Re:What's the best way to handle the public staring at my daughter's he

August 1, 2007

Hey, my daughter just got her helmet too, and I feel your pain. My sister in law asked me if a lot of people had asked me about the helmet at church (first sunday with the helmet), because there sure were a lot of people who'd asked her about it. Most people I think have good intentions and want to be considerate and not come across insensitive asking about it. Honestly I prefer the guy approach to it. I'd rather have people just ask: What's with the helmet? rather than somebody (mostly women) beat around the bush, wanting to know what it's for but not wanting to ask. I know they mean well, but it's a little annoying. So, 1. Don't take offense, people might be stupid sometimes, but most aren't intentionally cruel. 2. Some parents on here have printed out handouts with information about plagio and just carry them along to pass out to people who ask. 3. Next time I'm going to decorate 's helmet, i'm going to write

something on it, like: It's okay to ask about my helmet or something. That way there will be more talking, less staring...;-) hope this helps! I think the helmet is not a big deal, I see it as an opportunity to educate other parents about this condition. ne

Building a website is a piece of cake. Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

August 2, 2007

I like the suggestion to write something on the helmet about it

being okay to ask...great idea! I'm one of the mom's that carry a

handout. Some days I don't feel like getting into it or I'm in a

hurry so I don't take the time to explain it if I catch someone

staring. Other times I tell the whole story. I have never found

anyone to be unsupportive once they listen to my daughter's story.

I find that kids are more likely to stare and make comments than the

parents, which is a good way to approach talking about the issue

with the parent!

Lori

Mom to , 6 1/2 months

DOC Band since 6/25/07

>

> Hey,

> my daughter just got her helmet too, and I feel your pain. My

sister in law asked me if a lot of people had asked me about the

helmet at church (first sunday with the helmet), because there sure

were a lot of people who'd asked her about it. Most people I think

have good intentions and want to be considerate and not come across

insensitive asking about it. Honestly I prefer the guy approach to

it. I'd rather have people just ask: What's with the helmet? rather

than somebody (mostly women) beat around the bush, wanting to know

what it's for but not wanting to ask. I know they mean well, but

it's a little annoying. So,

> 1. Don't take offense, people might be stupid sometimes, but

most aren't intentionally cruel.

> 2. Some parents on here have printed out handouts with

information about plagio and just carry them along to pass out to

people who ask.

> 3. Next time I'm going to decorate 's helmet, i'm going to

write something on it, like: It's okay to ask about my helmet or

something. That way there will be more talking, less staring...;-)

>

> hope this helps! I think the helmet is not a big deal, I see it

as an opportunity to educate other parents about this condition.

>

> ne

>

> ---------------------------------

> Building a website is a piece of cake.

> Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

>

August 2, 2007

I've gotten my daughter a onesie that says " ask me about my helmet " on

the front. I got her another one that says something along the lines

of " head molding in progress " .

There's a few web sites that sell them. I looked on google under

brachycephaly and found them there.

That's done the trick so far. When I know I'm going to a store or

something, I put one on her. It generates a lot of conversations and

so far all have been very nice, very positive and in no way

condescending, rude, or ugly.

mother to Savannah

started Starband 7/26/07

August 2, 2007

I'm personally way too paranoid to put my daughter's name on the

helmet. It goes back to the whole stranger danger thing. I don't want

someone knowing her name so they can snatch her or engage her. That's

just me, the ever so paranoid Houstonian....LOL.

We do have heart stickers on it with people's names who contributed to

her helmet fund. My sister set it up to cover the costs. We have 14

hearts on it, and the contributers get such a kick looking for their

heart when they see her.

Good luck & try not to worry. I'm 42 and older than most to have an 8-

month old, so I'm used to the stares and the questions (is that your

grand daughter?, etc.). The good thing about getting old like me is

that you really don't care what people think or how they act. Most

people are curious and really do want to understand. The kindness of

people always blows my mind.

mother to Savannah

started Starband therapy 7/26/07

August 2, 2007

I am lucky in 2 babies at church already have helmets

thats a cute idea to right to ask, it made me think of something like www.plagiocephaly.org on the back when made me giggle thinking of someone auctioning off advertising space on it on ebay lol wonder if i could make enough to cover the helmet

On 8/1/07, ne McLean <julianemclean@...> wrote:

Hey,

my daughter just got her helmet too, and I feel your pain. My sister in law asked me if a lot of people had asked me about the helmet at church (first sunday with the helmet), because there sure were a lot of people who'd asked her about it. Most people I think have good intentions and want to be considerate and not come across insensitive asking about it. Honestly I prefer the guy approach to it. I'd rather have people just ask: What's with the helmet? rather than somebody (mostly women) beat around the bush, wanting to know what it's for but not wanting to ask. I know they mean well, but it's a little annoying. So,

1. Don't take offense, people might be stupid sometimes, but most aren't intentionally cruel.

2. Some parents on here have printed out handouts with information about plagio and just carry them along to pass out to people who ask.

3. Next time I'm going to decorate 's helmet, i'm going to write something on it, like: It's okay to ask about my helmet or something. That way there will be more talking, less staring...;-)

hope this helps! I think the helmet is not a big deal, I see it as an opportunity to educate other parents about this condition.

ne

Building a website is a piece of cake. Small Business gives you

all the tools to get online.

-- -respectful model to;

-11-7-2ph-11/06

August 3, 2007

>> I'm personally way too paranoid to put my daughter's name on the > helmet. It goes back to the whole stranger danger thing. I don't want > someone knowing her name so they can snatch her or engage her. That's > just me, the ever so paranoid Houstonian....LOL.

I find the name on the helmet the best way to keep people from rudely staring. They still may stare, but w/the name it gives them an icebreaker to engage you in conversation. Most people will not say, "what's the helmet for", but for whatever reason they sill say, "Hi Jack, I like your stickers" or something like that. Then once the find I'm friendly , they'll ask more about the band.

I am not nervous with putting my kids names on their helmets at all. Nobody is going to engage my six month old any more by knowing his name, vs. not knowing his name. I think this is a valid concern in school age children where a stranger can play on that, but in a kid of banding age I don't think it is. Even a banded baby of walking age would probably not go w/someone just b/c they knew his/her name or not. That and most kids under two are always supervised (or should be!) so the opportunity wouldn't arise anyway. Just my two cents .

, mom to Hannah (4yrs, DOCgrad) and Jack (6mos, DOC#2 8/1)http://hannahsnoggin.typepad.com

August 3, 2007

thx for posting sarah, that was my thought, these kids are at the age where they could care less if someone knows their name and are under too close of supervision for it to matter anyway

On 8/3/07, <sarahhollis@...> wrote:

>> I'm personally way too paranoid to put my daughter's name on the > helmet. It goes back to the whole stranger danger thing. I don't want > someone knowing her name so they can snatch her or engage her. That's > just me, the ever so paranoid Houstonian....LOL.

I find the name on the helmet the best way to keep people from rudely staring. They still may stare, but w/the name it gives them an icebreaker to engage you in conversation. Most people will not say, " what's the helmet for " , but for whatever reason they sill say, " Hi Jack, I like your stickers " or something like that. Then once the find I'm friendly , they'll ask more about the band.

I am not nervous with putting my kids names on their helmets at all. Nobody is going to engage my six month old any more by knowing his name, vs. not knowing his name. I think this is a valid concern in school age children where a stranger can play on that, but in a kid of banding age I don't think it is. Even a banded baby of walking age would probably not go w/someone just b/c they knew his/her name or not. That and most kids under two are always supervised (or should be!) so the opportunity wouldn't arise anyway. Just my two cents .

, mom to Hannah (4yrs, DOCgrad) and Jack (6mos, DOC#2 8/1)http://hannahsnoggin.typepad.com

-- -respectful model to;

-11-7-2ph-11/06

August 3, 2007

My son Riley got his helmet just over a week ago and l was surprised at the amount of people that did not stare or comment that live in my area, but when l went into a nother suburb which really is our city here l got stares and comments. I got very upset by this but someone reminded me that it is there narrow minded ness and to remember why we are doing this, there is nothing to stop people from staring all l can say is keep your head high and dont let it bother you to much as your daughter will pick up on it and if she is anything like my son they are not bothered by it so why should we be. Riley Right tort and Plagio Central QLD Australia

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August 5, 2007

i can understand the feeling, b/c of a friends sons death during a homebirth i cannot even explore the idea. though i am sure whether they knew the babies name or not would have made no difference

On 8/5/07, <christinemueller@...> wrote:

I guess it's based on my life experiences. An aquaintance of ours had her 10-month-old daughter abducted. It's made all of us who know them more cautious, especially since they've never caught the person who did it. To me it's the same thing as emailing adorable naked baby pictures. As innocent and beautiful as it may be, you never know who's going to end up with it or if it ends up on some pedophile web site. I wish they'd never aired those " to catch a pedophile " shows on TV! mother to Savannah started Starband therapy 7/26/07

-- -respectful model to;

-11-7-2ph-11/06

August 6, 2007

Did she get the baby back???? This is horrid! How did it happen??

Re:What's the best way to handle the public staring at my daughter's he

I guess it's based on my life experiences. An aquaintance of ours had

her 10-month-old daughter abducted. It's made all of us who know them

more cautious, especially since they've never caught the person who did

it. To me it's the same thing as emailing adorable naked baby

pictures. As innocent and beautiful as it may be, you never know who's

going to end up with it or if it ends up on some pedophile web site. I

wish they'd never aired those "to catch a pedophile" shows on TV!

mother to Savannah

started Starband therapy 7/26/07

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August 7, 2007

I called Orthomerica to see if they had any suggestions about how to

address people staring or asking questions because of all the posts

about it and found out they now have a cute business card parents

can get that has a couple of photos and an explanation of the

STARband. They said you can send an email to

jbrockman@... to request a few, I think they said they

will send as many as 10 or 12 to a family. I would have loved to

have something like this when Jenna was banded. Please Let me know

if anyone does this and how the cards look.

Angie and Jenna(STAR grad)