Plagio Article in Parents Magazine

April 17, 2004

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

April 19, 2004

I read that last week and was still so shocked to hear yet another different

(and incorrect) opinion from a doctor. My son is 11 months now and is in a

helmet due to positional plagio and not torticollis. He just preferred to

sleep on one spot on his head. I was actually also surprised that Parents

magazine published ANYTHING about plagio. I've been reading both Parents

and Parenting since my son was born and have never seen an even a Q & A on it.

I think it should be a full 2-page article since it is such a growing

problem that a lot of parents and doctors don't know about. I'm surprised

that Parents magazine didn't do their own research too before it published

that response. I also will write a letter.

Beth

Mom of Dylan

Grand Rapids, MI

>From: " Becky " <becky@...>

>Reply-Plagiocephaly

>Plagiocephaly

>Subject: Plagio Article in Parents Magazine

>Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 04:35:31 -0000

>

>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

>

_________________________________________________________________

From must-see cities to the best beaches, plan a getaway with the Spring

Travel Guide! http://special.msn.com/local/springtravel.armx

April 19, 2004

Hi Beth…I’m

already all over the 2-page article idea. I believe that some parent’s

magazines accept freelance articles and I am working on one now. I just

have to make some contacts to see which magazines accept the articles and then

get the word out there. I also have a friend who is retired from the

newspaper industry here in Pittsburgh, and he told me some of the papers around

here pay for freelance articles. I might give that a shot too. Just

don’t know if 2 separate publications would publish the same article.

I suppose I will just submit them one at a time and see who actually will

publish it.

I have just

become so frustrated with the amount of ignorance to this condition in the

medical community. Beyond the article, I am still sending a letter to

Parents. I think letters can be emailed. That would probably be

easiest for me.

Becky (’s

Mom) in Pgh, PA

From: Beth Fredricks

[mailto:bethfredricks30@...]

Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 9:02

PM

Plagiocephaly

Subject: RE: Plagio

Article in Parents Magazine

I read that last week and was still so shocked to hear yet another

different

(and incorrect) opinion from a doctor. My

son is 11 months now and is in a

helmet due to positional plagio and not

torticollis. He just preferred to

sleep on one spot on his head. I was

actually also surprised that Parents

magazine published ANYTHING about plagio.

I've been reading both Parents

and Parenting since my son was born and have never

seen an even a Q & A on it.

I think it should be a full 2-page article

since it is such a growing

problem that a lot of parents and doctors don't

know about. I'm surprised

that Parents magazine didn't do their own research

too before it published

that response. I also will write a letter.

Beth

Mom of Dylan

Grand Rapids, MI

>From: " Becky " <becky@...>

>Reply-Plagiocephaly

>Plagiocephaly

>Subject: Plagio Article in Parents

Magazine

>Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 04:35:31 -0000

>

>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

>

_________________________________________________________________

>From must-see cities to the best beaches, plan

a getaway with the Spring

Travel Guide! http://special.msn.com/local/springtravel.armx

For more

plagio info

April 19, 2004

Please let me know how I can help with/promote this.

Dave (Gracie’s Dad)

On 4/19/04 1:02 AM, " Scalise " <becky@...> wrote:

Hi Beth…I’m already all over the 2-page article idea. I believe that some parent’s magazines accept freelance articles and I am working on one now. I just have to make some contacts to see which magazines accept the articles and then get the word out there. I also have a friend who is retired from the newspaper industry here in Pittsburgh, and he told me some of the papers around here pay for freelance articles. I might give that a shot too. Just don’t know if 2 separate publications would publish the same article. I suppose I will just submit them one at a time and see who actually will publish it.

I have just become so frustrated with the amount of ignorance to this condition in the medical community. Beyond the article, I am still sending a letter to Parents. I think letters can be emailed. That would probably be easiest for me.

Becky (’s Mom) in Pgh, PA

From: Beth Fredricks [mailto:bethfredricks30@...]

Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 9:02 PM

Plagiocephaly

Subject: RE: Plagio Article in Parents Magazine