Re: why do family seem to be against the helmet? (rant)

[Guest guest]

I completely agree with you. Why are straight teeth important, but a crooked

head is okay? Plus there are some indications that plagio and brachy contribute

to other problems such as with jaw alignment. I would band with the numbers you

are seeing - or any numbers if your childs head doesn't look right to you. This

is your chance to be able to help correct it. Later that won't be possible. Once

you get started it really isn't too much trouble and time just flies.

-christine

sydney, 3 yrs, starband grad

>

> My husband and I are trying to get my 10.5 month old banded. I am already

regretful that we didn't do it earlier, and I don't want to have further

regrets. He had torticollis and has plagio - 7mm off and brachy - CI = 90%.

Sometimes his head looks okay to me and other times it doesn't.

>

> But anyways, both of our parents think that helmeting is unnecessary and that

my son's head doesn't look that bad. Why does it seem like everyone (besides

parents) is against helmeting? I start to feel like I'm being ridiculous and

putting too much emphasis on looks. Of course, I plan on teaching my child that

looks mean nothing if not accompanied with a spirit of empathy, generosity, and

appreciation, but I remember what it's like to be young and awkward. Besides,

parents put braces on their kids' teeth all the time, and no one blinks an eye.

So why should I feel shallow for wanting to try and get my child's head as

straight as I can? I don't know, it's just weird to me. /endrant

>

[Guest guest]

thanks, everyone for the support. It is so easy for me to second guess myself

when our family thinks it is unnecessary. It means a lot to have the support of

other parents who understand!

lisa

> >

> > My husband and I are trying to get my 10.5 month old banded. I am already

regretful that we didn't do it earlier, and I don't want to have further

regrets. He had torticollis and has plagio - 7mm off and brachy - CI = 90%.

Sometimes his head looks okay to me and other times it doesn't.

> >

> > But anyways, both of our parents think that helmeting is unnecessary and

that my son's head doesn't look that bad. Why does it seem like everyone

(besides parents) is against helmeting? I start to feel like I'm being

ridiculous and putting too much emphasis on looks. Of course, I plan on teaching

my child that looks mean nothing if not accompanied with a spirit of empathy,

generosity, and appreciation, but I remember what it's like to be young and

awkward. Besides, parents put braces on their kids' teeth all the time, and no

one blinks an eye. So why should I feel shallow for wanting to try and get my

child's head as straight as I can? I don't know, it's just weird to me. /endrant

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I understand the pressure you must be feeling from everyone. My daughter's

plagio was very severe and no one but me seemed to be concerned about it.

Doctors, my parents and in laws, friends, and worst of all my husband and father

of our child. I trusted my instincts and fought everyone about it and now my

daughter is almost through with her STARband helmet and the results are already

amazing! My hubby finally came around and admitted that I was right and he's

very grateful that I stood my ground because that's not always easy for me to do

(just not my personality--but when it comes to my lil girl I'm a fierce mamma

bear!)

I know in the case of my family members and hubby that they were just closed off

to the idea because they didn't want to come to the realization that there was

something wrong with their perfect little baby. They came around though and

realized it's not that bad and that we are so lucky that it can be corrected now

and she wont even remember it when she gets older.

>

> My husband and I are trying to get my 10.5 month old banded. I am already

regretful that we didn't do it earlier, and I don't want to have further

regrets. He had torticollis and has plagio - 7mm off and brachy - CI = 90%.

Sometimes his head looks okay to me and other times it doesn't.

>

> But anyways, both of our parents think that helmeting is unnecessary and that

my son's head doesn't look that bad. Why does it seem like everyone (besides

parents) is against helmeting? I start to feel like I'm being ridiculous and

putting too much emphasis on looks. Of course, I plan on teaching my child that

looks mean nothing if not accompanied with a spirit of empathy, generosity, and

appreciation, but I remember what it's like to be young and awkward. Besides,

parents put braces on their kids' teeth all the time, and no one blinks an eye.

So why should I feel shallow for wanting to try and get my child's head as

straight as I can? I don't know, it's just weird to me. /endrant

>

[Guest guest]

Go with your gut & don't worry about what others think. Babies rely on parents

to do what is right for them, not what is right for the grandparents. My 1st

child had tortacolis that was not properly treated. She now has very noticeable

facial asemmetry at 2.5 years old. I am now trying to figure out if there is

anything can be done for her to correct this. I wish I would have pressed for

the helmet when she was an infant!

> >

> > My husband and I are trying to get my 10.5 month old banded. I am already

regretful that we didn't do it earlier, and I don't want to have further

regrets. He had torticollis and has plagio - 7mm off and brachy - CI = 90%.

Sometimes his head looks okay to me and other times it doesn't.

> >

> > But anyways, both of our parents think that helmeting is unnecessary and

that my son's head doesn't look that bad. Why does it seem like everyone

(besides parents) is against helmeting? I start to feel like I'm being

ridiculous and putting too much emphasis on looks. Of course, I plan on teaching

my child that looks mean nothing if not accompanied with a spirit of empathy,

generosity, and appreciation, but I remember what it's like to be young and

awkward. Besides, parents put braces on their kids' teeth all the time, and no

one blinks an eye. So why should I feel shallow for wanting to try and get my

child's head as straight as I can? I don't know, it's just weird to me. /endrant

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think the helmets in a weird way kind of scare people, or they are just

embarrassed about the baby wearing it. To me though, I think babies look so cute

in their helmets, but to someone totally new to all of this, it can be a bit of

a shock. If I were you, I would tell explain to them that he's going to be in a

helmet for a little while, but he won't even remember it, and he'll get used to

it quickly. The only ones really stressing about it are them. He'll be fine. And

it's worth it to have a helmet for a few months as opposed to possible YEARS of

embarrassment about an asymmetrical head later on in life. As a parent, I of

course always thought my son was perfect, even with moderate to severe plagio,

but I was thinking about HIM, not me or what anyone else would think. So just

let everyone know that you are doing this with HIM in mind, not anyone else. He

can't talk to you right now to tell you what HE thinks, so you just have to do

everything you feel is right in order to ensure a happy future for him.

[Guest guest]

hi ,

Do you have pictures of your child? I just brought my daughter to the pediatrican and she said her head looks a lot better over the past month, but I'm still concerned that her head is still flat.

If you don't mind, I'd like to see if your child's head looks similar to my daughters.

Thanks,

From: bananaaggie <lisa03@...>Subject: Re: why do family seem to be against the helmet? (rant)Plagiocephaly Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 10:37 PM

thanks, everyone for the support. It is so easy for me to second guess myself when our family thinks it is unnecessary. It means a lot to have the support of other parents who understand!lisa> >> > My husband and I are trying to get my 10.5 month old banded. I am already regretful that we didn't do it earlier, and I don't want to have further regrets. He had torticollis and has plagio - 7mm off and brachy - CI = 90%. Sometimes his head looks okay to me and other times it doesn't. > > > > But anyways, both of our parents think that helmeting is unnecessary and that my son's head doesn't look that bad. Why does it seem like everyone (besides parents) is against helmeting? I start to feel like I'm being ridiculous and putting too much emphasis on looks. Of course, I plan on teaching my child that

looks mean nothing if not accompanied with a spirit of empathy, generosity, and appreciation, but I remember what it's like to be young and awkward. Besides, parents put braces on their kids' teeth all the time, and no one blinks an eye. So why should I feel shallow for wanting to try and get my child's head as straight as I can? I don't know, it's just weird to me. /endrant> >>

[Guest guest]

This is a little off topic, but how did you luck out to get Dr. Sears as your pediatrician. I mean, I'm assuming he's the one that writes all of the books and has the website, correct?

Re: why do family seem to be against the helmet? (rant)

My in-laws were against the helmet and even after my 2nd band, my MIL told me that I was going to make my child have a bad disposition and it was not worth it. That really upset me b/c she kept harping on it to me and then to my husband, which really made me angry. My DS started with 24 mm and 96% brachy and had ear, eye and jaw assymetries, including a flat forehead. He now looks normal and we're still working on the flatness of his head, particularly in the back. But he looks fantastic and it is worth it.My DS still hates his Band, but I know he'll thank me in the long run. My husband was fully supportive and my parents weren't thrilled but they respected my decision and stayed out of it. Bottom line is that this is your child, not anyone else's. I did find support right here with this Board. Also, my ped is Bob Sears (the vaccination Dr.) and he told me I had to get the Doc Band for my DS, told me it would not round out. I am so glad that I listened to him b/c he did tell me that even at 4 months, my DS was too severe to keep repositioning. I am very thankful for having such a knowledgeable ped. He knew so much about plagio and tort. For me, I trust my doctor and my instinct over family members, who are well-meaning but don't really know what they are talking about; and just prejudiced against this "weird" device. I am so thankful and my DS looks great.He'll be done this August, and have spent about 7 months in the band when he's done.> > >> > > My husband and I are trying to get my 10.5 month old banded. I am already regretful that we didn't do it earlier, and I don't want to have further regrets. He had torticollis and has plagio - 7mm off and brachy - CI = 90%. Sometimes his head looks okay to me and other times it doesn't. > > > > > > But anyways, both of our parents think that helmeting is unnecessary and that my son's head doesn't look that bad. Why does it seem like everyone (besides parents) is against helmeting? I start to feel like I'm being ridiculous and putting too much emphasis on looks. Of course, I plan on teaching my child that looks mean nothing if not accompanied with a spirit of empathy, generosity, and appreciation, but I remember what it's like to be young and awkward. Besides, parents put braces on their kids' teeth all the time, and no one blinks an eye. So why should I feel shallow for wanting to try and get my child's head as straight as I can? I don't know, it's just weird to me. /endrant> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, I'm in MD, but I am a fan of some of his stuff. I read his book on vaccinations and have read information on the web site. I can't believe that he still has time to see patients with everything else that he is doing. I suppose that it keeps him in step with current issues by doing this.

Anyway, I think it's totally cool.

, mom to , 21.5 months

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

land

Re: why do family seem to be against the helmet? (rant)

,Do you live near the OC in Cali? His office is on his website, San Capistrano. Anyone can go to him. We go to CT in SD anyway, so it's on the way. He doesn't take insurance though so you have to pay out of pocket or have your ins. co. reimburse you. He's an excellent ped. Really well informed. > > > > > > > > My husband and I are trying to get my 10.5 month old banded. I am already regretful that we didn't do it earlier, and I don't want to have further regrets. He had torticollis and has plagio - 7mm off and brachy - CI = 90%. Sometimes his head looks okay to me and other times it doesn't. > > > > > > > > But anyways, both of our parents think that helmeting is unnecessary and that my son's head doesn't look that bad. Why does it seem like everyone (besides parents) is against helmeting? I start to feel like I'm being ridiculous and putting too much emphasis on looks. Of course, I plan on teaching my child that looks mean nothing if not accompanied with a spirit of empathy, generosity, and appreciation, but I remember what it's like to be young and awkward. Besides, parents put braces on their kids' teeth all the time, and no one blinks an eye. So why should I feel shallow for wanting to try and get my child's head as straight as I can? I don't know, it's just weird to me. /endrant > > > > > > > > >>