Re: Plagio Article in Parents Magazine - Letter writing

[Guest guest]

Natasha,

Hearing that Dr.'s response really burns me up. I don't think I

ever mentioned it to you, but I also wrote a letter to Working

Mother listing all of the risk of problems with plagio, including

links to all of the studies. The AAP guidelines from July 2003 only

reference studies up until about 1999, and don't include evaluation

of these more recently known risks of astigmatism, visual field

development issues, auditory processing problems, etc. I hope any

updated AAP guidelines at some point in the future might include

some more recent research on not only risks, but helmeting/banding

efficacy as well.

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> > > Hi everyone...(Sorry if this is long)

> > >

> > > In the May issue of " Parents " magazine, in the Health Q & A

> section,

> > I

> > > found the following...

> > >

> > > Q...My 3-month-old son has a flat spot on the back of his head

> from

> > > sleeping on his back. Will this go away?

> > > A...Yes. Most babies outgrow flat spots, called positional

> > > plagiocephaly, within the first year. When your baby sleeps

on

> his

> > > back - which is important for protection against SIDS - he

> probably

> > > favors a particular position, which puts pressure on one spot

on

> > his

> > > head. To correct the problem, help your child get used to

> sleeping

> > > with his head in another direction. If he normally needs to

turn

> > to

> > > the right to see you from his crib, let him do that one night;

> then

> > > put his head at the foot of the crib the next night so that he

> > needs

> > > to turn to the left to see you - and keep alternating. Also,

> have

> > > your baby play on his tummy for a few minutes at least four

times

> a

> > > day to strengthen his neck muscles, which will keep his head

from

> > > flopping back against the mattress.

> > > One caveat: If your baby's head suddenly begins to look

> > > deformed, he may have a neck condition called congenital

> > torticollis,

> > > which is often treated with physical therapy and a corrective

> > > helmet. Craniosynostosis could be another concern; it occurs

> when

> > > the skull fuses prematurely, and the condition must be

corrected

> > with

> > > surgery. If you suspect that your child has either of these

> > > problems, bring him to your pediatrician for diagnosis.

> > > BY: son, MD

> > >

> > > Is it just me or is the response the that question a little

flip,

> > > irresponsible, and slightly less than accurate? How about the

> fact

> > > that the short answer, and the very first thing she wrote

> > > was, " Yes. " And another thing I was wondering about...it says

> that

> > > tort is treated with PT and a helmet. I am repo'ing , so

I

> > > don't know a lot about bands/helmets, but they are not used to

> > treat

> > > tort are they? They correct plagio in relation to tort, right?

> > > I have started a letter to the magazine with my response

to

> > the

> > > article. I can't decide, though, if I should write the letter

to

> > the

> > > Dr who wrote the article or to the editor. Which one do you

> think

> > is

> > > more likely to get published? I would also be interested in

what

> > you

> > > think I should include in the letter. I have a rough draft

done,

> I

> > > was thinking of posting it when I get it done. I was also

> thinking

> > I

> > > would bring it up in chat on Monday to see what you all

think.

> > > Anyway, input on the letter would be welcome. I will post my

> draft

> > > of it in a day or 2 when I get to to finish it.

> > > Sorry this ran so long, I was just really wound up when I

> read

> > > the article.

> > >

> > > Becky ('s Mom) in Pgh, PA

> >

> >

> >

> > For more plagio info