Re: 3rd day in Starband-need reassurance

[Guest guest]

Hello

I just want to let you know that it is ok to vent. That is what we

are here for.

I think you did right by not putting MacKenzie back in the band if

she has this red spot. I don't think deep red is good, and think

you should def call the ortho. Your ortho sounds good to let you

know that you should call. )

The sweating does get better over time. Once she is in the band

fulltime her body will slowly adjust to the temperature changes.

Just make sure you don't dress her too warm.

As far as daycare goes. I would show someone to put the band on,

and take it off and advise them to leave the band off IF they ever

see a red spot.

Have you decorated the band? Sometimes that can make all the

difference, and the appearence is much friendlier vs. clinical.

Angry eyes are normal too before they start to fit into their little

bands. I think almost all of our kids have had the angry eye look.

I hope you start feeling better soon. MacKenzie will have a

beautiful rounded head to show for.

I've shead many many tears before it was all said and done. Just

want you to know that everything you are feeling is normal. )

Sandy WIllow's Mom

Torticollis resolved

Cranio Germany Grad

--- In Plagiocephaly , " mcasper10 " <mcasper10@h...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everyone. MacKenzie got her Starband on Friday and we have been

> in the " weaning stage " all weekend. She has a deep red spot on her

> forehead but it usually goes away within an hour. Robin, our Ortho

> told me that an hour seems excessive to her and if they don't go

> away within 30 minutes to give her a call, so I guees we will be

> seeing her on Mon. MacKenzie has a little cold and is working on a

> tooth and is miserable. It's tough for me becuase she usually is

> such a happy baby. Tonight was supposed to be the first night

> sleeping in her band, but I couldn't get her to sleep, she was so

> restless and crying something fierce (not like her at all). So I

> finally gave up and put her to sleep without it. Maybe a good idea

> because of the red spot anyway...But anyways, I was doing so good

> with this all along till now. I found this group, got my referral,

> had her casting and she never cried or anything. When we went Fri.

> to get her band, I saw it and just started crying. I have been

> crying all weekend. I call her band the medievial torture device.

> She sweats so bad and her cradle cap is going crazy. I can't seem

to

> get in on right and when I do, it slips down and she has " angry

> eyes " and when I try to adjust it, she gets upset. She slept in it

> for her afternoon nap, and when she woke, she was dripping wet. I

am

> so upset and we were only to the four hour stage today, tomorrow

is

> supposed to be 8 hours and she goes to daycare and I don;t know

how

> I will stand it. My mom and aunt keep giving me the " she will have

a

> beautiful round head " song and dance and I know they are right,

but

> it makes me cry everytime I look at her! I am more upset than she.

> She's such a beautiful baby and now no one will see anything but

her

> ugly " hat " . I can't believe I am being such a baby about this, but

> thanks for letting me vent...

[Guest guest]

Hi there

I really feel for you- it sounds like you have been coping really

well with it all, but it's a little like a dam bursting-once you

start crying it is really hard to stop!

I haven't got any major advice- Sandy has covered things really

well. I would try and keep her cool- in centrally heated homes with

ordinary clothes, she will be way too hot. Dress MacKenzie in cool

cotton clothes, keep the room really cool (so you are cold!!!) and

take the helmet off every couple of hours and give it an airing and

dry her hair. She will adjust, but I found this dramatically

decreased any discomfort with the band and made my daughter

generally more comfortable.

You sound like you have got a great Ortho- definitely check out that

spot, if only to reassure yourself, and you could also ask about the

cradle cap. I know a lot of mums use the Aveeno oatmeal and make a

paste and wash it off. I use something called Bach's Rescue Cream

(similar to the Bach's flower remedy in little bottles)- leave it on

for a few hours (when the helmet is off, perhaps this weekend), then

the scales come away very easily. I didn't think it would work and

had tried medicated shampoos, olive oil etc and none did, but my

health visitor recommended it. I'm not sure if it is available in

the States, but I'm sure the US mums will help out if not.

All your feelings about seeing your little one with the helmet are

normal- i felt no-one would see my beautiful daughter, just the

horrible helmet, but I think this is something mum's do think, but

no-one else does. I'm sure as you go out and about with MacKenzie

you will get lots of positive attention as well as looks- she will

be your little star for this few months.

Also-teething etc- makes the little one's miserable. It sounds like

MacKenzie is just having a bad week, and we've all had those!!! Her

little personality will be back to normal very soon- and the helmet

won't dent it one little bit.

Hope you have a better few days.

Take care

Hannah (mum to Lucia, London, UK)

Plagio, Cranio helmet, 4th July '04

--- In Plagiocephaly , " mcasper10 " <mcasper10@h...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everyone. MacKenzie got her Starband on Friday and we have been

> in the " weaning stage " all weekend. She has a deep red spot on her

> forehead but it usually goes away within an hour. Robin, our Ortho

> told me that an hour seems excessive to her and if they don't go

> away within 30 minutes to give her a call, so I guees we will be

> seeing her on Mon. MacKenzie has a little cold and is working on a

> tooth and is miserable. It's tough for me becuase she usually is

> such a happy baby. Tonight was supposed to be the first night

> sleeping in her band, but I couldn't get her to sleep, she was so

> restless and crying something fierce (not like her at all). So I

> finally gave up and put her to sleep without it. Maybe a good idea

> because of the red spot anyway...But anyways, I was doing so good

> with this all along till now. I found this group, got my referral,

> had her casting and she never cried or anything. When we went Fri.

> to get her band, I saw it and just started crying. I have been

> crying all weekend. I call her band the medievial torture device.

> She sweats so bad and her cradle cap is going crazy. I can't seem

to

> get in on right and when I do, it slips down and she has " angry

> eyes " and when I try to adjust it, she gets upset. She slept in it

> for her afternoon nap, and when she woke, she was dripping wet. I

am

> so upset and we were only to the four hour stage today, tomorrow

is

> supposed to be 8 hours and she goes to daycare and I don;t know

how

> I will stand it. My mom and aunt keep giving me the " she will have

a

> beautiful round head " song and dance and I know they are right,

but

> it makes me cry everytime I look at her! I am more upset than she.

> She's such a beautiful baby and now no one will see anything but

her

> ugly " hat " . I can't believe I am being such a baby about this, but

> thanks for letting me vent...

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You already got some great advice from the others, I just wanted to

tell you that you aren't alone on how you feel. I am pretty sure that

most, if not all of us, have been at the point where you are. Um,

some of us maybe more.

I remember my first trip to the mall with my son Jaxson after he

received his helmet. We were going Christmas shopping last year..

Jax, his dad and I. We had just got into the mall .. I of course am a

die hard shopper and was excited to get out. I was a bit timid

because of the helmet, but I had it decked out in a big Christmas

theme... well... we enter JCPenny... first thing I noticed was an

associate STARING at him... mouth wide open. I was upset, sure.. but

kept on making my way towards that opening into the mall.. I was

determined. We cam up to two women (one younger, the other elderly)

and a couple of little kids (stroller size). The two women were in

our path, coming towards us. The elderly woman stopped dead in her

tracks, the younger one leaned over and said " I wonder what happened

to him " all the while pointing right at Jax. The elderly woman

laughed (weather it be at Jax's helmet or just that he was smiling at

them, at that point, I didn't care). I started sobbing right then and

there. Real tears and all.

Needless to say, I left that day with an understand that I was naive

to believe that people could be sensitive to other parents with

children that were not the " norm " looking tots they had. That was the

first week of his helmet... I took much caution before going out

again - I made his helmet say across the front " WHAT ARE YOU STARING

AT... I KNOW I'M CUTE " I got information to the hospitals here where

I live and had them start giving info on plagio to their new parents,

in their welcome baby packages. THAT made it easier.

We are now waiting for another helmet... after he has been out of

one since April. I know that it's hard... believe me, I cried daily

for the frist few weeks. It will get easier.

Wow, I babbled.. just wanted to share my sob story.. well, one of

them. I have many lol.

Kim

--- In Plagiocephaly , " mcasper10 " <mcasper10@h...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everyone. MacKenzie got her Starband on Friday and we have been

> in the " weaning stage " all weekend. She has a deep red spot on her

> forehead but it usually goes away within an hour. Robin, our Ortho

> told me that an hour seems excessive to her and if they don't go

> away within 30 minutes to give her a call, so I guees we will be

> seeing her on Mon. MacKenzie has a little cold and is working on a

> tooth and is miserable. It's tough for me becuase she usually is

> such a happy baby. Tonight was supposed to be the first night

> sleeping in her band, but I couldn't get her to sleep, she was so

> restless and crying something fierce (not like her at all). So I

> finally gave up and put her to sleep without it. Maybe a good idea

> because of the red spot anyway...But anyways, I was doing so good

> with this all along till now. I found this group, got my referral,

> had her casting and she never cried or anything. When we went Fri.

> to get her band, I saw it and just started crying. I have been

> crying all weekend. I call her band the medievial torture device.

> She sweats so bad and her cradle cap is going crazy. I can't seem

to

> get in on right and when I do, it slips down and she has " angry

> eyes " and when I try to adjust it, she gets upset. She slept in it

> for her afternoon nap, and when she woke, she was dripping wet. I

am

> so upset and we were only to the four hour stage today, tomorrow is

> supposed to be 8 hours and she goes to daycare and I don;t know how

> I will stand it. My mom and aunt keep giving me the " she will have

a

> beautiful round head " song and dance and I know they are right, but

> it makes me cry everytime I look at her! I am more upset than she.

> She's such a beautiful baby and now no one will see anything but

her

> ugly " hat " . I can't believe I am being such a baby about this, but

> thanks for letting me vent...

[Guest guest]

Oh , I could have wrote your post two months ago. That's

exactly how I felt, although McKenna adjusted wonderfully to her

STARband. Now, when Kenna is out of her helmet she looks strange to

me. She doesn't look like my baby at all without it. I've adjusted

to her being it and something feels off if she isn't wearing it.

I promise you, it does get better. The first few weeks are the very

hardest with her adjusting and the reaction to people seeing her in

it.

Also, I felt VERY clumsy trying to get the helmet on and off for the

first week or two. Now I can do it while she's moving and in a

matter of a couple seconds. It just takes some practice.

I know it doesn't help when people say she'll have a nice round

head, but I promise, it does get easier. McKenna might be coming

out of her helmet this week or next and honestly, I'm sad to see it

go. It's become a part of our life for two months and will seem

strange not having it on her.

Have you tried Zeazorb powder for the sweating? It really helped

Kenna and also helped the cradle cap. Also, her body will adjust to

the helmet and she'll sweat less with it on in a few weeks.

Good luck

Tami

--- In Plagiocephaly , " mcasper10 " <mcasper10@h...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everyone. MacKenzie got her Starband on Friday and we have been

> in the " weaning stage " all weekend. She has a deep red spot on her

> forehead but it usually goes away within an hour. Robin, our Ortho

> told me that an hour seems excessive to her and if they don't go

> away within 30 minutes to give her a call, so I guees we will be

> seeing her on Mon. MacKenzie has a little cold and is working on a

> tooth and is miserable. It's tough for me becuase she usually is

> such a happy baby. Tonight was supposed to be the first night

> sleeping in her band, but I couldn't get her to sleep, she was so

> restless and crying something fierce (not like her at all). So I

> finally gave up and put her to sleep without it. Maybe a good idea

> because of the red spot anyway...But anyways, I was doing so good

> with this all along till now. I found this group, got my referral,

> had her casting and she never cried or anything. When we went Fri.

> to get her band, I saw it and just started crying. I have been

> crying all weekend. I call her band the medievial torture device.

> She sweats so bad and her cradle cap is going crazy. I can't seem

to

> get in on right and when I do, it slips down and she has " angry

> eyes " and when I try to adjust it, she gets upset. She slept in it

> for her afternoon nap, and when she woke, she was dripping wet. I

am

> so upset and we were only to the four hour stage today, tomorrow

is

> supposed to be 8 hours and she goes to daycare and I don;t know

how

> I will stand it. My mom and aunt keep giving me the " she will have

a

> beautiful round head " song and dance and I know they are right,

but

> it makes me cry everytime I look at her! I am more upset than she.

> She's such a beautiful baby and now no one will see anything but

her

> ugly " hat " . I can't believe I am being such a baby about this, but

> thanks for letting me vent...

[Guest guest]

Hi , I'm so sorry to hear that you are both going thru a tough

adjustment stage. I'm glad that you are seeeing your orthotist

(today?) about the red spot. Perhaps practice putting it on her

while you are there so that she can help you become more confident

with that. The sweating should subside soon. We were advised NOT to

use any powder or anything with our STARband so please ask your ortho

before using anything. I was told that it might be abrasive to their

skin or create a " (now i can't think of the word) " .

I think I understand how you feel so please vent here anytime. Once

it fits her well, she should adjust. Usually they are irritable

about something else going on. When she finally settles in I think

you will start to feel better. Many of us had to wrok thru our own

feelings about this in the beginning. It will be over with before

you know it. Please keep us posted and let us know if you have any

other questions or concerns.

HUGS,

Sue

Colin F., 13 mos.

STARband grad

--- In Plagiocephaly , " mcasper10 " <mcasper10@h...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everyone. MacKenzie got her Starband on Friday and we have been

> in the " weaning stage " all weekend. She has a deep red spot on her

> forehead but it usually goes away within an hour. Robin, our Ortho

> told me that an hour seems excessive to her and if they don't go

> away within 30 minutes to give her a call, so I guees we will be

> seeing her on Mon. MacKenzie has a little cold and is working on a

> tooth and is miserable. It's tough for me becuase she usually is

> such a happy baby. Tonight was supposed to be the first night

> sleeping in her band, but I couldn't get her to sleep, she was so

> restless and crying something fierce (not like her at all). So I

> finally gave up and put her to sleep without it. Maybe a good idea

> because of the red spot anyway...But anyways, I was doing so good

> with this all along till now. I found this group, got my referral,

> had her casting and she never cried or anything. When we went Fri.

> to get her band, I saw it and just started crying. I have been

> crying all weekend. I call her band the medievial torture device.

> She sweats so bad and her cradle cap is going crazy. I can't seem

to

> get in on right and when I do, it slips down and she has " angry

> eyes " and when I try to adjust it, she gets upset. She slept in it

> for her afternoon nap, and when she woke, she was dripping wet. I

am

> so upset and we were only to the four hour stage today, tomorrow is

> supposed to be 8 hours and she goes to daycare and I don;t know how

> I will stand it. My mom and aunt keep giving me the " she will have

a

> beautiful round head " song and dance and I know they are right, but

> it makes me cry everytime I look at her! I am more upset than she.

> She's such a beautiful baby and now no one will see anything but

her

> ugly " hat " . I can't believe I am being such a baby about this, but

> thanks for letting me vent...