Re: New Here - Intro and questions

[Guest guest]

<< The stares were obvious for the first few days but as soon as we decorated

the band people were very willing to come up and ask what it is for. Many

folks think that it is for protection. The questions become VERY easy to

handle after a while. It really becomes fun to watch people's reactions. >>

Jenna gets stares now, she has a pretty big and dark stork bite (birthmark,

also called salmon patch or angel kiss, they go away in a few years) on her

forehead, so people always ask what it is. I guess if she gets a band or

helmet, we will already be used to the looks and questions.

Karla

[Guest guest]

** Confidential **

Here's some quick answers, Pat. Our son is 8 months old and has had the band

for 5 weeks.

1. was very upset during the casting process. The upside is that the

whole casting takes only 10 minutes. Just be prepared for a sad baby. As soon

as they pop the cast off the crying miraculously stops!

2. After a few red spots were adjusted, totally adjusted as far as

sleeping and playing. He doesn't even know he's wearing it. You start

gradually with the number of hours per day, but was up to 23 hours by

the fourth day.

3. The stares were obvious for the first few days but as soon as we decorated

the band people were very willing to come up and ask what it is for. Many folks

think that it is for protection. The questions become VERY easy to handle after

a while. It really becomes fun to watch people's reactions.

4. We tried baking soda to get rid of the smell and it worked! We might

re-think that, though, because it seems to have caused a bit of a rash. I guess

we didn't clean the soda off properly.

Good luck, Pat.....let me know if you have any more questions. Now that we are

on this side of the fence we can't believe we even thought about NOT getting the

band. That's human nature though.

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty, Welcome aboard for the ride. My almost 6mos old son has been in

helmet about 7wks. We new nothing either. I remember reading article in baby

mag about these problems. We kept eye on him and low and behold, he has

torticollis and plagio. He did fairly well with casting. I was ready to cry

before he was. I think at that point it all became a reality. He did get

antsy when they had to cover his face to do front, all in all ok!! I must

admit, helmet does smell. Another parent suggested baking soda and a bit of

water scrubbed lightly would get rid of odor. I will be trying this today.

Good Luck and keep in touch. Belinda

[Guest guest]

Hi Belinda and thanks for your note - I rec'd an email this morning from Dave

I beleive and he said NOT to use Baking soda - It was causing burns on his

child's forehead - you might want to get in touch with him before you do it!

Regards, Patty

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty! I'm really glad you found us!

I have a 7 month old daughter, Grace, who just received her band last week. The casting was not fun; but, as I'm sure parents have already told you, it is quick. Kids are so resilient! Grace could care less about the band being on her head. She rarely even reaches up to touch it, unless I've put the hair bow on too low and she can see it out of the corner of her eye. Than she can't resist trying to pull it off to get a closer look

We've had many stares wherever we go, but no rude comments. People have only expressed concern, or stop to say how cute she is. It helps that whenever Grace sees someone looking at her, she gives them the BIGGEST smile. She seems to love the attention, frankly. One little girl (she looked about 3) grabbed her mom's arm and said, "Look at the baby's hat, Mom!" The mom looked over and kind of jumped. I just smiled big and said to the little girl, "Yeah, look at her hat, isn't it neat?" And continued on my way. I wanted to make sure the little girl didn't think she had said something wrong.

As far as smell....so far so good. I really douse it with alcohol every time it comes off her head (we rotate wearing for now) and haven't had any problem with it getting stinky. I'm sure that's going to happen though. Maybe if it gets really bad, I'll stick it in a bag with a little bit of charcoal or a box of baking soda to see if that helps.

Please don't worry too much about putting your daughter through this. I can honestly say the worst part has been the casting, and that was probably worse for me. She doesn't give a lick about the band being on her head and she'll never remember it except for pictures in her baby book! When I was 6, I had metal and leather braces up to my waist. I hardly remember it at all, and I was SIX! And I'm not traumatized or anything. It's been expressed many times how quickly it all goes by.

C./subscribe/Plagiocephaly

----- Original Message -----

From: PatMacD@...

Plagiocephalyonelist

Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2000 9:49 AM

Subject: New Here - Intro and questions

From: PatMacD@... Hi everyone - My name is Patty and my little girl is 6.5months old. I'm so happy to have found a place for some insight intothis condition- I have been reviewing some of the posts and I amterribly upset with my daughters pediatrician although as my husbandkeeps reminding me (they are very unfamiliar with this and are notspecialists). She had a very rough birth and was born with her handbeside her head and she had lots of swelling and bruising. Theswelling subsided during the first week of life but at every wellvisit we questioned her pediatrician regarding the 'flatness' of herhead. He told us to change her position etc...finally I saw a segmenton the evening news about the DOCtm band and I phoned them and theOTR gave us a complimentary screeing and confirmed what I knew in myheart to be true - My little girl needs a band - Needless to saysince no one we know ever had or heard of this condition everyone isthat much more concerned.My questions are:1. How upset was your child during the molding procedure.2. How did your child adjust to wearing the band 23/24.3. Do people ask you stupid questions regarding your child wearingthe band and if so how do you respond?4. I have heard that the band gets real 'stinky'- Any suggestions.My husband and I are petrified to put her through this but we know itwill be the best thing for her. I guess we are just looking for some'major' support. We live in Charlotte and do not have any family orfriends here...HELP!! Sincerely, Patty

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