We fixed his Flat!

It has been a little over a month since I have done an update on Griffin’s cranial band.  You can see our first post here. 

I shared that the cause of Griffin’s flat spot was due to torticollis, which resulted in Griffin having a preference to looking to the left over looking to the right. 

From day one, Griffin did awesome with the band.  He never messed with it while it was on his head and slept just as good if not better with it on. 

The hardest thing was ME being self conscious with it anytime we were out.  I did want the looks and the questions asking what was wrong with him.  In the long run, I would take all the rude stares and comments to have my son’s head be perfectly round. 

Having his cranial band painted by  Treasured Interiors changed how people looked at him.  I loved the aviator helmet we had painted on it and he because a good conversation piece. It only took me a few days and then I honestly even forgot that it was on.  I looked passed it and always saw my cool little dude.

When he was first fitted with the band we were told to expect a few appointments along the way to take measurements of his growth.  He started out at a 439 and his end number was 459.  At 459 he would have no more room in his helmet and it wouldn’t benefit him any longer.  Some children reach their final number but still have some flattening, which results in a second helmet.  I am so glad we didn’t have to go that route.

At our initial appointment, we were estimated Griffin being in the cranial band between 8-12 weeks since his case was mild.  He made it to the 6 week mark and was told his head was perfect and we could forgo his helmet.  His number only got to 448 but his head was already rounded out, thanks to a good growth spurt.  We could of kept the helmet on him until he reach the 459 number but it wouldn’t change his head shape any since the flat spot was already corrected.

I am so grateful Griffin did so well with his helmet.  The rule of thumb is that he helmet needs to be worn 23hrs a day.  I am a stickler for rules, so if that is what we were told to do, I am going to make sure we do it.  I would even set a timer on my phone for 60 min and it would go right back on when it went off.  During his free hour we would do bath and some play time to give him a short little break. 

One thing about the helmet is that they reek! I mean it is bad.  Griffin lets off a lot of heat as it is and his little head would be sweating so bad when I would take it off.  Luckily he wore it during the cooler months and we are thankful we didn’t have 90 degree weather to deal with.

The helmet came in handy a number of times when he would crash into a table or topple over on the floor and hit his head.  Maybe we need to put it back on him during his “walking phase.”

 

If you see that your little babe may be suffering from flat spots be sure to make an appointment with her doctor.  The sooner the problem is taken care of the better and happier your baby will be.