First week with the helmet

[Lara]

The helmet is going better than I expected, but he is so hot and sweaty. We had started weaning, but now that he's wearing this helmet he is sweaty and constantly thirsty. So he is nursing around the clock. Last night was his first night in the helmet. He is covered in sweat, even in thin summer-weight pajamas and he nursed every hour from about 2:00am until 6:00am (when we got up). Our helmet place hasn't put one on a 10 month old before, so they didn't have much advice, other than work up to it and visit us weekly until we get the fit just right. Ben is already a stinky, sweaty little boy, and this is really increasing that. He is wearing a star band with no air holes. We asked about having some drilled, but they said they prefer not to do that because they want his head to be as protected and covered as possible.

Any ideas for how to make him more comfortable at night?
I'm going to make a cotton cap today (directions in the sticky) and see how that helps.

[Avery's Mom]

I have never seen one without the open top....I imagine it would increase the sweaty sticky mess. Good luck! Loving the bug theme!

[ayersjulie]

No helmet advice here, but it sure LOOKS super cute! I hope the cotten cap helps and that some of our "helmet moms" can offer some suggestions. :)

[Wyatt's Mom]

Aww! He is adorable in his helmet! Love the color and the bugs! I don't have any helmet advice but I hope you can find something that works!

[Sophia's_mom]

I'm like Kelle, I've never seen out without either on open top or air holes drilled in. I hope the cap works for you guys. The helmet looks adorable, great job with the decorations!

[CalinaLily]

We have a bivalve from Star Cranial, too, but I don't know what we would've done without the air holes... yuck! I might have to object if I were you..........Ours doesn't have the foam like yours, either though, so I'm not sure. Calina started her helmet therapy in July in Florida, and let me tell you, she was a sweaty mess for a while... After a bit, though, as long as she was indoors (like, under 80 degrees or so), she stopped sweating so much after about 2 weeks in her helmet. I'm not sure if I could say that if she didn't have the air holes, but I will tell you that they start to adjust themselves after a bit.

It does look like his forehead has plenty of breathing room (Calina's helmets have always completely covered her forehead, I think because we're focusing on holding her A/P measurements). :)

Also: I peeked at your blog, and I really have to say: APPEAL THE HELMET DECISION with your insurance company. Don't let them get away with denying you so easily! Message me if you want some help. We worked REALLY hard at appealing for our helmet, and after a very thoroughly researched and legally backed up letter, they had no choice but to approve payment on our first and all subsequent helmets. Our Star Cranial office was SHOCKED with our success and said that our letter has already helped other families get their helmets covered too.

In fact, I just took a peek, and found this... It's a document (for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois) with language explaining the difference between helmet therapy for mild to moderate plagiocephaly and synostotic cases where helmet therapy can be used in conjunction with surgery. The reason insurance companies commonly deny helmet coverage is because people so frequently try to get helmets covered for purely cosmetic or "reshaping" purposes... The words that have to be used are "reconstructing" and "congenital defect" and "medically necessary"-- and it has to be made clear that helmet therapy, in your case, is part of a complete reconstruction (where surgery was unable to "finish the job" as it were). Especially since your surgeons can attest to the simple fact that they were unable to finish the surgery they had planned because of complications -- the helmet therapy is imperative, especially to prevent regression leading to far more expensive repeat surgeries down the line, etc. (Appeal to their financial good sense... would they rather pay $2800 for a helmet, or another $50,000 for surgery??)

Anyway... It IS possible to beat these companies. Even when everyone, including Blue Cross themselves, say that it's pointless. :)

[Avery's Mom]

Avery sweated mostly in his at night.....MAN did he stink in the morning.