Flat Headed Baby: Update

This morning, Caleb had a follow-up appointment with the baby-head-specialist*. 

They re-scanned his skull and examined his x-rays, along with the phsyical examination.  In short, the good news is that there is nothing medically wrong with his head.  Which was a relief.  I knew it was unlikely (the condition where bones are fusing together incorrectly is pretty rare, so the chances were in his favor), but as a mom, it's my job to worry.

On the other hand, it looks inevitable that he's headed for Helmet Town.  He's still young for helmet therapy (they wouldn't even start that until he's 6 months old), so they're going to continue to monitor it monthly, but it looks as though my attempts to re-shape his head with my good thoughts has been mostly fruitless -- and dangit, it's hard work trying to control things with my mind!  There has been some improvement in the flat spot, but the dr.** said we should be "thoroughly considering" a helmet when it's time.  Shoot.  Apparently, crossing your fingers and hoping to avoid something doesn't work!  Who knew?

The choice for a helmet is, ultimately, ours to make, but after speaking to the teachers at daycare***, it seems that, anecdotally, the helmet is dang effect in rounding out those unruly baby skulls.  And what's a few months in a helmet compared to a lifetime of a flat head?  I don't want to be blamed when he can't find a suitable hat or wear sunglasses; he'll have plenty to blame me for, I'm sure; may as well not be a slanty-head.

But, as of right now, he's young enough that it's still a wait-and-see issue.  It just looks as though we're waiting to see when he'll get his helmet assignment...in the meantime, Jerry has already mentally sketched out several "designs" for Caleb's potential helmet.  Let's just say that everything from flames to skulls/cross bones to mock-boxing-helmet designs have been tossed around.  In the end, this thing could be a work of art!

*Let me just take a moment to note something about this specialist's office: Apparently, this dude's office is THE baby-head-specialist office in Ft. Lauderdale.  Which is good because parents report a high rate of satisfaction from this doctor's approach and his results.  But, it's also kind of pretentious because it's so damn prestigious.  The office itself isn't that bad (it's location is, though: downtown), but the fellow patients' parents are a bit exhausting.  Everybody is rolling into the parking lot in their Escalades and BMWs, and they are strollering their kids into the waiting room in Peg Perego and Uppa Baby strollers.  Meanwhile, I'm just pleased that Norah let me comb her hair and that I don't have spit up (or shit up!) on me.

**We haven't actually gotten to meet with this big-wig doctor himself yet.  So far, we've just seen the P.A.  With the next visit, we have finally been granted access to the Emerald City to see Mr. Oz himself.

***I swear, the teachers at DC are just as knowledgable as pediatricians and specialists.  Simply through their vast experience with kids, they seem to have seen everything, and consulting with them is often times more valuable than any time spent with doctors.  Plus, they see our kids FAR more than the drs. ever do, so their assessment is one that I trust.