Guest guest Posted August 9, 2009 Report Share Posted August 9, 2009 hello - i am a newbie, never joined a group like this before. my 6 month son just got a helmet (4 days ago) to treat his plagiocephaly and it has been an adjustment for all of us. i know this is the best thing for him and i am committed to this process. there are just two issues i am struggling with and would like some advice on. 1. he doesn't look like my collin any more. he looks like a different kid to me almost. it is hard for me to accept that i will be looking at collin in a helmet for the next 3-6 months instead of just collin. 2. we were out running errands several times this weekend and i was caught off gaurd with people staring at collin, kids pointing at him, getting the pitty look, special treatment etc. i am afraid i am going to scream at someone - STOP STARING AT MY BABY! if anyone else has or is going through this please respond - i would love some advice or just someone to gritch with. thank you! becca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2009 Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 Hello and welcome to the group, My son is about a week shy of 7 months. He has been in his helmet three weeks today. Everyone in this group can understand your fear and apprehension abut this whole process. However, I don't think I've run into anyone that has regretted banding their child. I have seen such a huge difference in my son's head in a very short time. It's amazing! to answer your concerns: 1. In a weird way, I felt like I was seeing my son for the first time. When he first got his helmet, both my husband and I commented on how cute his face was. It's like we hadn't even realized what he looked like before. Whenever I looked at him I think all I looked at was his head. Now, I feel like the helmet actually frames his face and gives me a chance to concentrate on him, not how his head looks. It is a hard adjustment though. It won't be too long until both you and him get used to the helmet and you really don't even think about it. Now, I " m anxious to get his helmet back on after his hour off because I want it to get back to work on his head 2. People will/do stare. In general it doesn't bother me much. I thought it would, but it doesn't. I just wish I was able to stop everyone that stares at him and explain what's wrong. I just figure it's human nature. I would probably look at the baby with a helmet also. It really makes me feel for parents of children who have a real disability. I just remind myself that my child is healthy and it could be much worse. My son gets more attention because of his helmet. He doesn't realize why people are talking and smiling at him. He just thinks they think he's cute and he eats it up. In a way it's good for him. If I take the time to look for it, then pretty much everyone I pass looks at us. However, I have started now to just stop looking at other people that much. I just concentrate on my two kids when I " m out and I really don't even notice everyone looking that much anymore. Good Luck with everything. Give it some time and you will start to feel more at ease about the helmet. You are doing the best thing for your child > > > hello - > > i am a newbie, never joined a group like this before. my 6 month son > just got a helmet (4 days ago) to treat his plagiocephaly and it has > been an adjustment for all of us. i know this is the best thing for him > and i am committed to this process. there are just two issues i am > struggling with and would like some advice on. > > 1. he doesn't look like my collin any more. he looks like a different > kid to me almost. it is hard for me to accept that i will be looking at > collin in a helmet for the next 3-6 months instead of just collin. > > 2. we were out running errands several times this weekend and i was > caught off gaurd with people staring at collin, kids pointing at him, > getting the pitty look, special treatment etc. i am afraid i am going > to scream at someone - STOP STARING AT MY BABY! > > if anyone else has or is going through this please respond - i would > love some advice or just someone to gritch with. > > thank you! > > becca > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2009 Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 Hi Becca-- It is hard to see them in their helmets. BUT I'll be honest, before the helmet, E's head and face were looking so out-of-place that I just remember that. Would I rather be looking at his distorted features and head or the helmet? DH and I had decided we couldn't " live with " the way his face and head had gotten smooshed--so it's helmet or that. And E. does look cute in his helmet. I just try to really, really enjoy the hour of " off " time. Prior to the helmet, I was finding myself NOT looking at E. too much--kind of looking away--because his head made me sad. I forget that sometimes now and think I just loved his cute little head--but I didn't; it was too hard to look at. Second, most of the people looking at his helmet in public really think he looks cute. It is hard to be the center of attention; I do dread it in a way and we probably don't go out as much as we used to. BUT lots of people comment on how cute he is, how he's ready for football, etc. And although they do feel sorry for him and sorry for me having to have my baby in the helmet, it's really not too bad. I just try to answer questions, or if they just make a comment-- " Wow--a little football player! " , I might say, " He's pretty tough " . If they don't want to chat about it, I just make a pleasant comment and move on. But if they are more curious, I tell a little more-- " He had a flat spot; this is to round out his head " . Or more detail if they push. I'm not one to chat with strangers when I'm out, but unfortunatly, I don't have a choice with this--E. does look quite different. Just prepare some short pleasant answers, and know that most people really think he looks cute--because the helmets ARE kinda cute Best wishes-- Betsy hello - i am a newbie, never joined a group like this before. my 6 month son just got a helmet (4 days ago) to treat his plagiocephaly and it has been an adjustment for all of us. i know this is the best thing for him and i am committed to this process. there are just two issues i am struggling with and would like some advice on. 1. he doesn't look like my collin any more. he looks like a different kid to me almost. it is hard for me to accept that i will be looking at collin in a helmet for the next 3-6 months instead of just collin. 2. we were out running errands several times this weekend and i was caught off gaurd with people staring at collin, kids pointing at him, getting the pitty look, special treatment etc. i am afraid i am going to scream at someone - STOP STARING AT MY BABY! if anyone else has or is going through this please respond - i would love some advice or just someone to gritch with. thank you! becca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2009 Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 thanks betsy - i really appreciate your feedback! From: Betsy <bsm7305@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 7:01:36 AMSubject: Re: new helmet Hi Becca--It is hard to see them in their helmets. BUT I'll be honest, before the helmet, E's head and face were looking so out-of-place that I just remember that. Would I rather be looking at his distorted features and head or the helmet? DH and I had decided we couldn't "live with" the way his face and head had gotten smooshed--so it's helmet or that. And E. does look cute in his helmet. I just try to really, really enjoy the hour of "off" time.Prior to the helmet, I was finding myself NOT looking at E. too much--kind of looking away--because his head made me sad. I forget that sometimes now and think I just loved his cute little head--but I didn't; it was too hard to look at.Second, most of the people looking at his helmet in public really think he looks cute. It is hard to be the center of attention; I do dread it in a way and we probably don't go out as much as we used to. BUT lots of people comment on how cute he is, how he's ready for football, etc. And although they do feel sorry for him and sorry for me having to have my baby in the helmet, it's really not too bad. I just try to answer questions, or if they just make a comment--"Wow- -a little football player!", I might say, "He's pretty tough". If they don't want to chat about it, I just make a pleasant comment and move on. But if they are more curious, I tell a little more--"He had a flat spot; this is to round out his head". Or more detail if they push.I'm not one to chat with strangers when I'm out, but unfortunatly, I don't have a choice with this--E. does look quite different. Just prepare some short pleasant answers, and know that most people really think he looks cute--because the helmets ARE kinda cute :)Best wishes--Betsyhello -i am a newbie, never joined a group like this before. my 6 month sonjust got a helmet (4 days ago) to treat his plagiocephaly and it hasbeen an adjustment for all of us. i know this is the best thing for himand i am committed to this process. there are just two issues i amstruggling with and would like some advice on.1. he doesn't look like my collin any more. he looks like a differentkid to me almost. it is hard for me to accept that i will be looking atcollin in a helmet for the next 3-6 months instead of just collin.2. we were out running errands several times this weekend and i wascaught off gaurd with people staring at collin, kids pointing at him,getting the pitty look, special treatment etc. i am afraid i am goingto scream at someone - STOP STARING AT MY BABY!if anyone else has or is going through this please respond - i wouldlove some advice or just someone to gritch with.thank you!becca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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