Re: can babies be yoo young for the helmet?

[Guest guest]

The Cranial Technologies office that we go to told us that they band

as young as 3 months. By the time you go for a consult, get insurance

in order, get the baby scanned and then get your helmet, she will

probably be closer to 4 months anyway. As a parent who dodn't start

treatment with CT until 9 months, I say go for it now, while the

prognosis for correction is excellent!!

>

> I really don't know much about this yet, and am freaking out a

little

> to be honest. I noticed only a few weeks after Delaney was born

that

> her head seemed flatter than normal, but I didn't think anything

was

> medically wrong. By about 6 weeks old, I realized that she always

> tilts her head to one side. She is now 9 weeks, and her pedi just

> referred me to Cranial Tech.

>

> Now that I know what to look for, it's obvious that she has both

> Plagiocephaly and torticollis. She has a really hard time turning

her

> head to the less-preferred side, and her ears are already starting

to

> misalign. Cranial Tech can't see us for a couple of more weeks,

but I

> haven't been told what I can do in the meantime (positioning??) and

I

> am afraid it will get worse.

>

> Can 3 month old babies get helmets (I assume that is how old she

will

> be after consult, molding, etc)?

>

> Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect when she gets a

helmet?

> Like will it take some time and frustration for her to get used to

it?

> Are they worn 24/7?

>

[Guest guest]

I believe most places wait until the baby is 4 months, that way the

baby is defintely able to hold their head up well. Also if insurance

covers any of the cost then they usually say the baby has to 4

months.

I would try repositioning for the nest month and see what type of

success you see with that. If at 4 months you still are considering

the helmet then go for a evaluation.

Good luck!

>

> I really don't know much about this yet, and am freaking out a

little

> to be honest. I noticed only a few weeks after Delaney was born

that

> her head seemed flatter than normal, but I didn't think anything

was

> medically wrong. By about 6 weeks old, I realized that she always

> tilts her head to one side. She is now 9 weeks, and her pedi just

> referred me to Cranial Tech.

>

> Now that I know what to look for, it's obvious that she has both

> Plagiocephaly and torticollis. She has a really hard time turning

her

> head to the less-preferred side, and her ears are already starting

to

> misalign. Cranial Tech can't see us for a couple of more weeks,

but I

> haven't been told what I can do in the meantime (positioning??) and

I

> am afraid it will get worse.

>

> Can 3 month old babies get helmets (I assume that is how old she

will

> be after consult, molding, etc)?

>

> Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect when she gets a

helmet?

> Like will it take some time and frustration for her to get used to

it?

> Are they worn 24/7?

>

[Guest guest]

Hello and Welcome!

I have a pretty similar story--the only kicker is that my husband and

I didn't notice the looking to one side or the plagio on our own, our

pediatrician pointed it out to us. Our son was 3-months old, and she

referred us to cranial technologies. When we went to CT they took

photos and showed us the flatness on the back of his head and the

asymatry. They also explained the tort to us, and showed us how to

reposition. They sent us home to try and do a month of repositioning,

our insurance wouldn't pay for the band until 4-months, and we all

thought we would give it a try. We were OCD about the repo for a

month. We felt good about it, because we did make some progress

(going from the severe to moderate category) and the stretches they

showed us for the tort helped as well. Ulitimately, it wasn't enough

and when we returned a month later, they recommended the band which

he got into at about 4.5 weeks. He will graduate from it in three

weeks, at which time he will have been in it for eight weeks. We have

had amazing results, and it has been extremely worth it. Our son

adjusted fine to the helmet.

Regarding repo, there is a lot that you can do. We bought a

repositioner for his crib, and if you want the brand and how to do

it, send me an email. You can use rolled up towels to prop her up off

of that side while laying around during the day. Tummy time is great,

and you can aim to double the amount of time per day spent on their

tummy, each week. We also utilized the Bumbo chair to keep him off of

his head. The intersting thing about the tort is that there is also a

physiological connection with plagio. The 'tight' shoulder muscle

actually connects behind the ear, which can pull on the head and

face, this is also why it is so important to treat both the tort and

plagio. We were able to resolve the tort by following instructions at

home, only needing PT for assessment check-ins--it depends how severe

the tort is, if you would need regular PT appts. or not, but in our

case I was happy to have PT to check in each month to check the

progress.

H.

Merrick--5-months, 5-weeks DOC band, 11mm plagio, tort-resolved

>

> I really don't know much about this yet, and am freaking out a

little

> to be honest. I noticed only a few weeks after Delaney was born

that

> her head seemed flatter than normal, but I didn't think anything

was

> medically wrong. By about 6 weeks old, I realized that she always

> tilts her head to one side. She is now 9 weeks, and her pedi just

> referred me to Cranial Tech.

>

> Now that I know what to look for, it's obvious that she has both

> Plagiocephaly and torticollis. She has a really hard time turning

her

> head to the less-preferred side, and her ears are already starting

to

> misalign. Cranial Tech can't see us for a couple of more weeks,

but I

> haven't been told what I can do in the meantime (positioning??) and

I

> am afraid it will get worse.

>

> Can 3 month old babies get helmets (I assume that is how old she

will

> be after consult, molding, etc)?

>

> Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect when she gets a

helmet?

> Like will it take some time and frustration for her to get used to

it?

> Are they worn 24/7?

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for this information. It was very helpful. Knowing that

repositioning at home can be somewhat successful on it's own is a relief because

I havent yet been given a PT referral. It's funny you mention that you have

been OCD about it. I joke with friends on how obsessed I am with keeping her

off that side. But then again, without having seen a PT, I wonder if I am doing

it right!

As far as her Tort, I almost think she appreciates when I help her turn her head

that way because once she's turned she likes to stay there and seems content.

Does that mean that she may not have it too bad, or do you think that is typical

for Tort? And now that I have been making up my own exercises to help with the

muscle tension, she cries less and even sleeps longer!!

Dis you have a back or side sleep positioner? I have a back one that is still

in the package, but I would assume I should have her sleep on her side now,

right?

Thank you again. This group is wonderful!! I'm so glad I found it. )

- Michele

---- ransomsd <ransomsd@...> wrote:

> Hello and Welcome!

>

> I have a pretty similar story--the only kicker is that my husband and

> I didn't notice the looking to one side or the plagio on our own, our

> pediatrician pointed it out to us. Our son was 3-months old, and she

> referred us to cranial technologies. When we went to CT they took

> photos and showed us the flatness on the back of his head and the

> asymatry. They also explained the tort to us, and showed us how to

> reposition. They sent us home to try and do a month of repositioning,

> our insurance wouldn't pay for the band until 4-months, and we all

> thought we would give it a try. We were OCD about the repo for a

> month. We felt good about it, because we did make some progress

> (going from the severe to moderate category) and the stretches they

> showed us for the tort helped as well. Ulitimately, it wasn't enough

> and when we returned a month later, they recommended the band which

> he got into at about 4.5 weeks. He will graduate from it in three

> weeks, at which time he will have been in it for eight weeks. We have

> had amazing results, and it has been extremely worth it. Our son

> adjusted fine to the helmet.

>

> Regarding repo, there is a lot that you can do. We bought a

> repositioner for his crib, and if you want the brand and how to do

> it, send me an email. You can use rolled up towels to prop her up off

> of that side while laying around during the day. Tummy time is great,

> and you can aim to double the amount of time per day spent on their

> tummy, each week. We also utilized the Bumbo chair to keep him off of

> his head. The intersting thing about the tort is that there is also a

> physiological connection with plagio. The 'tight' shoulder muscle

> actually connects behind the ear, which can pull on the head and

> face, this is also why it is so important to treat both the tort and

> plagio. We were able to resolve the tort by following instructions at

> home, only needing PT for assessment check-ins--it depends how severe

> the tort is, if you would need regular PT appts. or not, but in our

> case I was happy to have PT to check in each month to check the

> progress.

>

> H.

> Merrick--5-months, 5-weeks DOC band, 11mm plagio, tort-resolved

>

>

>

> >

> > I really don't know much about this yet, and am freaking out a

> little

> > to be honest. I noticed only a few weeks after Delaney was born

> that

> > her head seemed flatter than normal, but I didn't think anything

> was

> > medically wrong. By about 6 weeks old, I realized that she always

> > tilts her head to one side. She is now 9 weeks, and her pedi just

> > referred me to Cranial Tech.

> >

> > Now that I know what to look for, it's obvious that she has both

> > Plagiocephaly and torticollis. She has a really hard time turning

> her

> > head to the less-preferred side, and her ears are already starting

> to

> > misalign. Cranial Tech can't see us for a couple of more weeks,

> but I

> > haven't been told what I can do in the meantime (positioning??) and

> I

> > am afraid it will get worse.

> >

> > Can 3 month old babies get helmets (I assume that is how old she

> will

> > be after consult, molding, etc)?

> >

> > Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect when she gets a

> helmet?

> > Like will it take some time and frustration for her to get used to

> it?

> > Are they worn 24/7?

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I just went through the same thing.

My daughter was dx with mild Torticollis at her 4 month visit. Dr.

referred us for PT right away. After one month of PT twice a week,

she no longer has the tort. Now we just had our eval Tues at

Cranial Technologies, and are going to go ahead with the DOC band.

From what the PT told us, they have to deal and fix the Tort first

through PT (stretching and exercise), and then move on to the issue

of the plagiocephaly. If I were you, I would request PT for your

daughter ASAP. 9 weeks is young, but the PT will be able to stretch

and work on correcting the tort. Don't let it go...it can only get

worse as she grows. I hope this helps...good luck.

Cristy

>

> I really don't know much about this yet, and am freaking out a

little

> to be honest. I noticed only a few weeks after Delaney was born

that

> her head seemed flatter than normal, but I didn't think anything

was

> medically wrong. By about 6 weeks old, I realized that she always

> tilts her head to one side. She is now 9 weeks, and her pedi just

> referred me to Cranial Tech.

>

> Now that I know what to look for, it's obvious that she has both

> Plagiocephaly and torticollis. She has a really hard time turning

her

> head to the less-preferred side, and her ears are already starting

to

> misalign. Cranial Tech can't see us for a couple of more weeks,

but I

> haven't been told what I can do in the meantime (positioning??)

and I

> am afraid it will get worse.

>

> Can 3 month old babies get helmets (I assume that is how old she

will

> be after consult, molding, etc)?

>

> Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect when she gets a

helmet?

> Like will it take some time and frustration for her to get used to

it?

> Are they worn 24/7?

>