Re: Re: Isolating infant from friends & family while banded

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Ok...My daughter has been in her helmet since last August...and we have done everything in her helmet...pictures, christmas cards, birthday parties, you name it she was in her helmet. I was not concerned what others would say...her helmet is a part of our lives and it always will be. There was actually a huge article on our local newpaper about her and plagiocephaly...which this article took up a whole page of the wellness section. So my thoughts on the subject...don't isolate your child from family and friends instead use the helmet as a teaching tool.

From: csorensen25 <csorensen25@...>Subject: Re: Isolating infant from friends & family while bandedPlagiocephaly Date: Friday, July 17, 2009, 12:47 PM

Okay, I'll bite. I can see where the original poster is coming from. My son was banded from 9 months to 13 months. Part of that time overlapped Christmas. We sent our Christmas card list an updated picture of our son and I really debated whether or not to take it in the helmet. I wasn't ashamed of our choice, but I wasn't sure I wanted to take up half our holiday letter explaining it when we had other news to share. Then, I was afraid that if we didn't explain it, it would leave everyone unnecessarily unconcerned. The friends and family we regularly spoke to and communicated with did know about the helmet, but the great aunt and uncle living 2 states away never did. In the end, our son wore a cute Santa hat with name written on it that the daycare made.-, mom to Johann (3 years old and helmet free for 2 years!) and Anders (6 months old and soon-to-be banded)Indianapolis>> > > One life lesson that I have learned in recent years is that if you treat something like it's no big deal, most other people will as well. I'm willing to bet that most of the kids won't think much of it. The adults might, but you can just act like it's no big deal and after a little bit of experience being around the baby, they will probably forget that it's even on as well. > > > > Remember that people will be curious. It's only natural. Just mention it in passing. "Oh, didn't I tell you that we were getting him a helmet. He's got a flat spot and the helmet will correct this. It's really quite light and he doesn't seem to mind wearing it at all. It'll only be for a few

months. Don't you think it's cute?" > > > > I didn't "officially" tell my family, but they live on the other side of the country. I did mention it in passing on a few occasions and sent them pictures of her in it. I also sent progress pics and my F and F commented on how quickly they were seeing improvement. Then, they asked some questions and I answered. The cousins never saw her in person while she wore it, although they probably did in the pictures I sent. They range in age from 7 months to 7 years and I trust the my sisters were able to adequately explain the reason for the helmet. When we were in California this summer after 's graduation, no one even mentioned her helmet or her head. When I said something about a little flat spot left, my sister told me that her head looked good to her. The cousins didn't say a word or look at her funny or anything. I really don't think that it's something that the

kids thought of as something to tease about. If it's no big deal , then there's nothing to tease about. > > > > If you did tell F and F, t his will give the adults a chance to teach the kids about differences. I believe that the more exposure our kids get to differences, the better adults they will be. My little neice is almost 4 years old and is showing significant signs of Autism and has significant developmental delays. My kids did look at her funny while we were in California, but they seemed to understand that the rules and expectations were different for her because she can't talk and is a lot like a baby. kept referring to her as "baby." We are thinking that we will have to have the discussion with our kids about her differences before too long. The explanation of a helmet will be much easier than this one. > > > > was older, but she loved her helmet and was so

proud of wearing it. She loved to show other people, "'s helmet" when she saw others with bike helmets, etc. Most of the comments were along the lines of "Your helmet is very pretty. What do you have on there?" > > > > Obviously, the decision is up to you, but I worry a little bit about the kind of message you are giving to others and the baby if you do this. You say that you're not ashamed, but I'm afraid that being ashamed may be what would be communicated through this action. You may find that you feel differently once you get the helmet. > > > > , mom to , 22.5 months > > STARband from 14.5 to 20.5 months plus CST > > also mom to Aidan, 3 years > > land > > > > > > > > Lilypie Baby Ticker Lilypie Baby Ticker Lilypie Baby Ticker> >

Isolating infant from friends & family while banded > > Â > > > > > we haven't really told any of our friends and family that we're planning on having our 6 mth old wear a helmet for the next 4 mths. > > We'll take the kid outdoors, but we're thinking about not mentioning anything to F & F about the Band. Not b/c we're ashamed (if anything I'm pissed off that no one mentioned plagio when they insisted on the sleep to back thing). > > No, we're worried that the kids of our

F & F's may tease our kid about misshapen head issues later. Hopefully after it's been corrected, no one will even notice it. But a helmet could leave an indelible mark w/ F & F and they'll probably mention it to their kids in passing. > > Do any parents have any experience with this?>