Re: Getting helmet this week!

[Guest guest]

If you see heat rash, miliaria rubra, either have a hydrocortisone

cream ready, or back off the break-in schedule, or both. Don't try

to fix it with helmet adjustments. An inexperienced clinican may not

distinguish spots caused by excess pressure and spots caused by a

difficult skin acclimation.

I made the mistake of letting Clara tough it out the first day the

rash appeared, on her forehead, one temple and sideburn, which

allowed it to spread. This in turn alarmed the orthotist, who cut

away an effective portion of the front end of her helmet trying to

ventilate it, even though by that time I had started using Cort-Aid

and it was already half gone. We had other problems with that

helmet, but this surely didn't help.

With the second helmet, a rash appeared after the same period of a

few days acclimation, and toward the same side (opposite the flat

occiput), but only low on her cheek this time, where the previous

helmet hadn't covered. I applied the cream once, and that was the

last I saw of the rash. No interior sculpting was done at the one

week orthotist visit.

--

Thad Launderville

Montpelier, VT

Clara age 19 months, 2.5 month STARband failure, in second STARband

one week

On Nov 17, 2009, at 3:29 PM, lindseytackett@... wrote:

> Does anyone have any advice for us starting out? I'm curious to

> see how he reacts to having it on his head. It is a StarBand from

> Hanger [....]

[Guest guest]

Glad to hear that things are moving along. We had a STARband and it's really still pretty light. It's only a couple of ounces more than the DOCband. I was really surprised at how light it was. Did they show you a band when you were in the office?

Ask the ortho about cleaning the band, dressing the baby, and specifics about when you need to call them. It's really pretty easy to put on and take off as well. You have to open it wide to get it on but it won't break. Our ortho told the story of someone running over their STARband with the car and it still didn't break. I believe that it was bent, but not enough to need a new one. They were able to fix it in the office. Anyway, make sure you are comfortable with this so that you don't get nervous about it. Then, relax and assume the baby will adjust well. Most do and if you are relaxed about it, the baby will be more comfortable.

Then, don't get bothered when people look twice. They are not used to seeing babies in helmets. I used it as an opportunity to educate others and reminded myself how lucky I was that this was all temporary. To be honest, I thought my looked beautiful in her band and was happy to show it off. After a little while, I forgot that she had it on.

Good luck and ask us if you have other questions.

, mom to , 26.5 months

STARband grad May 2009

Chiro and CST

land

Getting helmet this week!

We are so excited that my son's helmet is arriving this week! He is 7 1/2 months now and we've been trying to get the helmet for nearly 2 months now (between the doctors not having any available appointments for two weeks out--the craniologist and the orthotist; waiting for insurance approval; and ordering the actual helmet). Didn't know it'd be like jumping through hoops.

Does anyone have any advice for us starting out? I'm curious to see how he reacts to having it on his head. It is a StarBand from Hanger so I know it's going to be a little bit heavier and bulkier than the DocBand. Is there anything I should particularly ask the orthotist when it's being fitted on him for the first time? Anything you would do over if you could? I'm just really new to this and I want it to be a great experience from the start.

Also, has anyone had experience with painting the helmet a solid color before the stickers? I really want to, but I'm wondering if I'll have to re-paint it in a few weeks?

Thanks for all your input everyone. You're a great support team.

Lindsey

mom to Eli, 7 1/2 months (very soon to be in StarBand)