Cast t-shirt removal/washing instructions

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Cast

T-shirt removal/washing:

This is just one family’s personal experience, hope

it helps some other families! There is a video up on YouTube showing this under Infantile Scoliosis Cast, it sounds harder than it is once you get the hang of it.

The good news: this has made cast life easier for

us, but it is not for everyone. It is a personal parent choice, with the approval

of your doctor first, always. Our son is casted at Shriners in Salt Lake City,

and our doctor has said he is fine with it.

Our son’s cast is the VERY stretchy, mock turtleneck

medical t-shirt made by Knit-rite. It is impregnated with silver to help keep

microbes and bacteria out.

Big

caveats: I am not sure if we could do this at all, if there

was not a large front cut-out and a back cut out, as well. I don’t think it

could be done if the t-shirt is taped down, is not very, very stretchy, or

cannot be moved freely back and forth, or “flossedâ€. Some casts have padding

that should not be removed or tampered with, again, ask your doctor first.

We didn’t invent this move, and to be honest, we

were very scared the first time we did it! We were concerned about skin

breakdown, if we couldn’t get the T properly back on and smoothed out well.

Severe skin breakdown or cast sores that become

infected can halt casting for the period the skin needs to heal. We don’t want

any kids to get hurt, so please be very careful. Never put sharp objects or any

objects down the cast. I cut my nails very short and only use my fingers.

We find that doing the washing is easier when the

cast has loosened up a little at the bottom as the child grows, about 3 weeks

after the cast is applied. We do it about 5-6 times in a three month period, around

every 2-3 weeks, when there is a pee leak on the bottom of the T or, heaven

forbid, number 2 or puke on it! : ) You can also just wash out the bottom of

the t-shirt and not remove it, being careful not to wet the cast.

We didn’t try this with our first few casts. That

said, I have heard from a parent with a baby younger than 2 who is a bit chubby

or chunky, who said that it works great for them. I had thought a very tight

cast on a chubby baby might make it harder or impossible, I could be wrong.

It does really help with odor. We also find that (if

you get a “cast off†day), 2 baths and a lot of gentle cream slathered over the

entire area where the cast was applied really helps with itching and skin

condition. Many parents like the Aveeno oatmeal bath. Any very tiny scratches

or cuts can be helped with an anti-bacterial ointment like Polysporin.

We also cut our child’s nails short before each

trip, he scratches where the cast was tightest, at the “rib hump†area.

One

other tip: If you can pull the t-shirt up through the tummy

cut-out with no problem, we find it’s extremely helpful to do it once a day and

look for dirt or sediment that has fallen inside the T. An unscented baby wipe

can remove it. We check the belly button, because it can get irritated if any

grit falls down and settles there. We gently clean it out with a wipe and put a

small dab of Polysporin there, if it looks red or irritated.

We lay our child on the bed and stand him up when

needed, for this technique to work best:

1: Gently tug at the stomach of the t-shirt and pull

it up though the bottom of the front of the cast.

2. Gently work it up, then pull it out bit by bit

through one armhole.

3. Very gently stretch it over one elbow. Be careful

not to wrench their delicate arm and shoulder, of course!

4. Slowly work that free side under the same

shoulder strap, it will bunch up at the neck.

5. Very carefully stretch the neck opening over the

child’s head (sideways).

6. Pull out through the other shoulder strap and

free the T over the second arm and elbow.

7. Wash and dry the t-shirt normally. We don’t let

our child go outside without the T on, but enjoy the skin to skin contact and

hugs! You can use an unscented baby wipe to gently clear off dry skin.

8. Put the T back on the same way, in reverse,

obviously after it cools from the dryer. One arm, then over the head, then

second arm, then reach up with your fingers and thread it under the top to the

belly cut out.

9. Gently work the front of the T down through the

big belly cut out.

10. On the back side, pull the edge of the t-shirt

through to the back cut out, doing the same thing.

11. The hardest part: Getting the bottom edge of the

T through the bottom front of the cast. You have to gently thread the edge

through the top and reach up and pull it out with your fingers. I would

probably suggest not doing it on a full belly of food or milk.

12. Once you have the front edge pulled out, pull it

down and gently tug on the sides all around, it should begin to work out of the

back bottom edge. It takes some patience.

Note: Our son cried when we first tried this (it was

new and new things are scary, especially to young kids!), but now he’s used to

it and he doesn’t mind it at all. He likes to look at his belly in the mirror

when the t-shirt is off!

So, this is obviously at your own risk- it is

definitely not a requirement for casted kids. We hope this helps some kiddos,

until they invent a removable cast! : ) – Heidi and Nick and Bexon

Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (3.5 years old, in 9th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners, currently down from 63 degrees to 14.6 in cast. You can read Bexon's Story on www.GirltoMom.com)