Helmet Help!!

[BriellesMommy]

We've had the helmet since Tuesday and I've tried so hard to get her to sleep in the helmet. She refuses and in the end we're both so exhausted that I take it off and let her sleep without it. I feel so guilty but I just don't know what to do. Any suggestions??

Thanks,
Amber:help

[*jules*]

aw Amber. That's a tough one. Hugs, I imagine you (and Brielle) are both exhausted at this point. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience or knowledge regarding post-op helmet therapy, but hoping someone who does will offer up some advice/tips. Have you contacted the surgeons and mentioned that she just refuses to sleep in the helmet...perhaps they have dealt with this problem before and know a few tricks themselves. Best of luck and I hope this gets easier for the both of you soon.

[Sophia's_mom]

Awww darn Amber that stinks! I'm so sorry (like it's not hard enough, right?)! Did you have a gradual "breaking in" schedule for the helmet? Like Day 1: on for 1 hour/ 3 times that day, Day2: on for 3 hours/3 times that day? We broke in very gradually for the first 10 days up to Sophie being in the helmet 23 hours a day. I'd be happy to share that schedule with you if you want to run it by your doctor. Will she nap with the helmet on? Sometimes if Sophie is really hot or really cranky we still leave it off at bedtime (not often but once in a while).

[dannlark]

Are you putting the helmet on just before bed?? I'm wondering if she gets it on maybe an hour before bedtime, she might forget that she's wearing it fall asleep with it on easier??? Just a thought???

[BriellesMommy]

Thank you guys for your responses. She has a little sore on her temple from the helmet. I think with the heat and her sweating the friction caused a little sore. Anyway we have an appointment on Thursday to have it checked out, too bad it's 2.5 hours away, oh well :)

[Sophia's_mom]

Good luck tomorrow at your appt. I hope they are able to make it more comfortable for Brielle.

[Dmom]

We just got our helmet a week ago and had the same problems for the first 4-5 days. I started slowly just having him in it when he was awake then just naps and it was tough so I know what you are going through. What really made a difference for us was dressing him in alot less clothing for bed and even leaving the window cracked open. I also put some homemade "padding" using some cotton material on the areas that were hurting him and they were less red the next day. He still doesn't sleep as well as before but I found the more I kept it off him the harder it was for him (and me) to get used to it. Hang in there and hope it gets easier for you both.