regret of early helmet removal

[Guest guest]

I thought I would share my experience as it may help others in the

decision-making process as to whether to remove a helmet early (also

looking to see if anyone has NOT had success at banding at 11

months). I have been utterly tortured by helmets and head shapes for

most of my son's life, and I am so sick of it. History: Early on, I

wasted a lot of time with aggressive repositioning (his head actually

got worse!). I very reluctantly started my son in a helmet at 6 1/2

months (12 mm) and at 8 months (against the advice of orthotist, but

with agreement of PT), we chose to take him out of helmet (2 mm).

The reason we removed it is because 1. at the time his head looked

good - really, it did then; and 2. it seemed like it was putting so

much pressure on my little baby's head (I was vehemently anti-helmet

so the whole thing was hard for me and I felt like 2 mm was close

enough). Anyway, I write this note now to warn others about the

regret one may feel if you take the helmet off early; regret I live

with every second of every day. Ever since its removal, I have

agonized over repositioning my son (some 3 months now of sleepless

nights) and am convinced it has regressed. I stare and touch and

photograph his head all day. I dread giving him a bath as it only

encourages me to stare at his head wet, when it looks its worse. In

short, I am obsessed. I went back to the PT after one month of this

and he had increased to 3 mm. Now, 2 months since last measurement

at 11 months old, I KNOW that his head is jutting out even more in

places where it never did before. The original orthotist will not

put on new helmet ( " too old " ), refused to remeasure or assess him,

and emphatically told me that regression is impossible. PT is also

done with me ( " sutures close at 12 months " ). In desperation, I am

seeing two other orthotists for other opinions. My doctor never

noticed the problem to begin with, so haven't even discussed this

with him. I have come to terms with the fact that another helmet is

likely (if I can find someone to do it). Although the hair covers

the flat spot and the jutting fairly well, I feel I must re-helmet

him ... What if he becomes bald one day or what if he wants to wear a

buzz-cut? I only hope that 11 months is not too late to fix this?

Am I a perfectionist? As he gets older, will this get more

noticeable or less? When will I ever stop looking at his head? I

told my husband that I just can't take it anymore. As much as I hate

the helmet, I am going to force myself (my son, rather) back into

it. These are just thoughts for someone out there who may be

struggling down the same path. Wait until you are " done " - otherwise

you may really regret it. I feel bad writing all this too because I

know there are far, far worse things that could happen to my son; I

just really hate this so much. -Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for sharing. I know that it must be hard. I've wondered many times if my daughter would regress once her band was off. In my heart I know that even after it's over that I too will be repositioning her for quite some time. I think that it's a fear that we all have or will face. Again thank you for sharing and good luck to you in your search for a new band. Maybe if you post the area you live in someone will be able to help you find a new ortho.

Tammy Merkel ( 8 1/2 months starband 2 1/2 months)

From: gbn1111 <gbn1111@...>Subject: regret of early helmet removalPlagiocephaly Date: Friday, July 4, 2008, 11:45 AM

I thought I would share my experience as it may help others in the decision-making process as to whether to remove a helmet early (also looking to see if anyone has NOT had success at banding at 11 months). I have been utterly tortured by helmets and head shapes for most of my son's life, and I am so sick of it. History: Early on, I wasted a lot of time with aggressive repositioning (his head actually got worse!). I very reluctantly started my son in a helmet at 6 1/2 months (12 mm) and at 8 months (against the advice of orthotist, but with agreement of PT), we chose to take him out of helmet (2 mm). The reason we removed it is because 1. at the time his head looked good - really, it did then; and 2. it seemed like it was putting so much pressure on my little baby's head (I was vehemently anti-helmet so the whole thing was hard for me and I felt like 2 mm was close enough). Anyway, I write this note

now to warn others about the regret one may feel if you take the helmet off early; regret I live with every second of every day. Ever since its removal, I have agonized over repositioning my son (some 3 months now of sleepless nights) and am convinced it has regressed. I stare and touch and photograph his head all day. I dread giving him a bath as it only encourages me to stare at his head wet, when it looks its worse. In short, I am obsessed. I went back to the PT after one month of this and he had increased to 3 mm. Now, 2 months since last measurement at 11 months old, I KNOW that his head is jutting out even more in places where it never did before. The original orthotist will not put on new helmet ("too old"), refused to remeasure or assess him, and emphatically told me that regression is impossible. PT is also done with me ("sutures close at 12 months"). In desperation, I am seeing two other

orthotists for other opinions. My doctor never noticed the problem to begin with, so haven't even discussed this with him. I have come to terms with the fact that another helmet is likely (if I can find someone to do it). Although the hair covers the flat spot and the jutting fairly well, I feel I must re-helmet him ... What if he becomes bald one day or what if he wants to wear a buzz-cut? I only hope that 11 months is not too late to fix this? Am I a perfectionist? As he gets older, will this get more noticeable or less? When will I ever stop looking at his head? I told my husband that I just can't take it anymore. As much as I hate the helmet, I am going to force myself (my son, rather) back into it. These are just thoughts for someone out there who may be struggling down the same path. Wait until you are "done" - otherwise you may really regret it. I feel bad writing all this too because I know

there are far, far worse things that could happen to my son; I just really hate this so much. -Thanks.