Starband question

[Guest guest]

My daughter just got her starband and of course the office is closed for the

holiday weekend. I was wondering if parents of chidlren who wore the starband

may have some insight. The helmet seems to be loose somewhat, I did ask about

this at the office but the orthotist said that we need to allow room for growth.

I feel like every time the back of the helmet hits her shoudlers it moves which

seems counterproductive. I understand space in the helmet but I'm thinking it

should not move at all otherwise it's not holding her properly in the palces

that we want to prevent growth. I'm wondering if the helmet is too long and

needs to be cut so that it does not hit her shoulders when she moves her head

but I can't tell. It seems like the DOC bands don't come down as far as the

STARbands so I'm not sure if this is just the design of the Starand. Any

insight would be helpful.

Thanks,

Annette

[Guest guest]

Clara's new STARband is also long in the back, longer than the one

that failed. It seems to be working for her, though. Her back *can*

hit it, but it's not tipping the helmet forward on a regular basis.

I'm guessing your daughter, like mine, has a longer head with quite a

bit of overhang in the occipital area.

It's a question of how often the helmet is shrugged out of position,

versus the estimated backward tipping and general instability if

material were removed. So to answer your question, I think it is

implicit in the STARband design, as the back is significantly heavier

than the front, and there is no chin strap.

--

Thad Launderville

Montpelier, VT

Clara age 19 1/2 months, in STARband 3 1/2 months.

On Nov 25, 2009, at 4:18 PM, annettemarek wrote:

> I'm wondering if the helmet is too long and needs to be cut so that

> it does not hit her shoulders when she moves her head but I can't

> tell. It seems like the DOC bands don't come down as far as the

> STARbands so I'm not sure if this is just the design of the Starand.

[Guest guest]

My daughter has been out of her band for 3 yrs, now, but I don't remember it

hitting her shoulders. If she is comfortable in it then keep it on, but if it is

bothering her too much wait until they can adjust it. It may be a little loose

at first, and this seems to be okay. However it shouldn't be moving too much. It

should be holding in the prominent areas, and you may see some redness here (the

healthy kind that fades and doesn't get too irritated). My daughter had brachy

(flat in back with extra width) and her head was always reddish at the widest

part where the band was holding her growth.

-christine

sydney, 3.5 yrs, starband grad

>

> My daughter just got her starband and of course the office is closed for the

holiday weekend. I was wondering if parents of chidlren who wore the starband

may have some insight. The helmet seems to be loose somewhat, I did ask about

this at the office but the orthotist said that we need to allow room for growth.

I feel like every time the back of the helmet hits her shoudlers it moves which

seems counterproductive. I understand space in the helmet but I'm thinking it

should not move at all otherwise it's not holding her properly in the palces

that we want to prevent growth. I'm wondering if the helmet is too long and

needs to be cut so that it does not hit her shoulders when she moves her head

but I can't tell. It seems like the DOC bands don't come down as far as the

STARbands so I'm not sure if this is just the design of the Starand. Any

insight would be helpful.

> Thanks,

> Annette

>