Ryan's DOC Band Adventure

Originally published on Facebook on December 7, 2010.....

Tomorrow is a very special day for our little guy. Tomorrow, Ryan officially becomes a DOC Band baby!



Huh? What's that?



Well, have you seen a baby with a super cute, tiny little helmet? That's a DOC Band. A DOC Band is used to treat a condition called plagiocephaly. Basically, plagiocephaly is a flattening of a side of the skull. It has become more common since the Back to Bed campaign. For those of you without young babies, "Back to Bed" refers to the practice of putting babies on their backs to sleep as a way of preventing SIDS. While it has dramatically reduced SIDS, it also means that babies are spending much of their time on their backs. Since the bones in their skulls have not fused yet (they still have "soft spots"), their skulls can change shape, and the pressure on the back or side of their head can cause a flat spot. Most of us were born before the practice of putting babies to sleep on their backs began, and we slept on our tummies. This reduces pressure on the back of the head, and a flat spot is less likely to form, so we didn't see as many cases of plagiocephaly. Now, it's impossible to say that sleeping on his back is the main cause of Ryan's flat spot. Sometimes it starts in utero, depending on the baby's positioning, I really think it was flat from the day he was born. Its flatter on the right side, and because of this, he would only turn his head to the right when lying down because it was more comfortable, which just continued to make that side flatter. (Mommy tried very hard to get him to turn left, even banning all FOX News shows in the house, but like his Daddy, Ryan leans right...No? Not enjoying my little political humor? Oh well...),We have always kept an eye on his head shape, hoping it would round out on its own. Most babies are born with misshapen heads and they correct themselves, but we now realize that our little buddy needs a little "help." That's where the DOC band comes in.

The DOC Band is a little helmet made of a thin layer of plastic and foam. It has been custom built for Ryan using 3D images of his head. It does not squeeze is head into a round shape; instead, it acts more like a mold, allowing the skull to grow outwards in some places and prevents protruding areas from growing out further. It is incredibly lightweight - less than half a pound, and Ryan should adjust easily to to it in a matter of a day or two. The plan right now is to wear it for 2-3 months, until he outgrows it. The DOC Band relies on rapid brain growth during this time in a baby's development. The brain growth shapes the skull. And with Paul and me as his parents, of course we know he's going to have a big brain!!



Some people feel that this is just a "cosmetic" issue, but there is growing research that left untreated, plagiocephaly can have effects later in life. Paul and I, though nervous about this new phase in Ryan's life, are confident that this is the best thing we can do for our child. And, because he is so young, he'll never even remember it!



So, tomorrow is the day he gets fit for his Band. I anticipate that tomorrow may be a little difficult, especially at bed time. But we are looking forward to showing off his cool new band. I already have different designs planned out for it throughout his treatment. Google "DOC Band decorations" and you will see all sorts of amazing artwork on the bands. I'm not that creative, but I think I can make it look pretty cool!



And I know most of you won't even see Ryan in his band. But one day, you may see another little cutie pie in a helmet. And I want you to understand what it is all about. We know some people will be scared of the helmet, and we expect to hear rude and ignorant comments from people. I hope that by educating my friends and family about the condition and treatment, we and other DOC Band babies will get more smiles and compliments and fewer stares and negative reactions.

Ryan is the light of our lives, and we are so fortunate that this is such a minor issue to deal with. He is happy, healthy, and incredibly adorable. His smile and giggle can turn a rotten day into a sunny day. We count our blessings every day because we know that there are families with far greater problems than we have, and we know we are incredibly lucky to have Ryan.



Thank you for taking the time to read this, and we look forward to sharing Ryan's DOC Band Adventure with you! Pictures to come very soon...



For more information, please see www.cranialtech.com