Have you seen little babies out and about town wearing helmets? They seem to everywhere these days, or maybe I just notice now since I was carrying around two babies with these helmets. 
Before I get into details and more technical terms, I want to say that I am not a medical professional. (Information on conditions and the DOC band are from the Cranial Technologies site.) I am just a mom sharing my experience.
The Beginning
My twins were both breech and poor Brooks had been lodged under my rib cage for weeks. When he was born, his head was severely misshapen. Fortunately, I had wonderful doctors who assured me that he just needed some time to straighten out and put me completely at ease.
Brooks’s head improved over the first few months, but his facial features were not symmetrical and the abnormal head shape was still very noticeable and prevalent. Over the months, we also noticed that Charlotte had developed a flat spot in the back. At our three-month check-up with the pediatrician, we were referred to Cranial Technologies.
Consultation and Diagnosis
At our consultation with Cranial Tech, it was instantly clear to the therapist that both kids would be candidates for DOC bands. Brooks was diagnosed with severe (one of the most severe cases the therapist had ever seen) plagiocephaly and brachycephaly and Charlotte was diagnosed with moderate brachycephaly
Plagiocehphaly means “oblique head” and looks as if the head has been pushed forward, often accompanied by misalignment of the ears, facial asymmetry and bulging forehead. More information and examples can be found here. In brachycephaly, the head flattens uniformly causing a wider and shorter shape. Examples can be found here. The DOC band helps reshape the baby’s head by applying mild holding pressures to the areas of prominence and encourages growth in the flattened areas of the head. It is supposed to be worn 23 hours a day, only removed at bath time and for cleaning. More information on how the band works can be found here.
Although I knew this news was coming, I was a little surprised by my reaction. At first I was defensive. I didn’t want this stranger telling me there was anything wrong with my beautiful children. I also felt guilty. Could I have done more tummy time or tried harder to get them to sleep differently? Have I already failed my children in just three short months? Are people going to stare at us and ask me tons of questions? Answers: No. No. Probably, but you’ll get over it and have a chance to educate someone.
Living with the bands
At four months, we got our DOC bands. Both kiddos adjusted wonderfully. I was so afraid my excellent sleepers would disappear, but they were ok. They tossed and turned a little the first two nights, but were great after that. The two hardest parts for us were having the bands on during the hot summer months and the time commitment.
The bands made the kids extremely hot. We wiped down the bands when the kids sweat, put cold packs in the car seats when not in the car, and installed little fans on the headrests. These things helped, but it was still tough.
We had weekly appointments for a few months then we went to every other week. Coordinating appointments with my work schedule, feeding schedules, and sleep schedules was very challenging. However, the staff at Cranial Tech was so accommodating and understanding. They were always so helpful in finding a time that worked for me and never seemed frustrated when I had to reschedule (sometimes multiple times in a week). We never had to wait long and the patient rooms were thoughtfully stocked with toys.
Decorating the bands
We ordered decals from www.blingyourband.com. Coree started bling your band after her daughter needed a band and wanted it to be as cute as it could be. She has tons of designs to choose from and will do a custom order if you tell her what you want. Orders are placed via email and Coree keeps you involved in the process until the product is finalized and shipped. You can look at lots of cute customer photos on her facebook page.
Wrap Buddies is a non-profit started by the people at 360 Wraps. They provide complimentary wraps for little baby helmets at their monthly wrap parties. The timing never worked for us, but I know people who were able to use this wonderful service and were more than pleased. You can get more information and check out photos here.
End Result
When all said and done Charlotte wore two bands over 18 weeks, and Brooks wore four bands over 15 months. That’s right; he was a trooper for over a year! Please note that this is not average. Brooks had an extremely severe case. The average my friends and family’s children wore bands has been 8 to 10 weeks. At first, we were told that Brooks would most likely have to have specially fitted sports helmets and glasses in the future. However, his ending measurements suggest that that is no longer the case. Scheduling appointments, cleaning bands, dealing with all the stares and questions was not easy but it was definitely worth it!
Please feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in the comments.
Your munchkins are precious! My brachy boy just finished his Doc Band treatment (11-13 months) and his results were good, too. What a difference! It sure is an experience, and people’s reactions are so mixed. But it was always so great to have those few people come up and tell you they’d done it, too, and encourage you with their stories (and seeing their kids’ round heads). 🙂 Good job, mama!
Thank you sweet friend!! Just what I needed to hear! You are an awesome mommy and such an inspiration to me and surely PLENTY others! Keep on keepin’ on!!
Great article! My little one is almost done with her first. They do recommended another one. I do agree great result but my insurance not covering next band. Just saw your article. I see you went through 4 of those. Just wondering if insurance cover more than one time…
My son needs one but his insurance won’t cover it. Cranial Technologies won’t help and want $1,800 for it. Do you know any programs that could possibly help?
Is there any programs out there that can help my daughter her twins need this and they are telling her it’s like 2100 each and that is something she doesn’t have right now . Her Medicaid will not cover it and I’m reaching out to see if I can get her some help ..