It's Official! Ryley is getting his helmet

His flat spot has not improved on it's own so next weds he is getting measured for his Star Band Helmet....he only needs to wear it 2.5 to 3 months. I hope and pray insurance will cover....Those who have had or have babies wearing a helmet any tips you can give me?? Was it hard for them to get used to wearing a helmet? Did your insurance cover the cost? We were told financing is available but holy crap they start at $3500?

 

It wasn't hard for my DD to get adjusted. She wouldn't wear it to bed at first, but the past few weeks she has been. No, our insurance did not cover it. They think it is strictly cosmetic, so we had to do the financing. Her helmet cost $2000. We ended up putting $1500 down we're paying $100 a month for the rest.

 

Did she mind her helmet at first?

 

GL with the helmet process. My cousins twins both wore helmets and they had no issues wearing them or getting used to them.

 

Sorry no experiance here but just wanted to wish you luck with insurace cover and i will keep my fingers crossed she doesn't mind wearing it. :hug:

 

i used to manage an orthotics office and we never had any luck trying to get helmets covered by insurance. very irritating really..

that is awesome that he only has to wear it for such a short time!!

 

No experience with helmets, but wishing you luck in getting your insurance to cover it and in getting him adjusted to wearing it! I'm sure he will do just fine. :hug:

 

Thank you for all the encouragement and kind words. I am praying insurance will atleast cover some of it....My parents have offered to help with the cost if insurance will not.

 

I think its ridiculous that insurance won't cover it.

 

My two are getting helmets a week from tomorrow. I'd dreading the get-used-to period. Especially since we're trying to sleep train right now. We talked to our insurance company and there's a possibility that they'll be covered at least partially, but we weren't willing to wait the month for the preapproval process! We're doing it now, 'cause a week delay now could be a month longer to wear them, even if we have to eat the $2800 x 2 ... Both are going to need to wear the helmet from 3-6 months. Hoping for the short side of that!

 

Just out of blatant curiosity, how do babies get flat spots like that and what happens if they don't wear the helmets? Is it something they eventually grow out of or what? Mine don't have those spots so I don't know how it happens. :/

 

Flatness of the head is caused either by positioning after birth or while in utero or developmental issues. In Ryley's case the back right side of his head is flat from laying in the NICU for 26 days. We rarely got to hold them while they were in the hospital and the nurses were very strict about things and had him positioned that way, laying on the right side ALL the time....once our twins were home, we tried putting a rolled blanket behind his back to make him lay on the other side to even out the roundness and hoped as he grew it would even out. Kelsey's head was also flat in the back but has improved and grew a "bump" she doesn't need the helmet. I have heard it is very common actually. Especially in preemies and twins.

 

I hope your insurance will help out. I couldn't imagine having to worry about both! We thought Kelsey would need one too but the back is no longer as flat and she is growing a BUMP looks more normal now. Hope your twins adjust well to the helmet! Where is their flatness?

 

GL Kristy, let us know how it goes!

 

Thank you everyone!! You are all wonderful and so supportive. I will update Weds after his fitting and let you know how it goes!

 

Just wanted to give an update. Insurance is covering Ryley's helmet 100%!! YAY I am so relieved.

He was supposed to go this morning and get fitted for his helmet but somehow there was a goof up and his helmet was never ordered. I have to take him back to the Medical Center location for a rescan today because his first measurements are no longer good. They will put in another order and he should be fitted Oct 7th.

 

I would be a little irked about the failure to order the helmet, but glad to hear that the insurance is covering 100%!

 

I was very upset about it. I took the morning off work, had then Nanny watch Kelsey and took Ryley to his fitting. We got their and you should have seen the look on their face when they said "no one called you? We don't have his helmet. There was a goof up and it wasn't ordered. We need you to get him rescanned" UGHH I was floored!! But there isn't anything I can do. We waited three weeks for a helmet that wasn't even ordered!

Your boys adjusted well? Did the helmet bother them at first?

 

[quote name='Korey.Kelsey.Ryley's Mommy' date='30 September 2009 - 12:54 PM' timestamp='1254340494' post='1467084']

Your boys adjusted well? Did the helmet bother them at first?
[/quote]

They were pretty fidgety at first and sweated a ton under the helmets, but they hardly seem to notice them now. Well, actually, they like to grab on to the other one's helmet. :catfight:

 

I have sooo wondered the same thing! THanks for asking!

Is it genetic too, I mean, why do some get it and some don't??

I know it's totally common and NOT in just multiples. I see them ALL of the time now!! 99% of the time, they are on a singleton tho.

Do you think in some cases there is just nothing you can do about it?? I was REALLY diligent about keeping my kids off of the backs of their heads and stuff and the NICU was too. I'm just curious.

The NICU nurse told me that with the "back to sleep" movement, the plagiocephaly has become a totally normal thing.

I'm just wondering if there are certain babies who no matter what you did, they'd still end up w/ a flat spot??

My good friends kids all have them!! She doesn't understand HOW it's happening?? I'm just not informed enough to help her.

Thanks and AWESOME news on the insurance covering it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I seriiously cannot imagine WHY it would not! Ugh!