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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Plagiocephaly car seat problem!

21 replies

beaditAli · 08/04/2011 21:19

My 6.5month old boy is starting his helmet treatment in a week and I'm aware that he'll not fit in his Primo Viaggio car seat with it on. As he'll be wearing it 23 hours a day I can't really take it on and off to suit car journeys. My problem is that he isn't yet sitting unaided tho I don't think he's far off. Is it too early to get the next size car seat for him? He weighs almost 19lbs and is already too long for his baby car seat as his legs are soooper dooooper long.
Also, any recommendation for car seats?

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SecretNutellaFix · 08/04/2011 21:25

no, he's no way near ready enough, especially as he's going to be wearing the helmet! Which will make his head weigh far more!

How about considering the Maxi Cosi Opal? It's rear facing to 13kg and can the turn around to forward until he gets to 18kg.

deedar · 08/04/2011 21:34

Don't worry about it - you'll find that once you get the hang of it (maybe after a week or so), taking the helmet on and off will take just seconds. In fact, I'd suggest taking it off on car journeys anyway as their heads get very hot in car seats, particularly so with the helmet on.

SJisontheway · 08/04/2011 21:36

We have a britax car seat that's suitable from birth, but then turns around also. I think its called first class.

monkoray · 08/04/2011 21:37

Some car seats will go from zero to 4 years so you could get one of those. something like this www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_51_10751_-1_14569_125573_10001_14568
We have one of these as a 'spare' seat incase DS needs to go in someone else's car.
Our main car seat is a maxi cosi mobi which is a rear facing car seat for kids up to 4 years old.
www.carseat.se/store.html?gclid=CLGAkpPijagCFZBkfAodc3jYCQ
Suitable for babies weighing 20 - 55 lb. Its absolutely brilliant and rear facing has been shown to be safer. But we had to order it from Sweden (i think there are only two places in the UK that sell them). Totally worth the hassle though IMHO

monkoray · 08/04/2011 21:40

SecretNutella makes a good point that i hadn't considered. It your DS is wearing a helmet that makes their head heavier you really want to keep them rear facing as long as possible because the chances of whiplash could probably be increased by the extra weight (not scientific fact, just a guess).

SecretNutellaFix · 08/04/2011 21:44

I recently had some training with one of the leading car seat manufacturers and he had a helmet that we tried on.
It was to simulate the equivalent weight of a baby's head in comparison to it's body. It was so heavy I couldn't lift it, due to a recent shoulder injury.

Original poster

beaditAli · 08/04/2011 21:46

Thanks all.... I wouldn't have put him forward facing but was wondering about the combination seats that can face rearward then be turned.
I'm really worried that he'll bother so much with the helmet being taken on and off that doing so for every journey will just be impossible.
I know I'm stressing so much and he's not even in it yet!

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Original poster

beaditAli · 08/04/2011 21:50

Also..... perhaps the clinic might suggest taking it off for journeys because of it's weight although they've never mentioned it yet and I'd presume they would have buy now. Thanks deedar

OP posts:

SecretNutellaFix · 08/04/2011 21:53

take a look at the video

It's the Maxi Cosi Opal.

HoolaHooper · 08/04/2011 22:04

my son has a helmet and we've never had a problem with car seats - he's a big boy and stayed in his maxi cosi cabriofix until 10 months and is now in a forward facing axiss.

the helmet hasn't bothered him at all - it was hassly for the first few days taking it on and off but after that it's only off twice a day and they just get used to it.

Original poster

beaditAli · 08/04/2011 22:05

Thanks NuttyFox .... looks perfect! They're not cheap tho are they!? Definitely a good investment tho I guess.
So are they used purely with the family fix base or with an isofix as well? Sorry, I'm such a novice first timer!

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Original poster

beaditAli · 08/04/2011 22:09

Oh thanks hoola I am apprehensive but just know we're making the right decision as his plagio is in the severe category
Our Primo is an old model so the head support is a lot stiffer and seems narrower than the more recent models. I will certainly wait and see if he fits with the helmet on but we'll be needing a new seat soon anyway given his length. He's already in 9-12 sleepsuits purely for his legs...... tho not from Next as they seem incredibly short

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HoolaHooper · 08/04/2011 22:13

we've been really pleased with it - ours was 24mm and is now down to 12mm after about 7 months. it honestly doesn't bother them at all - he slept through from the first night of wearing it no probs. we felt it was better to do something rather than nothing.

sorry don't know much about the primo - can you take the head support out

Original poster

beaditAli · 08/04/2011 22:16

That sounds like brilliant progress hoola
ds's is 18mm tho he has brachy to the left side too.
Nope....... non removeable

Can I ask what you use to clean the helmet? Have you had issues with smells? I've heard it can get a bit wiffy

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SecretNutellaFix · 08/04/2011 22:17

the whole thing is in one, with the seat able to pivot on the attached base.
When you eventually use it forward facing, you just need to take the belt from the top, lean it forward, pull the lever and spin the seat around and then re-thread the seat belt through the top of the seat.

HoolaHooper · 08/04/2011 22:31

are you using loc band. they give you cleaning fluid. it is a bit stinky and his hair gets all sweaty but it's not that bad - you get used to it.

hope it works well for you and your little boy gets on okay with it.

sorry for the lack of punctuation - keyboard not working properly.

Loopymumsy · 09/04/2011 06:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

snowmummy · 10/04/2011 20:15

OP, is the primo car seat especially small? I'm confused as to why he won't fit in it with his helmet on. We had no problem with my DD who was fitted for her helmet at a similar age.

Original poster

beaditAli · 12/04/2011 21:29

It is a 3 year old model tho it wasn't used for the first 2.5 years so has been in it's box. The newer models in the shop don't have such a chunky head support. The one in his current car seat is nonremoveable and he's already filling it to the max. His head circumference has always been on the 98th percentile and he's extremely long
My folks have a Graco seat that we can use for a while as it's more roomy but we'll definitely be needing the next stage soon. I figure if we can get a combination seat that faces rearward then forward later....... why not???

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ZombieComforts · 12/04/2011 21:53

DS1 wore a starband, and we never had a problem with his car seat - the helmet didn't make him too big for the rear-facing seat. It also isn't very heavy at all, so there shouldn't be a problem with safety when you move him up. Good luck with the helmet - it made a huge difference for us. DS1 is now 5 and you'd never know that he had severe brachycephaly and moderate plagiocephaly.

Original poster

beaditAli · 13/04/2011 10:07

Thanks so much zombie and really pleased your ds benefited.
think we're going for a Britax First Class Plus to go rearward first. Helmet on on Monday so looking forward to improvement.

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