Re: OT question

August 4, 2004

I've seen this happen a lot to babies who spend too much time in a car seat or

other type of carrier, or in their cribs too much - basically, babies who are

not held enough and allowed to sit up-right enough through the day. (rules

Everett out! haha, he won't let me put him down!) The skull is so soft it

will take on the shape of the flat surface found in teh crib, seat or carrier,

swing, etc.. The foster baby mom has right now is 3 months old and has quite

the cone head because the back of his head was so flat when she got him due to

his drug-momma leaving him lay all the time. After just ten days in her care

(held a lot!) it's already looking better. Maybe instead of putting the baby in

a seat/swing/etc., during the day hold him in a sling or simular device that

allows more up right positioning but still allows your hands free to do your

chores.

s.

Re: OT question

My 4 month old also has a bit of a flat spot as she

favors laying on the side in bed, in the swing, in the

bouncer, in the carseat, etc. they told me too, like

said, more tummy time. more time off that

spot. make her lie on the other side. things like

that. I am not saying this doc is wrong but remember

that some docs are quick to turn to treatments when

other less invasive and expensive treatments can work

too(like less time on his head) (ok I know that

sounded funny but you know what I meatn! now I am just

picturing this kid hanging upside down on his head

lol)follow your gut. if you have questions or doubts

find another doc. get a second opinion.

--- Kramer kramer0103@...> wrote:

> Hi ,

>

> We kinda had the same problem with our 10 month old

> although he's seen at St. Louis Shriner's Hospital.

> He seen a type of surgeon I can't think of the type

> she was at the time but he was about the same age as

> your son and he had a flat spot on one side of his

> head. You could really tell that his head was

> starting to look a little deformed looking. Now

> considering I have no clue as to the severity of

> your son's flat spot, but I was told that I needed

> to try more belly activities and stay away from the

> side that was going flat. I was also told that his

> head will more than likely start to take shape as he

> starts to sit up.

>

> I was also told that I could put my son in a helmet.

> It was a bit pricey also. May go back and talk to

> your peditrician or who they recommended you to to

> find out more options. I hope that he doesn't have

> to have that band.

>

> Christi

> 10/23/01

> 9/27/03 BCF DBB 12hr/day

>

> tracy@...> wrote:

> My son's pediatrician thought his head was a bit too

> flat in the back and

> sent us to have it evaluated. It is flat, which I

> thought was too flat as

> well, and now they want to put him in something

> called a DOC band. He would

> have to wear this for about 12 weeks and it will

> help round out his head and

> make it more symmetrical again. We were told that

> if it isn't fixed, it

> could get worse over the next 2 months or so (my son

> is 4 months old) and

> cause jaw and teeth alignment problems in the

> future. My uncle is a dentist

> and although he's never thought about it before, he

> said that after he

> thought about it, it is posslbe for that to happen.

>

> I was just wondering if anyone here had any

> experience with this and this

> type of band? Insurance usually doesn't cover this

> type of thing and it's

> about $3000 to have it all done. This includes the

> weekly visits for

> adjustments to the band. My grandmother is lending

> us the money, but it is

> a lot. I know something needs to be done for him

> because I didn't need a

> doctor to tell me that the back of his head is

> flatter than it should be,

> but I want to find out what I can before handing

> over $3000 to this place.

>

> Thanks!

>

> and

> BCF 03/25/2004

> DBB 23/7

>

August 5, 2004

won't usually let me put him down much either anymore.

Unfortunately he has to be down sometimes though because I work as a medical

transcriptionist, which is great because it allows me to stay home and take

care of him. I can type with him sitting in my lap, but since he can't sit

unsupported yet, he ends up leaning over to the side, so I spend a lot of

time sitting him back up again. Once he can sit on his own, I'm sure it'll

be better....maybe....as long as he doesn't decide he's going to help me

type! LOL

I've been trying to get him on his tummy more, but it can be difficult since

he doesn't really like it much, but I guess he'll learn. That's the docs

goal at this point....full time on the tummy with an I don't mind it

attitude from him. I would keep an eye on the baby's head because they say

that a lot people think it will correct itself, but it won't. It might look

better over time and not be a problem, but I guess it depends on how severe

it is. And that's what they said....bouncy chairs and swings contribute to

it, but ever since they've made babies sleep on their backs to help prevent

SIDS, they've seen a lot more cases of this because they do end up spending

so much of their early months on their backs or in a swing or chair. Trust

me, if I have a second one, I will do things differently. He'd still be

sleeping on his back, but he'd learn to like tummy time a lot sooner and not

spend very much time in a swing or bouncy chair.

and

BCF 03/25/2004

DBB 23/7

Re: OT question

> I've seen this happen a lot to babies who spend too much time in a car

seat or other type of carrier, or in their cribs too much - basically,

babies who are not held enough and allowed to sit up-right enough through

the day. (rules Everett out! haha, he won't let me put him down!) The

skull is so soft it will take on the shape of the flat surface found in

teh crib, seat or carrier, swing, etc.. The foster baby mom has right now

is 3 months old and has quite the cone head because the back of his head

was so flat when she got him due to his drug-momma leaving him lay all the

time. After just ten days in her care (held a lot!) it's already looking

better. Maybe instead of putting the baby in a seat/swing/etc., during the

day hold him in a sling or simular device that allows more up right

positioning but still allows your hands free to do your chores.

> s.

>

August 5, 2004

Louisa, definitely let me know what your friend says! I know kids can be

mean, so I want to make sure he won't get teased for something like that

that we can fix. He's most likely going to have a time of it with his last

name and I don't want to add to that with a fixable problem. : )

Thanks!

and

BCF 03/25/2004

DBB 23/7

Re: OT question

> ,

> My friend's daughter had something she wore on her head for a while.

> I have sent her an e-mail asking her about it. It is great you are

> checking into it before making the decision, better to get it done

> now than wait until they are older. I know what you mean about

> wanting to avoid the wrath of other children at school. It's all

> part of growing up, but you want to make sure you do all you can to

> help them avoid problems. That's what keeps me curious about the

> different calf sizes on Unilateral CF.

>

> I will let you know if what our friend had was similar to what you

> are considering.

>

> Louisa

>

> > > My son's pediatrician thought his head was a bit too flat in the

> back and

> > > sent us to have it evaluated. It is flat, which I thought was

> too flat as

> > > well, and now they want to put him in something called a DOC

> band. He

> > would

> > > have to wear this for about 12 weeks and it will help round out

> his head

> > and

> > > make it more symmetrical again. We were told that if it isn't

> fixed, it

> > > could get worse over the next 2 months or so (my son is 4 months

> old) and

> > > cause jaw and teeth alignment problems in the future. My uncle

> is a

> > dentist

> > > and although he's never thought about it before, he said that

> after he

> > > thought about it, it is posslbe for that to happen.

> > >

> > > I was just wondering if anyone here had any experience with this

> and this

> > > type of band? Insurance usually doesn't cover this type of thing

> and it's

> > > about $3000 to have it all done. This includes the weekly visits

> for

> > > adjustments to the band. My grandmother is lending us the money,

> but it

> > is

> > > a lot. I know something needs to be done for him because I

> didn't need a

> > > doctor to tell me that the back of his head is flatter than it

> should be,

> > > but I want to find out what I can before handing over $3000 to

> this place.

> > >

> > > Thanks!

> > >

> > > and

> > > BCF 03/25/2004

> > > DBB 23/7

> > >

August 5, 2004

- I didn't even read the rest of the post. But try a boppy pillow or

a nursing pillow (u shaped) and lie him there while you type. Make sure

you've got foot support or he'll roll forward - a nursing stool works

really well but you can let him lie there with you, nurse or whatever and

the pillow holds him. Dunno how this would help with his head problem but

at least you could be holding him and working when he doesn't want to

sit. And once he's sitting... well, he won't let you type alone for your

MT! Nothing will be accurate lol.

I did the boppy pillow (I made my own) on the puter for each of

mine. Works really well.

Kori

At 09:51 AM 8/5/2004, you wrote:

> won't usually let me put him down much either anymore.

>Unfortunately he has to be down sometimes though because I work as a medical

>transcriptionist, which is great because it allows me to stay home and take

>care of him. I can type with him sitting in my lap, but since he can't sit

>unsupported yet, he ends up leaning over to the side, so I spend a lot of

>time sitting him back up again. Once he can sit on his own, I'm sure it'll

>be better....maybe....as long as he doesn't decide he's going to help me

>type! LOL

Kori

Mama of

Kenton - 6/98

Merek - 3/00

Darbi - 3/28/03 - Rt. CF - DBB 12hr/d

(¨`·.·´¨)

`·.¸(¨`·.·´¨)

`·.¸.·´

August 5, 2004

I have a boppy pillow so I'll have to give that at try and see how it works.

It'll definitley make life a lot easier if I can still work while holding

him. I think I'll get more done during the day!

and

BCF 03/25/2004

DBB 23/7

Re: OT question

- I didn't even read the rest of the post. But try a boppy pillow or

a nursing pillow (u shaped) and lie him there while you type. Make sure

you've got foot support or he'll roll forward - a nursing stool works

really well but you can let him lie there with you, nurse or whatever and

the pillow holds him. Dunno how this would help with his head problem but

at least you could be holding him and working when he doesn't want to

sit. And once he's sitting... well, he won't let you type alone for your

MT! Nothing will be accurate lol.

I did the boppy pillow (I made my own) on the puter for each of

mine. Works really well.

Kori

At 09:51 AM 8/5/2004, you wrote:

> won't usually let me put him down much either anymore.

>Unfortunately he has to be down sometimes though because I work as a

medical

>transcriptionist, which is great because it allows me to stay home and take

>care of him. I can type with him sitting in my lap, but since he can't sit

>unsupported yet, he ends up leaning over to the side, so I spend a lot of

>time sitting him back up again. Once he can sit on his own, I'm sure it'll

>be better....maybe....as long as he doesn't decide he's going to help me

>type! LOL

Kori

Mama of

Kenton - 6/98

Merek - 3/00

Darbi - 3/28/03 - Rt. CF - DBB 12hr/d

(¨`·.·´¨)

`·.¸(¨`·.·´¨)

`·.¸.·´

August 5, 2004

At 09:51 AM 8/5/2004, you wrote:

>Trust

>me, if I have a second one, I will do things differently. He'd still be

>sleeping on his back, but he'd learn to like tummy time a lot sooner and not

>spend very much time in a swing or bouncy chair.

,

With your job - it's hard not to use these things. Don't beat yourself up

about it. And still, not all babies end up like this. But with one in

the family - you are smart to look to other ways for baby to spend the day

other than the swing or bouncy seat. Mine never did tummy time much, I did

it when I remembered but it was more like 3 or 4 mo before I even

remembered to put them down. I used the sling a lot with the first two

(Darbi's legs turned purple in the sling and I just couldn't see using it

when it did that even though I was told it wasn't a problem) and they side

lay in bed most of the time (co-sleeping) too. I did hold them a lot more

than using seats - with each child I used the swing a little more than the

previous but they didn't swing much either. Since I was nursing I didn't

want them to sleep very long and the swing would put them out for hours it

seemed. But I'm glad I had it for when I needed it of course. Just sold

it actually. I hope I don't get pg again! My children actually have a

mild form of craniosynostosis where the anterior suture fuses early and

forms a little klingon ridge in their foreheads but it doesn't compress the

brain so we don't treat it. They all have it. I was really freaked at

first with my oldest and took him to the Neurosurgeon for a consult but he

was 2 at the time and it was just closing a little bit early - almost about

the time it was supposed to so no brain compression which equals no head

surgery! yay!

Have you found the support group for this condition yet? Is this a

specially made head band for each child or do you think perhaps someone has

one they have stopped using that you could buy used? 3K is a lot of $ if

you ask me. I think they're getting way more than they could possibly be

worth and playing on parents fears with this one IMO. And why the heck

doesn't insurance cover this? Do they want flat headed children on their

insurance plans or what?

Kori

Mama of

Kenton - 6/98

Merek - 3/00

Darbi - 3/28/03 - Rt. CF - DBB 12hr/d

(¨`·.·´¨)

`·.¸(¨`·.·´¨)

`·.¸.·´

August 5, 2004

When he can sit on your lap kiss your typing days good bye! LOL! I can't type

with mine, he wants the key board. I did get a back pack carrier yesterday and

managed to mow my lawn wearing it today.