Re: I Badly Need Advice

April 17, 2002

Lori:

I'm sorry to hear of your dilemma . The ultimate decision whether

or not to get your son into a DOCband is entirely up to you & your

family. He probably could still get some more improvement as long as

his sutures are still open, but it's hard to say how much, if any

really. We all strive for perfection of our child's head, but many

of us in the group, myself included, unfortunately don't get it. My

daughter's head is still somewhat flat, it's definitely MUCH better

than before her DOCband, but still not perfectly round. Noone but

myself & my family notice it. I'm lucky she has a ton of hair too

though.

Whatever decision you make, it'll be the right one. Do what your gut

tells you to do, mommy knows best ; ) Let us know.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad

MI

> Hello. My son has worn a locally made passive helmet for 8

months.

> Compared to where we began, he has made good progress. We started

at

> 10 1/2 months. We did not know about the DOC band. His head looks

> good from the front and sides, but the back of his head is flat all

> over. It looks wide. He still has no hair, so that may be part of

> the problem, that we notice everything on his glowing white head.

I

> called CT today, and they told me that they usually don't band

after

> 18 months, although they will, and they can't guarantee results.

We

> live in Seattle, so the closet clinc is in California. My son

would

> be over 19 months by the time we got the band. Everyone, including

> his pediatrician have told me his head looks good. I guess since

we

> have gone this far, I want perfection. Does anyone have any advice

> for me? Thank you. Lori. P.S.- His flat spot is pretty much gone,

> it's just that his head is symmetrically flat now.

April 17, 2002

It seems that we all seem to be in the same boat. My son is 15 months

old. He has also worn a locally made helmet for 8 months. He is still

wearing it until he out grows it. A lot of people on this board with

children between 15-18 months are worried that their childrens heads

are not round enough, myself included. We are all looking for the

perfect round head. My Orthotist we wouldn't see much more

improvement with a second band, it isn't really worth the expense and

the effort. I am hoping he will get another month or two out of the

one he is wearing now. On our last visit the Ortho actually sawed off

the top of the band so it will fit him longer. He is very skilled and

we definatly gotten our monies worth. I think we just have to resign

ourselves to the fact that our children's heads will never be

perfect. I am hoping that his head will round out more as he grows.

It would be interesting to hear from parents of older children to see

if this is the case. I find if I get down looking at the flat spot

still on the back of his head, I look at the cast we have of his

head. I can see the major improvements and I know that at least I did

the best I could for him, and didn't let him grow up with that head.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Steffany and Logan---

In Plagiocephaly@y..., " lancerunje " <lancerunje@a...> wrote: