Re: chose not to have helmet and happy about it

[Guest guest]

Hello,

Excellent news about your daughter's head rounding out! Thank you so

much for sharing your story. It is always so helpful for parents of

older toddlers to post an update on their childs' plagio or brachy

situation as they change and grow.

Did you practice any repositioning techniques after her consult at 4

months old? My daughter is a repo graduate (she is now over 4 years

old;) in our case, though, we had to aggressively repo for about 6

months straight to get the correction we got. We have lots of other

repo'ers as members of the group, including 2 Repo Moderators (I'm

one, and Becky is another.) I think the nature of questions and

concerns along the way while undergoing band treatment gives banded

baby posts a higher profile and greater number of posts. Usually us

repo'ers get a repo groove going, and we just maintain it without a

lot of follow-up questions, I guess. We have our own Repositioning

before and after album in the Photos section of the group, if you'd

like to take a look! My daughter's name is Remy. She corrected very

well with repo-only, and we are also happy about her choice. Do you

have any progress pics of your daughter? I'd love to see them.

It's impossible to guarantee that a specific baby's head will round

out, though. For example, in-utero plagio can be difficult to

correct, and babies with persistant torticollis may be unable to

position their head in such a way as to encourage a rounding-out, no

matter what the severiy. Published studies have shown that without

banding, some babies round out to normal, some have improvement but

not to normal, and some don't round out at all. The angst and irony

for many plagio/brachy parents evaluating treatment options is that by

the time you know for sure that your baby is one of the ones who

DIDN'T round out (i.e. about 2 years old,) it's too late to avail

oneself of the age-sensitive treatment option of banding even if you

wanted to. Our American Academy of Pediatrics Plagio treatment

guidelines published in late 2003 recommend babies going straight to

the helmet if assessed as severe, and for others a 2-3 month trial of

repo. If the baby's head shape is resistant to correcting with

repo-only, then a referral for band necessity is considered appropriate.

Take care,

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

>

> I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and I'd just

> like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the helmet

> therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very few of us

> non-helmeters come back to these boards because our kids 'outgrow'

> plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

>

> My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four months

> and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was convinced

> that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head forever by

> not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on her

> preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had noticed.

>

> Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the flat

> spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as she

> continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I am

> fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is older.

>

> I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have outgrown it so

> it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio cases need

> helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by the

> paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing your story with us. I wanted to second

everything that Christie said and also say that although your child

(and others) have rounded out over time... there is no guarantee

that this will happen. Your Daughter was very lucky that her head

did improve through repositioning efforts and/or through growth over

time. Sadly, I have seen the opposite happen. I have a good friend

whose Son had moderate plagio as a baby and today he still has an

oddly shaped head, ear asymmetry and facial asymmetry... he is now

almost 4.5 years old. My youngest Daughter had plagio and since

repositioning was unsuccessful (she had moderate tort) we banded her

for 11 weeks and the results were wonderful! I'd do it again in a

heartbeat just to guarantee that her head would get better. Taking

the chance that her head would naturally round out just wasn't

something I was willing to gamble on, especially since my friend's

Son's head never got better.

Like you said though... it depends on the severity of the baby's

head, and also how you look at it all.

Jen

(22 mo), tort resolved, Hanger Band Grad

(4 years)

>

> I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and I'd

just

> like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the helmet

> therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very few of

us

> non-helmeters come back to these boards because our kids 'outgrow'

> plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

>

> My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four

months

> and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was

convinced

> that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head

forever by

> not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on her

> preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had

noticed.

>

> Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the

flat

> spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as she

> continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I am

> fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is older.

>

> I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have outgrown

it so

> it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio cases

need

> helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by

the

> paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

>

[Guest guest]

I must disagree with the following statement

" I agree that some serious plagio cases

need helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by

the paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it. "

My son's case was also rated as moderate and by the time he was 16

m.o. it didn't get much better. He was banded a month ago and we are

already seeing correction. As I am very aware of plagio, I always

pay attention to kids' heads when out at the playground or in a

shopping mall and it breaks my heart to see how many older kids

(2+) with mis-shapen heads are out there. Some of these cases are so

bad (significant facial assymetry) that even a person with no plagio

experience would easily notice it.

I wonder how people from the " older Plagio Kids " board, many of whom

have to deal with the consequences of not banding their chidren,

very often out of their paediatricians' ignorance, would react to

your post. I perrsonally find its last paragraph offensive.

Take care,

Val

>

> I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and I'd

just

> like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the helmet

> therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very few of

us

> non-helmeters come back to these boards because our kids 'outgrow'

> plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

>

> My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four

months

> and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was

convinced

> that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head

forever by

> not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on her

> preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had

noticed.

>

> Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the

flat

> spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as she

> continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I am

> fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is older.

>

> I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have outgrown

it so

> it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio cases

need

> helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by

the

> paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

>

[Guest guest]

well, if thats the case, i guess ill just take aidans helmet right off then!!

what were we

THINKING all this time???? silly us.

i have a nephew whose head is flat as a board in back-hes 3 and not getting

better. his

mom cant even look at my son in his band she is so upset about not having dome

something...and he was moderate-and isnt getting better.

> >

> > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and I'd

> just

> > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the helmet

> > therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very few of

> us

> > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our kids 'outgrow'

> > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

> >

> > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four

> months

> > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was

> convinced

> > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head

> forever by

> > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on her

> > preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had

> noticed.

> >

> > Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the

> flat

> > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as she

> > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I am

> > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is older.

> >

> > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have outgrown

> it so

> > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio cases

> need

> > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by

> the

> > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I chose to do the cranial sacral therapy and it has changed my son's

head definitely. The dr told us that by age 5 children with flat

spots will outgrown them. My son doesn't have any facial asymmetry,

so I may have chosen the helmet if he did.

The other poster said she sees kids all the time with misshapen

heads that are older- well I have taught for 10 years and have NEVER

seen an older child with a misshapen head- which leads me to believe

that most kids will outgrow it.

-- In Plagiocephaly , " linia555 " <linia555@...> wrote:

>

> I must disagree with the following statement

> " I agree that some serious plagio cases

> need helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated

by

> the paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it. "

>

> My son's case was also rated as moderate and by the time he was 16

> m.o. it didn't get much better. He was banded a month ago and we

are

> already seeing correction. As I am very aware of plagio, I always

> pay attention to kids' heads when out at the playground or in a

> shopping mall and it breaks my heart to see how many older kids

> (2+) with mis-shapen heads are out there. Some of these cases are

so

> bad (significant facial assymetry) that even a person with no

plagio

> experience would easily notice it.

> I wonder how people from the " older Plagio Kids " board, many of

whom

> have to deal with the consequences of not banding their chidren,

> very often out of their paediatricians' ignorance, would react to

> your post. I perrsonally find its last paragraph offensive.

> Take care,

> Val

>

>

> >

> > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and

I'd

> just

> > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the

helmet

> > therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very few

of

> us

> > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our

kids 'outgrow'

> > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

> >

> > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four

> months

> > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was

> convinced

> > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head

> forever by

> > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on

her

> > preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had

> noticed.

> >

> > Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the

> flat

> > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as she

> > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I

am

> > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is

older.

> >

> > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have outgrown

> it so

> > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio

cases

> need

> > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by

> the

> > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

That's interesting that you have never noticed a kid with a

mishappen head. I have not only seen kids with mishappen heads, but

I have even seen several ADULTS with mishappen heads. Obviously

that means that there are plenty of people out there who had

plagio/mishappen heads and it was never corrected, either with a

band, repositioning, CST or by nature. If plagio did in fact

miraculously correct itself without intervention 100% of the time,

do you really think that there would be the need for cranial

banding?

Those children whose heads DO improve over time without any

intervention are lucky. I don't put much stock in a the statement

from the Dr that " by age 5 children with flat spots will outgrow

them " , because Doctors are constantly telling parents that their

baby's head will " round out on its own " once they start to sit up,

crawl etc.... and often times (probably the majority of the time)

they do not... unless the parents are very diligient about

repositioning and there isn't anything else involved (ie: tort).

There are SO many people out there who are uninformed about

plagiocephaly and that there IS help out there and ways to correct

plagio. Everyone needs to make their own decision as to whether or

not they are willing to " gamble " on whether nature/time/growth will

correct their baby's headshape. Many people aren't willing to do

that because, if their child's head shape does NOT improve, they

would be very regretful that they missed the window of time when

they could have corrected it. We (and Doctors) cannot predict the

future... therefore there is no way to say that most kids heads will

improve over time without intervention... there would be no

definitive study to show this, because most parents are not willing

to take the chance.

I'm glad that CST was successful for your Son. I know it has helped

many other older plagio children.

Jen

(22 mo), tort resolved, Hanger Band Grad

(4 years)

> > >

> > > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and

> I'd

> > just

> > > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the

> helmet

> > > therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very

few

> of

> > us

> > > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our

> kids 'outgrow'

> > > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

> > >

> > > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four

> > months

> > > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was

> > convinced

> > > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head

> > forever by

> > > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on

> her

> > > preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had

> > noticed.

> > >

> > > Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice

the

> > flat

> > > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as

she

> > > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I

> am

> > > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is

> older.

> > >

> > > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have

outgrown

> > it so

> > > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio

> cases

> > need

> > > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated

by

> > the

> > > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Jen,

Great post, agree with you 100%. I see so many adults with

misshapen heads. It really becomes noticable at the hairdresser,

when everybody's hair is wet. Can't count how many adults I have

seen with really bad Brachy & Plagio as well as children.

My son wore 2 bands and his head looks great, no regrets doing it at

all. Don't think I could have played the waiting game to see if it

would have rounded out on its own, too risky.

Jennie

's Mommy 15 months

Plagio/Still working on the darn Tort

DOC Band(s) Grad!

> > > >

> > > > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets

and

> > I'd

> > > just

> > > > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the

> > helmet

> > > > therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very

> few

> > of

> > > us

> > > > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our

> > kids 'outgrow'

> > > > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

> > > >

> > > > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about

four

> > > months

> > > > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was

> > > convinced

> > > > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head

> > > forever by

> > > > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up

on

> > her

> > > > preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I

had

> > > noticed.

> > > >

> > > > Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice

> the

> > > flat

> > > > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as

> she

> > > > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable.

I

> > am

> > > > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is

> > older.

> > > >

> > > > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have

> outgrown

> > > it so

> > > > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio

> > cases

> > > need

> > > > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated

> by

> > > the

> > > > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Well, obviously there are way fewer children with plagio in the 6+ age group, as the Back to Sleep campaign was initiated about 5 years ago. Having said that, about a month ago I saw a 10-12 y.o. boy at the payground where we usually go with a severely misshapen head: brachy + plagio. On the top of that, my husband has a moderate brachy, so please, don't acuse me of lying. I really wish my son's plagio corrected itself. Am I willing to take any chances with it? Absolutely not. I waited for 12 months before initiating banding and there is no day when I don't regret it. Valkwisnie <kwisnie@...> wrote: I chose to do the cranial sacral therapy and it has changed my son's head definitely. The dr told us that by age 5 children with flat spots will outgrown them. My son doesn't have any facial asymmetry, so I may have chosen the helmet if he did. The other poster said she sees kids all the time with misshapen heads that are older- well I have taught for 10 years and have NEVER seen an older child with a misshapen head- which leads me to believe that most kids will outgrow it.-- In Plagiocephaly , "linia555" <linia555@...> wrote:>> I must disagree with the following statement> "I agree that some serious plagio cases > need helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by > the paediatrician as moderate and even she is

outgrowing it."> > My son's case was also rated as moderate and by the time he was 16 > m.o. it didn't get much better. He was banded a month ago and we are > already seeing correction. As I am very aware of plagio, I always > pay attention to kids' heads when out at the playground or in a > shopping mall and it breaks my heart to see how many older kids > (2+) with mis-shapen heads are out there. Some of these cases are so > bad (significant facial assymetry) that even a person with no plagio > experience would easily notice it. > I wonder how people from the "older Plagio Kids" board, many of whom > have to deal with the consequences of not banding their chidren, > very often out of their paediatricians' ignorance, would react to > your post. I perrsonally find its last paragraph offensive.> Take care,> Val > > > >> > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and I'd > just > > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the helmet > > therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very few of > us > > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our kids 'outgrow' > > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.> > > > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four > months > > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was > convinced > > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head > forever by > > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on her > >

preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had > noticed.> > > > Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the > flat > > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as she > > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I am > > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is older. > > > > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have outgrown > it so > > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio cases > need > > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by > the > > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.> >> __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Kwisnie,

The AAP acknowledges that the dramatic increase in

Plagiocephaly/Brachycephaly cases is a result of the successful Back

to Sleep Campaign:

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;112/1/199?fullt\

ext=plagiocephaly & searchid=QID_NOT_SET

Although initiated 12 years ago, Back to Sleep compliance rates with

the recommendations were not immediate, but instead gradually

increased over the years. For a sample snapshot of this gradual

compliance, according to the AAP, back (supine) sleep prevalance was

only 31% in the overall population in 1996, increasing to 40% in 1997,

and then 49% in 1998:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/109/4/608/F2

In addition, use of convenience items for newborns/babies is on the

rise (infant carriers, carseats, swings, bouncie seats) and has

contributed to incidence of plagiocephaly and brachycephaly.

http://www.oandp.org/jpo/library/2003_03_102.asp

The AAP also issued an updated recommendation on Sleep Position in

November of last year. In this update, the AAP changed it's stance

from endorsing side-sleeping in any form, and now ONLY endorses

back-sleeping:

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;116/5/1245

For these statistical reasons, I can't imagine tons of examples of a

plagio or brachy epidemic in older children, but instead, on the other

hand, would expect to see misshapen heads occurring with greater

frequency in young children, toddlers, and the newborn population.

If you concur with your Dr's assessment that plagio and brachy

self-correct by age 5, I am wondering why you chose to pursue cranial

sacral therapy. Although not a helmet, cranial sacral therapy is

certainly treatment.

Take care,

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> > > >

> > > > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and

> > I'd

> > > just

> > > > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the

> > helmet

> > > > therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very

> few

> > of

> > > us

> > > > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our

> > kids 'outgrow'

> > > > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

> > > >

> > > > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four

> > > months

> > > > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was

> > > convinced

> > > > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head

> > > forever by

> > > > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on

> > her

> > > > preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had

> > > noticed.

> > > >

> > > > Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice

> the

> > > flat

> > > > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as

> she

> > > > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I

> > am

> > > > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is

> > older.

> > > >

> > > > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have

> outgrown

> > > it so

> > > > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio

> > cases

> > > need

> > > > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated

> by

> > > the

> > > > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Just to add to the debate about helmets...my husband is from india and

he and his brother both have brachy. Also this weekend when we took

our daughter to a party and when I explained her helmet to our friends

a few said " my mom should have got me one of those " . one of the women

was from Korea, the other from Taiwan. Although US babies used to

stomach sleep the rest of the world didn't necessarily. All of these

people look normal, but I think they would all like to have a rounder

head. When we decided to band my daughter it didn't occur to my

husband that Sydney's head should be flat like his.

-christine

mom to Sydney/5.5 mo/Starband 5-31-06

> > > > >

> > > > > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and

> > > I'd

> > > > just

> > > > > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the

> > > helmet

> > > > > therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very

> > few

> > > of

> > > > us

> > > > > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our

> > > kids 'outgrow'

> > > > > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

> > > > >

> > > > > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four

> > > > months

> > > > > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was

> > > > convinced

> > > > > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head

> > > > forever by

> > > > > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on

> > > her

> > > > > preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had

> > > > noticed.

> > > > >

> > > > > Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice

> > the

> > > > flat

> > > > > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as

> > she

> > > > > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I

> > > am

> > > > > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is

> > > older.

> > > > >

> > > > > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have

> > outgrown

> > > > it so

> > > > > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio

> > > cases

> > > > need

> > > > > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated

> > by

> > > > the

> > > > > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > __________________________________________________

> > >

[Guest guest]

As a 22 year old with a misshapen head, I'd like to disagree. I had

plagio as a kid, back when doctors didn't know much and told my

parents all flat spots round out anyways. To this day, I can't wear

glasses without them sitting on my face lopsided due to the

misalignment of my ears, I can't lay down on harder surfaces or it

causes discomfort due to the weird shape, and my face has and always

will be a tad assymmetrical.

It doesn't grow out with most kids, their heads are too hardened to

change shape after around 2, which is why they have the age limits

for banding, after that it won't do much. Just most people grow

accustomed to it, or their hair grows and it's more easy to hide it a

bit.

I'd rather err on the side of caution.

> > >

> > > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and

> I'd

> > just

> > > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the

> helmet

> > > therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very few

> of

> > us

> > > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our

> kids 'outgrow'

> > > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

> > >

> > > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four

> > months

> > > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was

> > convinced

> > > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head

> > forever by

> > > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on

> her

> > > preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had

> > noticed.

> > >

> > > Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the

> > flat

> > > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as

she

> > > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I

> am

> > > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is

> older.

> > >

> > > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have

outgrown

> > it so

> > > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio

> cases

> > need

> > > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by

> > the

> > > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Someone else already clarified the timeframe of the Back to Sleep campaign. From what my kids' pedi says, they started recommending back sleep about 5 years ago. I live in Canada. What bothers me is that people who for different reasons chose not to band their kids find it appropriate to bully people who banded their kids. The fact that somebody's child's head "corrected on its own" doesn't mean that my son't head will do the same, so why do I have to endure people implying that I am a fool for banding my child? Somebody asked once, "Would you get braces if your child had crooked teeth or would you wait for them to straighten out on their own?". I mean, come on, people who band their kids go through such an emotional ordeal before they arrive to that decision. It took me days and days of going back and forth, lots of crying and blaming myself for my son't plagio and I really don't need anyone telling me that whatever we went

through was for nothing. Val kwisnie <kwisnie@...> wrote: fyi- Back to Sleep campaign started 12 years ago not 5.> > >> > > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and > I'd > > just > > > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the > helmet > > > therapy that it is OK not

to choose the helmet option. Very few > of > > us > > > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our > kids 'outgrow' > > > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.> > > > > > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four > > months > > > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was > > convinced > > > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head > > forever by > > > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on > her > > > preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had > > noticed.> > > > > > Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the > > flat > > > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as she >

> > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I > am > > > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is > older. > > > > > > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have outgrown > > it so > > > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio > cases > > need > > > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by > > the > > > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.> > >> >> > > > > > __________________________________________________>

[Guest guest]

SO true! Pirner <linia555@...> wrote: Someone else already clarified the timeframe of the Back to Sleep campaign. From what my kids' pedi says, they started recommending back sleep about 5 years ago. I live in Canada. What bothers me is that people who for different reasons chose not to band their kids find it appropriate to bully people who banded their kids. The fact that somebody's child's head "corrected on its own" doesn't mean that my son't head will do the same, so why do I have to endure people implying that I am a fool for banding my child? Somebody asked once, "Would you get braces if your child had crooked teeth or would you wait for them to straighten out on their own?". I mean, come on, people who band their kids go through such an emotional ordeal before they arrive to that decision. It took me days and days of going back and forth, lots of crying and blaming myself for my son't plagio and I really don't need anyone telling me that whatever we went through was for nothing. Val kwisnie <kwisnie@...> wrote: fyi- Back to Sleep campaign started 12 years ago not 5.> > >> > > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with

helmets and > I'd > > just > > > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the > helmet > > > therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very few > of > > us > > > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our > kids 'outgrow' > > > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.> > > > > > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four > > months > > > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was > > convinced > > > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head > > forever by > > > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on > her > > > preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had > > noticed.> > > > > >

Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the > > flat > > > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as she > > > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I > am > > > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is > older. > > > > > > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have outgrown > > it so > > > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio > cases > > need > > > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by > > the > > > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.> > >> >> > > > > > __________________________________________________>

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry to hear you have to deal with this. A while back I recall a woman posting about psychological effects of wearing a band and I responded, basically I came to the conclusion I would rather band my son and have people stare and make comments now than put him through teasing later. Or as you mentioned, have problems lying on certain areas, wearing glasses, etc. Thank you for having the courage to share your story.

Amy

On 6/13/06, Cristi <naive_angel@...> wrote:

As a 22 year old with a misshapen head, I'd like to disagree. I had plagio as a kid, back when doctors didn't know much and told my parents all flat spots round out anyways. To this day, I can't wear glasses without them sitting on my face lopsided due to the misalignment of my ears, I can't lay down on harder surfaces or it causes discomfort due to the weird shape, and my face has and always will be a tad assymmetrical.It doesn't grow out with most kids, their heads are too hardened to change shape after around 2, which is why they have the age limits for banding, after that it won't do much. Just most people grow accustomed to it, or their hair grows and it's more easy to hide it a bit.

I'd rather err on the side of caution.

> > >> > > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and > I'd > > just > > > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the > helmet > > > therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very few > of > > us > > > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our > kids 'outgrow' > > > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.> > > > > > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four > > months

> > > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was > > convinced > > > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head > > forever by > > > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on > her > > > preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had > > noticed.> > > > > > Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the

> > flat > > > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as she > > > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I > am > > > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is > older. > > > > > > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have outgrown > > it so > > > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio > cases > > need > > > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by > > the > > > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.> > >

> >>

[Guest guest]

Well I have to disagree...Thankfully even though several tried to

explain to me the helmet was really not needed for my son, this

wonderful neurosurgen explained how much it was...I now know why...

Long story short, my son was born with it. (squashed into my

placenta, only looking one way...) He also has torticollis and

craniosynosis (metopic suture closed) When he was born I noticed

right away that something was very wrong with his head. My first

instinks were (after his pedetrician said it would work it's way

out) was to put a hat on him, it bothered me that much. Well after a

few checkups and being told it would work it's way out...I finally

said. are you sure this is normal... just look at this... and it was

then that the pedetrician sent me to the physical therapist for the

torticollis... While there I learned all about the plagio and cranio

and called back his ped for a referral to a cranial facial

specialist..while still being told his case was mild...

The cranio doc was top in his field and had us do a cat scan, which

is when we learned he also had a metopic suture closed

(craniosynosis) that was a mild case, but the plagio and torticollis

was moderate to severe.... My sons ears are totally misalligned...

His head was buldging in the front from the day he was born, he had

flat spots on the other front side and the other back side... He did

not have the round head like my other son and I knew it was not

normal.

I was referred to the ortho dept for a helmet fitting, where I was

also told his case should not need a helmet for long if at all, and

he was only mild.... Then I met with the neurosurgen and he could

not believe what I had been told... He was shocked by the advice I

had been given and I was told my son may not be the worst he had

seen, but by all means still needed the correction of a helmet.. His

ears alone warrented the helmet as one was completely foward and one

was all the way in the back. He showed me the angle of his head and

how off he really is and then it hit me... the helmet was a must.

I have to admit that at first I expected an overnight success, but

did not get that. I really didn't get the change I had hoped for at

first. But my son continued to improve mildly and I now see the

changes. Honestly now I am just being a perfectionest because if I

never knew of this and just met him I would never suspect this at

all, he looks great. But being his mom I see every improvement and

want to notice it just like that.

Short story long...We have two weeks left of this helmet and it was

worth every single penny...heartache and aggrevation...and now

thanks to my persistance hopefully his head will continue to become

nice and rounded out with no evidence of this plagio that filled his

first months of life.

My advice is to go with your gut feelings...as MOTHER'S KNOW

BEST!!!!

BTW: Since his pedetrician had this experience with my son she has

continued to notice many other children with this and has referred

them to physical therapy and to the cranial facial specialists...

She has learned a thing or two from my experience and for that I am

grateful.

PS: My son is with the Andretti racing helmet in our photos

folder under J.

>

> I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and I'd

just

> like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the helmet

> therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very few of

us

> non-helmeters come back to these boards because our kids 'outgrow'

> plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

>

> My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four

months

> and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was

convinced

> that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head

forever by

> not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on her

> preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had

noticed.

>

> Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the

flat

> spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as she

> continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I am

> fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is older.

>

> I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have outgrown

it so

> it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio cases

need

> helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by

the

> paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm glad you got him the help he

needed. )

Sandy Willow's Mom

> >

> > I am increasingly seeing kids here in the UK with helmets and

I'd

> just

> > like to briefly reassure people who are not sure about the

helmet

> > therapy that it is OK not to choose the helmet option. Very few

of

> us

> > non-helmeters come back to these boards because our

kids 'outgrow'

> > plagio naturally and it isn't an issue for us anymore.

> >

> > My dd is just over two. I noticed her flat spot at about four

> months

> > and took her to the doctor after I read up on plagio. I was

> convinced

> > that I was a horrible mother and that I had ruined her head

> forever by

> > not giving her more tummy time etc and by not following up on

her

> > preference for favouring one side, which both my mum and I had

> noticed.

> >

> > Well more than 20 months on, guess what I don't even notice the

> flat

> > spot! It is still there, though diminishing with time and as she

> > continues to grow. Even her wonky ears aren't as noticeable. I

am

> > fully confident that her head will be 'normal' when she is

older.

> >

> > I also have friends with brachy kids and they also have outgrown

> it so

> > it's not just my daughter. I agree that some serious plagio

cases

> need

> > helmets but they are very rare. My daughter's case was rated by

> the

> > paediatrician as moderate and even she is outgrowing it.

> >

>