Re: Two month old - FREAKING OUT! - Colleen

[Guest guest]

Hi Colleen,

I don't think you need to wait until 5 months. Your ped can prescribe the

helmet/band without seeing a specialist. I would say 3 or 4 months old is a good

time if you have to band. In the meantime you can try aggressive repositioning.

Take photos every week or two, and if you are making progress you may want to

wait until 5 or 6 months to band. But if you aren't seeing progress, or your

baby is severe to begin with there is no reason to wait so long.

As for repo the main ideas are keep him off the head as much as possible, and

when he is on his head try and get him to rest on the prominent areas. This can

be done by avoiding bouncers, swings and car seats (except while driving in the

car). Use a baby carrier and push tummy time as much as possible. When he is

sleeping position him on the prominent side. Use a rolled up blanket or sock

stuffed with rice etc under one shoulder to make his head " flop " to the desired

side. You can sew the sock or blanket to his jammies so it won't become a hazard

This office in Phil. has a starscanner

http://orthomerica.com/technology/scan_locations.htm.

or you could go to Cranial Tech in Paramus NJ for an evaluation ( a few hours

away I think).

-christine

sydney, 5 yrs, starband grad

> >

> > Hello,

> >

> > Two months is a little young for a band(higher chances of regression in

treating

> > young babies, especially those w/ unresolved tort.) Your baby's skull is

still

> > soft enough that repositioning may be of some benefit up until 5 months of

age.

> > However, since your baby has tort, repositioning may be of little benefit

unless

> > he makes quick improvement in PT.

> >

> >

> > You are very lucky to be on the right track when your son is so young. You

have

> > more options than many of us had. You have plenty of time to wait and band

at 6

> > months if there's no improvement. In fact, many insurance companies won't

pay

> > for a band unless the baby is older(about 6 months or older) and

repositioning

> > efforts have proven futile. We also have BCBS PPO (federal employee program)

and

> > we had to pay for the band up front before we found out that it would be

> > covered( my daughter was banded at 8 months and had severe plagio caused by

> > severe tort.) Plans can vary even with the same insurance company.

> >

> > You are lucky to have an informed ped on this issue. Many are still in the

dark.

> >

> > Good luck!

> > -Amy

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ________________________________

> > From: " ralevalley@ " <ralevalley@>

> > Plagiocephaly

> > Sent: Mon, March 21, 2011 10:45:46 PM

> > Subject: Two month old - FREAKING OUT!

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I wanted to look through the posts before I started a new topic, but

everything

> > I typed in came back with over 5000 results and wanted me to narrow my

search.

> > So instead I'm starting a new topic.

> >

> >

> > I took my two month old to his 2 month check up today and my pediatrician,

who

> > is normally REALLY laid back and tells me not to worry, was worried about

his

> > head. I had noticed that he had a flat spot, but to be honest, everything I

read

> > online said at 2 months there is nothing to worry about because the ped

would

> > probably just have me reposition him. Ya, right. The pediatrician said

Plagio is

> > very common but very RARE to see such a severe case in a 2 month old. He

said he

> > would be shocked if they didn't give him a helmet.

> >

> > How I didn't notice the asymmetry is beyond me, but his head is actually

bulging

> > a bit in the front on one side and his ears are way off. He wasn't born this

> > way. The doc also referred us to a Physical Therapist for Torticollus. We're

> > seeing the Cranial Technologists in Pasadena tomorrow (thank God they got us

in

> > so quickly) for a free evaluation. Their website says that it costs $3800

for

> > the helmet and that insurance doesn't always cover it all because they

consider

> > it cosmetic. We have Anthem Blue Cross PPO. Apparently they are going to let

us

> > know at the appointment tomorrow what the cost to us would be. Sort of

freaking

> > out about that because we don't have any extra money for medical expenses at

the

> > moment.

> >

> >

> > Our PT appointment is set for Wednesday morning. They just want to know if

the

> > Cranial people say that anything other than the norm needs to be done.

> >

> >

> > So... not really sure what I'm writing for, other than to get advice from

other

> > families in our situation. Does anyone else know of a 2 month old getting a

> > helmet? It sounds so young and sad, but the symmetry of his head is

definitely

> > off.

> >

> > Glad to see that there are so many people out there willing to share their

> > experiences. Thank you all!!!

> >

> >

> >

>