RE: When is the best time to start a band?

[Guest guest]

Better safe than sorry. Don't feel bad at all. Somebody wrote a prescription for your little one's helmet: he needs it then and he's so young he'll get to wear it for a shorter time than if you waited. Don't waste your time with that gal.

, tampa,Fl

, 16 mo adj (19 mo),starband since 9 july

Plagiocephaly From: juicyjoyco_22@...Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:12:09 +0000Subject: When is the best time to start a band?

My son, , got his DOC Band from CT a week and a half ago, just before he was 4 months old. He has severe plagiocephaly and asymmetry. We already see a difference, plus we're working on his torticollis. The issue is really outside influences making me doubt what we just paid for.Insurance paid a little bit for the band and we're fine with what we paid, but I worry that we jumped too early and should have waited til my son was spending more time off his head. Have you had issues with getting a helmet too early? Am I going to regret this decision? The pedi thinks 4-6 months is the best time to have a band done since the skull is growing so fast, but then I have a gal on a chat board who seems to like to sling pointed jabs (her daughter has brachy and she does not want to get a helmet, saying they're only for "cosmetic" reasons) and says she went to a cranio-surgeon or something and they recommend waiting til 6 months, that Cranial Technologies is only out for the money, blah blah blah.Can any of you make me feel better about my decision??thank you so much, I am SO glad this group exists. joyce

[Guest guest]

We put our son in a helmet, since he was really bad and not our daughter. His head has made tremendous progress in just 3 weeks. We are now going to get a helmet for our daughter, as well. She does a ton of tummy time and even sleeps on her stomach. Her measurements aren't changing one bit. I think you have to have counter pressure in order to make a difference.

wendy

From: Lulei <cllulei@...>Subject: RE: When is the best time to start a band?plagiocephaly Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2009, 10:22 PM

Better safe than sorry. Don't feel bad at all. Somebody wrote a prescription for your little one's helmet: he needs it then and he's so young he'll get to wear it for a shorter time than if you waited. Don't waste your time with that gal. , tampa,Fl, 16 mo adj (19 mo),starband since 9 july

PlagiocephalyFrom: juicyjoyco_22Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:12:09 +0000Subject: When is the best time to start a band?

My son, , got his DOC Band from CT a week and a half ago, just before he was 4 months old. He has severe plagiocephaly and asymmetry. We already see a difference, plus we're working on his torticollis. The issue is really outside influences making me doubt what we just paid for.Insurance paid a little bit for the band and we're fine with what we paid, but I worry that we jumped too early and should have waited til my son was spending more time off his head. Have you had issues with getting a helmet too early? Am I going to regret this decision? The pedi thinks 4-6 months is the best time to have a band done since the skull is growing so fast, but then I have a gal on a chat board who seems to like to sling pointed jabs (her daughter has brachy and she does not want to get a helmet, saying they're only for "cosmetic" reasons) and says she went to a cranio-surgeon or something and they recommend waiting til 6 months, that

Cranial Technologies is only out for the money, blah blah blah.Can any of you make me feel better about my decision??thank you so much, I am SO glad this group exists. joyce

[Guest guest]

Hi Joyce,

I'm really late in replying to your post, but I feel I was in the same position a while back. My son was banded at 3.5 mos w/ a DOC Band (also severe plagio and asymmetry- 19mm.) and I was concerned that I had jumped the gun in banding him so early. But, despite an ill fitting band for the first 5-6 weeks, his correction during that time was amazing! He had still spent a lot of time on his back b/c he wasn't mobile yet. But I tried to improvise w/ a Bumbo seat, carrier, memory foam in the crib (that's where he spent the most of his time on his back and I was comfortable fitting a mattress topper to his mattress) and lots and lots of tummy time. Once he was 5 mos old, I started him in stationary activity centers and jumpers, too. Now he's getting ready to graduate! I believe his correction is now astonishing, given the shape of his little head in the beginning.

At first the stares were a bit embarrassing, but I realized that I wasn't at all ashamed of my son's need for correction and began addressing the stares appropriately. Okay, not always appropriately. I read on one of these posts a good response to the stares/questions is "my baby likes to skateboard" and that was a good go-to. Generally, I just said "flat head" so they understood what the helmet was for. And, of course, friends and family were thoroughly educated.

My insurance also didn't pay for whole amount of the band (eventually, they kicked in 70%) and I would fork out the money for a second band OOP in a heartbeat if CT recommended one.

However, they have not recommended one. His head is not, nor will it ever be, perfect. And he will be graduating next Wed. (I keep intending to post pics!)!! But I didn't enter this endeavour looking for perfection, just correction. I feel we have got that and then some from CT. I don't see them as money driven or they definitely would have pushed a second band for little O.

You are doing what is best for your child and his future. Resolving Plagio and any associated neck/muscle problems is very important for proper growth and development. I believe, and it has been said time and time again, you won't regret getting your child the treatment he needs, but you may regret not doing so.

,

Mom 2

Oliver, 6.5 mos, 14 weeks in DOC Band

, 3 YO, head like a bowling ball (and just as hard)

From: Joyce <juicyjoyco_22@...>Subject: When is the best time to start a band?Plagiocephaly Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2009, 4:12 PM

My son, , got his DOC Band from CT a week and a half ago, just before he was 4 months old. He has severe plagiocephaly and asymmetry. We already see a difference, plus we're working on his torticollis. The issue is really outside influences making me doubt what we just paid for.Insurance paid a little bit for the band and we're fine with what we paid, but I worry that we jumped too early and should have waited til my son was spending more time off his head. Have you had issues with getting a helmet too early? Am I going to regret this decision? The pedi thinks 4-6 months is the best time to have a band done since the skull is growing so fast, but then I have a gal on a chat board who seems to like to sling pointed jabs (her daughter has brachy and she does not want to get a helmet, saying they're only for "cosmetic" reasons) and says she went to a cranio-surgeon or something and they recommend waiting til 6 months, that Cranial

Technologies is only out for the money, blah blah blah.Can any of you make me feel better about my decision??thank you so much, I am SO glad this group exists. joyce

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for your response. We have seen tremendous change in 's head shape since he's had the helmet and I'm so pleased we decided to get it for him after all. He's a twin, so with two babies, I barely have time to keep him off his head. It is hard to focus on just one baby when I have two who need me so much. I asked our PT at Cranial Tech if she thought would need another band since he's growing so rapidly and she said she didn't think so. So you are right, I don't think they're just in it for the money. I believe she would have waffled and had a different response if all they wanted was our money. thank you again, so glad to hear your kiddo saw some improvement. Yes, our babies won't have perfect heads, but who does?! Oh, and I love the "skateboarding"

comment. I just like saying, "He has plagiocephaly." That sure stops people in their tracks. ha!!take care,Joyce

From: Joyce <juicyjoyco_22>Subject: When is the best time to start a band?PlagiocephalyDate: Wednesday, August 12, 2009, 4:12 PM

My son, , got his DOC Band from CT a week and a half ago, just before he was 4 months old. He has severe plagiocephaly and asymmetry. We already see a difference, plus we're working on his torticollis. The issue is really outside influences making me doubt what we just paid for.Insurance paid a little bit for the band and we're fine with what we paid, but I worry that we jumped too early and should have waited til my son was spending more time off his head. Have you had issues with getting a helmet too early? Am I going to regret this decision? The pedi thinks 4-6 months is the best time to have a band done since the skull is growing so fast, but then I have a gal on a chat board who seems to like to sling pointed jabs (her daughter has brachy and she does not want to get a helmet, saying they're only for "cosmetic" reasons) and says she went to a cranio-surgeon or something and they recommend waiting til 6 months, that Cranial

Technologies is only out for the money, blah blah blah.Can any of you make me feel better about my decision??thank you so much, I am SO glad this group exists. joyce