Guest guest Posted December 29, 2001 Report Share Posted December 29, 2001 My son was fitted with a DOCband at 9 and 1/2 months. He has been in it 2 and 1/2 months and has seen considerable improvement. I am thrilled with the progress he has made so far. My pediatrician did not recommend the band as she had no information on it and the neurosurgeon I went to was against banding in general. I then went to a craniofacial plastic surgeon who prescribed the band. You have to go with your parent instinct on what is best for your child as you will probably get a different opinion from every specialist you go to. She is definitely still young enough for a lot of improvement. If you do decide to band do it asap. I am very happy I decided to go with the band. Candy, mom to (DOCbanded 10/5/01) land > My 9 month old daughter has been diagnosed with positional > plagiocephaly and we have been told by a specialist to get a helmet. > However, we have talked to several other doctors who do not recommend > the helmet and said it will not have an impact. Could you please > share your experience with me. We desperately want to do the right > thing for our baby. > > Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2001 Report Share Posted December 30, 2001 > My 9 month old daughter has been diagnosed with positional > plagiocephaly and we have been told by a specialist to get a helmet. > However, we have talked to several other doctors who do not recommend > the helmet and said it will not have an impact. Could you please > share your experience with me. We desperately want to do the right > thing for our baby. > > Thanks Have the other doctors made recommendations as to what to do? When my daughter was two months old, her pediatrician said she might need a helmet. The doctor didn't make the referral until my girl was six months old. In the meantime, we were told to reposition her and keep her off the flat side (easier said than done!). We also took her to an osteopath that my husband and I go to. It never occurred to me to take her there - I didn't think he treated babies, but when I mentioned her head to him in passing, he said he would like to see her. The pediatrician was not thrilled with the idea - she mentioned not liking chiropractic manipulation for infants - but osteopathy is very different (I went to a chiropractor for years). Basically, the osteo. is trying to loosen the plates in her head to allow for growth. He also worked on her neck for stiffness. It's very gentle and there is no 'cracking'. We saw results after a couple of treatments. We were also incredibly fortunate because our osteo. consults with a retired osteo. (98 years old!) who just happens to have been a teaching assistant and editor to the osteo. who developed cranial osteopathy! The two doctors performed a 'four hand technique' that the consultant considered very successful. At six months, the pediatrcian did refer us to a specialist for opinion regarding helmet - we were told she didn't need it. We know the improvement is due to osteopathy. Her head continues to have some flatness and she will continue to see the osteopath, but we are pleased with the results. I don't say this to tout osteopathy as THE answer, but I bring it up as an option. The impression I get is that most doctors don't 'believe' in them, although osteos are medical doctors. I do know it worked for us. If you look for an osteo, ask if they practice cranial osteopathy and treat babies, and inquire as to the results they have seen. Ultimately you will have to decide what you feel is best for your child. We were happy to have the plastic surgeon say a helmet wasn't needed (although he didn't sound very pro- helmet, anyway), but we had already decided we were not going that route. Of course, I have never seen your child and can't comment on what is best for you. Explore your options and good luck. I'm sure you'll make the best decision for your daughter. Robin's Mom, Laurie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2001 Report Share Posted December 30, 2001 We take our son to an osteopath specializing in cranial manipulation and rotate him with a cranial sacral therapist as well as having him banded. I figure we'll heal him from the inside and the outside. I think the two things combined for us are a great combination. I was unwilling to trust just one to fix the problem. I think the combination is doing wonders. Candy, mom to (DOCbanded 10/5/01) land > > My 9 month old daughter has been diagnosed with positional > > plagiocephaly and we have been told by a specialist to get a > helmet. > > However, we have talked to several other doctors who do not > recommend > > the helmet and said it will not have an impact. Could you please > > share your experience with me. We desperately want to do the right > > thing for our baby. > > > > Thanks > > > > Have the other doctors made recommendations as to what to do? When > my daughter was two months old, her pediatrician said she might need > a helmet. The doctor didn't make the referral until my girl was six > months old. In the meantime, we were told to reposition her and keep > her off the flat side (easier said than done!). We also took her to > an osteopath that my husband and I go to. It never occurred to me to > take her there - I didn't think he treated babies, but when I > mentioned her head to him in passing, he said he would like to see > her. The pediatrician was not thrilled with the idea - she mentioned > not liking chiropractic manipulation for infants - but osteopathy is > very different (I went to a chiropractor for years). Basically, the > osteo. is trying to loosen the plates in her head to allow for > growth. He also worked on her neck for stiffness. It's very gentle > and there is no 'cracking'. We saw results after a couple of > treatments. We were also incredibly fortunate because our osteo. > consults with a retired osteo. (98 years old!) who just happens to > have been a teaching assistant and editor to the osteo. who developed > cranial osteopathy! The two doctors performed a 'four hand > technique' that the consultant considered very successful. At six > months, the pediatrcian did refer us to a specialist for opinion > regarding helmet - we were told she didn't need it. We know the > improvement is due to osteopathy. Her head continues to have some > flatness and she will continue to see the osteopath, but we are > pleased with the results. > > I don't say this to tout osteopathy as THE answer, but I bring it up > as an option. The impression I get is that most doctors > don't 'believe' in them, although osteos are medical doctors. I do > know it worked for us. If you look for an osteo, ask if they > practice cranial osteopathy and treat babies, and inquire as to the > results they have seen. Ultimately you will have to decide what you > feel is best for your child. We were happy to have the plastic > surgeon say a helmet wasn't needed (although he didn't sound very pro- > helmet, anyway), but we had already decided we were not going that > route. Of course, I have never seen your child and can't comment on > what is best for you. Explore your options and good luck. I'm sure > you'll make the best decision for your daughter. > > Robin's Mom, Laurie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2001 Report Share Posted December 30, 2001 I mean craniosacral therapist not cranial sacral. Got the word cranial on my brain, I guess. Candy, mom to > > > My 9 month old daughter has been diagnosed with positional > > > plagiocephaly and we have been told by a specialist to get a > > helmet. > > > However, we have talked to several other doctors who do not > > recommend > > > the helmet and said it will not have an impact. Could you please > > > share your experience with me. We desperately want to do the > right > > > thing for our baby. > > > > > > Thanks > > > > > > > > Have the other doctors made recommendations as to what to do? When > > my daughter was two months old, her pediatrician said she might > need > > a helmet. The doctor didn't make the referral until my girl was > six > > months old. In the meantime, we were told to reposition her and > keep > > her off the flat side (easier said than done!). We also took her > to > > an osteopath that my husband and I go to. It never occurred to me > to > > take her there - I didn't think he treated babies, but when I > > mentioned her head to him in passing, he said he would like to see > > her. The pediatrician was not thrilled with the idea - she > mentioned > > not liking chiropractic manipulation for infants - but osteopathy > is > > very different (I went to a chiropractor for years). Basically, > the > > osteo. is trying to loosen the plates in her head to allow for > > growth. He also worked on her neck for stiffness. It's very gentle > > and there is no 'cracking'. We saw results after a couple of > > treatments. We were also incredibly fortunate because our osteo. > > consults with a retired osteo. (98 years old!) who just happens to > > have been a teaching assistant and editor to the osteo. who > developed > > cranial osteopathy! The two doctors performed a 'four hand > > technique' that the consultant considered very successful. At six > > months, the pediatrcian did refer us to a specialist for opinion > > regarding helmet - we were told she didn't need it. We know the > > improvement is due to osteopathy. Her head continues to have some > > flatness and she will continue to see the osteopath, but we are > > pleased with the results. > > > > I don't say this to tout osteopathy as THE answer, but I bring it > up > > as an option. The impression I get is that most doctors > > don't 'believe' in them, although osteos are medical doctors. I do > > know it worked for us. If you look for an osteo, ask if they > > practice cranial osteopathy and treat babies, and inquire as to the > > results they have seen. Ultimately you will have to decide what > you > > feel is best for your child. We were happy to have the plastic > > surgeon say a helmet wasn't needed (although he didn't sound very > pro- > > helmet, anyway), but we had already decided we were not going that > > route. Of course, I have never seen your child and can't comment > on > > what is best for you. Explore your options and good luck. I'm > sure > > you'll make the best decision for your daughter. > > > > Robin's Mom, Laurie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2001 Report Share Posted December 30, 2001 Hi: Welcome to our group! Unfortunately, there are many differing opinions in the medical field about helmets/bands to treat plagio. I have been a member of this group for over 1 yr now, and I can tell you these bands/helmets DO work wonders on your child's head shape. My daughter had a DOCband which she wore from age 11.5 mos - 15.5 mos old with severe plagio, which improved her head 50-60%. I couldn't be happier. Most parents have seen good improvement in their child while wearing a helmet or band. Is your daughter's plagio severe? It's such a hard decision for us parents to make, especially when you have one Dr. telling you one thing & another Dr. telling you something else. I'll never regret getting Abby her band, it had good results on her. Good luck making this oh so difficult decision. Please be sure to let us know what you decide to do. Happy New Year! Debbie Abby's mom 3/1/00 DOCGrad 2/16/01-6/22/01 MI > My 9 month old daughter has been diagnosed with positional > plagiocephaly and we have been told by a specialist to get a helmet. > However, we have talked to several other doctors who do not recommend > the helmet and said it will not have an impact. Could you please > share your experience with me. We desperately want to do the right > thing for our baby. > > Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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