Re: Re: Part-Time Wear

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Others probably know better than I do. I think it would vary a lot

between individuals. 's head got considerably worse after 7 months

until we finally banded him at 12 months. Personally, I would play it

safe. Especially, if the experts are recommending continuing with the

helmet while sleeping, I would do it. In this case, I would also

consider helmet use while in strollers and car seats.

-Kathy, mom to 19.5 months

wrote:

I'm curious how old Ethan is.

Does anyone know... at what age does it no longer matter if they lay on

the flat, or formerly flat, spot? When can the little noggin fend for

itself, so to speak?

Mom to Sophie 6 mo Starband since 1/13/10

>

> My son has been in his helmet now for ten weeks and has made

tremendous progress. At his helmet appointment this past Wednesday, our

orthist said that when we meet with his plastic surgeon (he wrote the

prescription and checked Ethan's head to rule out any other problems

prior to getting his helmet) that he will probably recommend that Ethan

go to part-time wear which would mostly consist of nights and during

naps (Ethan still sleeps on his back). When Ethan isn't sleeping, he is

sitting up or playing in his exersaucer, so he's not putting any

pressure on the back of his head. I believe that's a big reason that he

will recommend part-time wear. I'm just wondering if anyone else has

experienced this and what it has been like. I am very excited for him

to get his helmet off and to have his little head back; however, I

don't want any regression because of how well he has done. Honestly, I

was initially completely scared of him getting his helmet, but now I'm

also scared about him getting it off. When he's got it on I know that

no harm is coming to his little noggin.

> Thanks ~

> Mom to Ethan (Starband since 11/4/09)

>

[Guest guest]

,

Wouldn't you be able to tell if it didn't fit correctly?

As you may remember, did wear her band part time for about 5 weeks. I could tell that it still fit every time I put it on. After returing from a vacation where we didn't bring it along, she didn't want it on and I stopped having her wear it. She asked to wear it later, and I could tell that she had outgrown it when I tried to put it on. It was just too snug and the velcro strap didn't align correctly when I tried to close it. So, I told her it didn't fit anymore and she hasn't worn it since. I'm not sure if it would have continued to fit her if I had kept it on part time, but I could tell when she had outgrown it. I guess that's why that explanation doesn't make sense to me.

Re: Part-Time WearI asked my ortho is Luke could do part time wear (just at night and naps) after his graduation for 2 weeks and she said that she wouldn't advise that because if he had grown during the time he wasn't wearing his band, the band wouldn't fit correctly when it was worn.Not sure if this applies to STARbands, but I wanted to tell you our experience just in case.I was also nervous about Luke getting his helmet off. Sometimes I wish he still had it on when he bumps his head!!!Luke, 14 monthsSTARband 4/7/09-6/10/09DOCband 9/2/09-12/7/09plagio & brachyNYC>> My son has been in his helmet now for ten weeks and has made tremendous progress. At his helmet appointment this past Wednesday, our orthist said that when we meet with his plastic surgeon (he wrote the prescription and checked Ethan's head to rule out any other problems prior to getting his helmet) that he will probably recommend that Ethan go to part-time wear which would mostly consist of nights and during naps (Ethan still sleeps on his back). When Ethan isn't sleeping, he is sitting up or playing in his exersaucer, so he's not putting any pressure on the back of his head. I believe that's a big reason that he will recommend part-time wear. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and what it has been like. I am very excited for him to get his helmet off and to have his little head back; however, I don't want any regression because of how well he has done. Honestly, I was initially completely scared of him getting his helmet, but now I'm also scared about him getting it off. When he's got it on I know that no harm is coming to his little noggin.> Thanks ~ > Mom to Ethan (Starband since 11/4/09)>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm confused whether this would apply for the Starband. I've

considered weaning off his helmet slowly once we decided to

discontinue the helmet. I wonder how this would work. Right now I

don't want to put much thought into it though since I'm not ready to

take the helmet off.

-Kathy, mom to

wrote:

Hi , I agree. I think an attentive parent would be able to

tell if the band didn't fit correctly.

I didn't want to give any misinformation, so I asked my ortho to

clarify. She replied that she couldn't speak for the STARband, but as

for the DOCBand, if the head grows with the band off, the head can very

quickly get too big for the band and not fit properly. It depends on

how old the baby is – the younger the baby the faster the growth, the

less time it would take for the band not to fit.

If a baby is only wearing their band at night, the band would probably

be outgrown more quickly than if it was worn full time. And even if it

were worn all the time eventually at some point the head circumference

gets too big for any band.

In any case, the practitioner can assess the fit of the band better

than anyone and they can see if it is outgrown. If the band feels snug

and the Velcro feels different – then the band shouldn't be worn. It

can actually make the head shape worse.

> >

> > My son has been in his helmet now for ten weeks and has made

tremendous progress. Â At his helmet appointment this past Wednesday,

our orthist said that when we meet with his plastic surgeon (he wrote

the prescription and checked Ethan's head to rule out any other

problems prior to getting his helmet) that he will probably recommend

that Ethan go to part-time wear which would mostly consist of nights

and during naps (Ethan still sleeps on his back). Â When Ethan isn't

sleeping, he is sitting up or playing in his exersaucer, so he's not

putting any pressure on the back of his head. Â I believe that's a big

reason that he will recommend part-time wear. Â I'm just wondering if

anyone else has experienced this and what it has been like. Â I am very

excited for him to get his helmet off and to have his little head back;

however, I don't want any regression because of how well he has done.

 Honestly, I was initially completely scared of him getting his

helmet, but now I'm also scared about him getting it off. Â When he's

got it on I know that no harm is coming to his little noggin.

> > Thanks ~

> > Mom to Ethan (Starband since 11/4/09)

> >

>