spica cast survival tips
from a spica cast mom and medical practitioner
Stroller: Chicco-London model, Current Chicco C6 models, Jeep, Graco, and other brands with similar features
- Shallow and wide seat ledge with adjustable leg rests make it ideal for shape of cast
- Bring baby to store to test how cast fits in stroller
- $40.00 to $70.00
High Chair: Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair
- Shallow, wide ledge accommodates cast
- Baby sits at table with the family
- Safety strap keeps baby secure
- Grows with child through adolescence $249.00
Sleeping
- Cover child with only very lightweight blankets. Babies tend to overheat because of cast and may be a reason they are not sleeping well.
- Motrin or Tylenol per your doctor's instructions and dosage. Babies may have muscle, ligament or joint pain, or even scrapes on knees (if s/he has learned to crawl in cast), which can affect sleep.
Diapering
- Assuming the hospital lined the edges of the cast and the diaper hole with the soft, waterproof tape, lay a size 2 or 3 diaper inside a size 5 or 6 diaper to provide an inside liner within the diaper. (I preferred Huggies natural fit diapers with the higher back to reach the sticky tabs.) Tuck the size 5 or 6 up high in the front inside of cast. Turn the child over and tuck the back of the diaper up high inside the back of the cast. If your hands are small, you can find the sticky tabs in the back and pull them up and around to the front and fasten them because of the large diaper. The small diaper inside will reassure you to "catch things" providing additional reassurance. Place "Lightdays" mini-pads all along the inside of the diaper hole, front and back, for extra security. Waterproof tape should be adhered to the cast with duct tape, many colors are available.