and I'm so glad I did. We could have gotten a STARBand but it is only recommended to 18 months of age, so I went to Cranial Tech because they band babies up to 24 months old (and have a ton of experience doing it). Follow your gut. Even after two bands, my son's head is not perfect (though so much better then when we started), but it was so worth it. Just have realistic expectations and you'll feel better knowing you tried. My son's pics are in the Older Plagio Kids folder under Jake W. if you're interested. Please keep me posted and ask any other questions you may have. Good luck!

Jake-2.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)

Jordan-5

>

> I am a first time mom of a beautiful 15 month old boy. My husband and I have been going to physical therapy for the last month and a half for our son's tort. We've seen improvements with his neck movements and is favoring his left side less and less. Our P.T. states that it is a mild case of tort. and it is up to us whether or not to get the doc band. Due to the tort. his left side of his head is flatter than the right side. Our son also has a flat spot on the back of his head because he sleeps on his back. Our P.T. also states that a child's head grows rapidly and once he starts rolling over and not being on his back, his head can look completely different in the next month or so. I made the appointment with Cranial Technology for a consultation appointment. I am also looking into the Star band. I feel awful that my son might have to wear a helmet for a few months. I have mixed feelings about the doc band but I also want to do the right

thing for my son and do not want to regret not doing it later on. Sorry for rambling on. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

>

June 10, 2009

Hi ,

You mention that your son is 15 MONTHS, but then talk about rolling over so I'm a little bit confused. Do you mean 15 weeks or does he have developmental delays.

If you mean 15 months, then I can say that my daughter was banded a week before she turned 15 months and I abosultely do not regret it. We did get a STARband and I was able to convince our ortho to keep her in it until she had been in it the full 6 months (until she was 20 months). I can say that the STARband does mention treatment up until 18 months, but it depends upon who you have whether they will agree to go longer based upon the wishes of the parent. When we did our consult, we were told that they would keep her in longer than 18 months if it looked like she was still making progress. If, like , you are told that he will come out at 18 months, then I would definately not go with them. At this late age, you want to be in the band for the maximum amount of time that the band still works. To be honest, I can still feel that 's STARband material still bounces back when I press in so I'm not sure that it wouldn't have been good for even longer.

She has brachy rather than plagio and brachy is a little more stubborn to fix. We had the most improvement during the first 9 weeks that she wore it. After that, the only improvement we had was some rounding out of her head and general improvement in the volume rather than a change in her ratio (brachy is measured in ratios). STill, I am totally convinced when I look at her before and after pictures. Yes, I wish I had banded her earlier so that we could have gotten more correction, but given the option that I had to band or not band at 14.5 months, I am so glad that I banded.

I haven't actually posted my office before and after pictures to this group yet, but I've uploaded them to my flicker account. The link is below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11835424@N06/

, mom to , 21.5 months

STARband grad 11/17/08 to 05/11/09

land

Re: Unsure what to do - get the doc band or not????Plagiocephaly Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 3:58 PM

Hi-My son wore 2 DOCBands from Cranial Tech beginning at 17 months old and it was SO worth it. I highly recommend going forward with it, even at this late age. I was in agony over my son's head shape and I just felt like I had to try anything to help it and I'm so glad I did. We could have gotten a STARBand but it is only recommended to 18 months of age, so I went to Cranial Tech because they band babies up to 24 months old (and have a ton of experience doing it). Follow your gut. Even after two bands, my son's head is not perfect (though so much better then when we started), but it was so worth it. Just have realistic expectations and you'll feel better knowing you tried. My son's pics are in the Older Plagio Kids folder under Jake W. if you're interested. Please keep me posted and ask any other questions you may have. Good luck!Jake-2.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)Jordan-5>> I am a first time mom of a beautiful 15 month old boy. My husband and I have been going to physical therapy for the last month and a half for our son's tort. We've seen improvements with his neck movements and is favoring his left side less and less. Our P.T. states that it is a mild case of tort. and it is up to us whether or not to get the doc band. Due to the tort. his left side of his head is flatter than the right side. Our son also has a flat spot on the back of his head because he sleeps on his back. Our P.T. also states that a child's head grows rapidly and once he starts rolling over and not being on his back, his head can look completely different in the next month or so. I made the appointment with Cranial Technology for a consultation appointment. I am also looking into the Star band. I feel awful that my son might have to wear a helmet for a few months. I have mixed feelings about the doc band but I also want to do the right thing for my son and do not want to regret not doing it later on. Sorry for rambling on. Any advise is greatly appreciated. > > >

June 10, 2009

Hi ,

Be persistent. Do not rely on others. Trust your instincts and feelings. If

your son's head is misshapen, don't expect others to match your concern level.

At 15 months your child's head growth is starting to slow down. Don't count on

things to correct themselves on their own. Actively pursue the change you wish

to see.

No one wants to put their child in a helmet, but we're all so thankful we did

and grateful for the results we've seen.

We had several doctors, family members, and friends tell us for months not to

worry. Everything was fine or would be fine. At 8 months old we finally

decided to take matters into our own hands and get our daughter a helmet - STAR

or DOC. (We ended up going with STAR because of a recommend from our

Craniofacial specialist, but we're just as comfortable with a DOC).

Our daughter has positional plagiocephaly and was initially measured with 13mm

of asymmetry. After 2 months in the helmet, she is now at 7mm. By the numbers

that is about a 50% improvement, but by the visual it is a world of difference.

We're hopeful that she will celebrate her first birthday without the helmet.

Lastly, please consult with your Pediatrician about the fact that your child is

15 months old and is not rolling over yet. I think most kids are rolling over

by 6 months, as this is when repositioning therapy is often believed to be

ineffective.

Best of luck.

Rick