RE: Re: New Here! Just found out yesterday that our needs a helmet.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I am already feeling less concerned about how folks in public will react. I have seen so many cute decorations on all your kids' helmets on this board so I am inspired to make it a fun project.

8-10 weeks would be great but I am hoping for the best, but thinking of the longer time fram so I we can be pleasantly surprised if it is less time.

Plagiocephaly From: nwilkens2275@...Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:54:45 +0000Subject: Re: New Here! Just found out yesterday that our needs a helmet.

Welcome Kathy-Glad you found the group! It sounds like you're very much on top of things since is just 4 months old. Assuming her plagio is not too severe, I would imagine she'd only have to be in a helmet for 8-10 weeks (of course only the ortho will know for sure) and the time will really fly by. I too was worried about going out in public, but I have yet to run into anyone overly rude in over 5 months. I recommend going somewhere you go all the time for the first big outing, like the grocery store. I think it made it easier for me to have the first appearance be around people that were somewhat familiar to us. All the deli ladies and people at check out talk to us anyway, so that first day out was just chattier than usual. It was kind of like, once I saw that people I were familiar with could be so accepting of it, I didn't really care as much at other places around complete strangers. And I decorate my son's helmet so it's a conversation piece right from the start.I have a 4-year old daughter and I didn't overly prepare her for Jake's helmet, but I did tell her about it and she went to the casting (she actually got upset because he was upset and wanted to help bathe him and make him feel better after). She comes to all our "helmet appointments" because we have to travel 3 hours to them and I can't leave her at home with anyone (plus it's in Charlotte where my in-laws live so we always make it an overnight trip). A few days early on she wore her bike helmet to be like her little brother, but now it's just a part of him and we hardly ever even talk about it, accept to say it's time to clean it, or can you go get it for me. I'd say she's probably aware of it the most when they're wrestling on the floor and she gets a head butt to the forehead! :-) She's also chimed in to answer other kids' questions about the helmet, which is really nice. As far as heat goes, you can take the band off periodically to wipe it out with a dry cloth and dry her head as well. Usually the first week or so is the worst with sweating, then it gets a little better. Since she's only 4 months old, I don't expect she'd work up as much of a sweat as an older baby like my toddler son, since she's not mobile yet. But just keep her really lightly dressed, probably just a onesie and no socks. The band shouldn't get wet, so we were told to take it off for swimming and I would imagine getting sand it would be irritating to the skin, so be careful at the beach as well. Good luck with everything! Please keep us posted on her progress!Jake-21m (tort resolved/rt plagio/DOCBand #2 4 weeks)Jordan-4>> I am gald to find a group to talk to. is 4mos old and I really > thought going into the appt that we would be leaving with a clean bill > of head health until I looked on the wall and saw a head shape like > 's. I am glad based on what I have heard to date that my best > friend saw the flat spot on her head in between checkups and that I > mentioned it to the Dr. We were shocked when we looked down at her > head to see what the Dr saw was that her ears were not even. Even more > shocked to see the couple of areas where her number were way off. I > have been feeling so sad for her because of my own past ignorance I > worry that this baby who normally gets so many people chatting her up > when we are out and about might get stares and pity. I plan to use any > questions as an opurtunity to inform people what these helmets are for > and to teach them like any parent we still love you to chat up our > babies. I feel like the last couple of years working with special > needs children will help my attitude but I still feel sad that she has > to go through anyhting like this even though she won't remember it.> > I also have lots of questions for all of you. First, with the summer > months upon us how have any of you handled swimming, going to the beach > etc. We won't get the helmet for two weeks and but I am someone who > needs info so I can calm my nervousness for her I would love to hear > from whoever has the time to respond. With the heat (luckily we have > AC in the house) I was wondering what can be done to keep her from > getting rashes, prickly heat, too hot, etc. Also, if anyone has an > older child, how have they reacted to the situation? I have started to > explain to to my 5yr old and I wonder if bringing him for one or two of > the visits would be helpful for him. I am not planning on taking him > for the first visit since there will be lots for my husband and I to > absorb and I don't want to be distracted if he gets bored.> > I know i have more questions but I am going to read through some posts > to see what can be answered before I inandate you all with more.> > So glad I found you.>