On the way home from the casting appointment, use a rolled towel under baby's legs in the car seat to elevate them and keep the car seat from getting plaster on it.
Once you're home baby can lie with their legs elevated on the rolled towel or blanket, or you can hold baby as much as you like.
Holding baby is the best way to help baby feel secure and comfortable while this new sensation of casts becomes their normal for the next week. If you babywear normally, you can do this with the casts as well. For good tips and advice about BabyWearing, check out the BabyWearing for Clubfoot Babies Facebook Group.
It is essential and of the utmost importance that you watch for slipped casts. Even the slightest slip can cause a secondary deformity called complex clubfoot.
Complex clubfoot is created from improper casting and the leading cause of complex clubfoot are slipped casts.
Do not leave baby's foot inside a slipped cast for any length of time.
If there is a slip, the cast must be removed immediately. Not ASAP, not when you can get to it, and not when the doctor finally calls you back to approve removal. It must be removed immediately to prevent damage.
For plaster casts, you will need to soak it off.
For fiberglass casts, they can be unrolled. Just find the end of the tape and begin pulling.
**Do not remove a cast that has not slipped.**
If you suspect a slip, check your pictures from right after the casting was complete. Check the lines you drew on the toes. Take new pictures to compare to the previous ones. And consult others to see if they think the cast has slipped. Remember that the batting in the cast can become compressed over time, or it can be come frayed and appear to be different than before. The plaster or fiberglass cast edge is the point that you need to compare to, not only the batting/padding and especially if it has changed at all. Make sure to draw these lines on the toes right away at your casting appointment.
Holding Baby with Casts - Prone Hold & Chair Hold
Prone Hold from below
Prone Hold from the front
Chair hold from below
It can be a little cumbersome and tricky to deal with diaper changes with two casts. You will want to try to hold both feet together and lift both legs at the same time. Don't be afraid to use a scrunchie around the feet of the cast to help you keep them from falling away from each other accidentally.
For boys, make sure to use a cloth diaper or something else absorbent over baby so any sudden fountains don't get on the casts.
To protect against diaper blowouts, try these solutions:
Babies aren't dirty.
They don't actually need a full immersion bath at all.
Yes their bottoms get dirty, but you will wipe that every diaper change. Sure, baby will spit up and may need to be wiped down, or their hair need to be rinsed off. But otherwise, all baby needs is a sponge bath with a soft cloth, the tiniest amount of baby wash/soap (or none!) and wipe baby off. Rinse with clean warm water on a washcloth. You can do a little head wash at the kitchen sink and keep the casts covered with a towel to keep dry. This is simple and easy and there will never be any risk that the cast get wet.
If the cast does get wet, use a hair dryer on air and try to dry off. NO HEAT!!
If the cast is very wet inside, it will need to be replaced. Try to avoid this if at all possible.
Vaccinations can be held off until casting is complete. It is possible to vaccinate in the upper thigh above the cast, or in the arm but it is not essential and casting only lasts for 4-8 weeks (5-7 typically) so there is plenty of time to do vaccinations a little later. Unless you are in a high risk for transmission for the big illnesses babies are vaccinated against initially, this can wait.
You really can use any of your clothing for the casting phase. Even the footed sleepers work fine during casts. Tights under dresses for girls works great, as well as any stretchy clothing. This really is the only time that footed sleepers will work so go ahead and use those newborn sizes up. Once you get into the BnB/FAB brace you will not be able to use footed sleepers. They have seams that will press into baby's feet inside the shoes. Sorry, but the larger sleepers you got for your baby shower should be returned for other sleepers without feet.
Depending on the time of year your baby is in casts, you will want to consider ways to keep baby warm, or keep baby cool. If you're doing casts at the perfect time of year (spring or fall?) on the perfect days, you won't need to do any of this. But, if it's chilly or hot, here's some stuff to try.
Try a Cherry Pit Pillow to keep casts warm and dry quickly in cooler weather. It is warmed in the microwave and will not overheat.
A heating pad can do the trick as well. Make sure to keep it on low. Overheating happens well before you notice any signs.
Tights will help keep the toes warm, as well as add an extra layer to the casts or socks. Boys can wear tights as well as girls. They are warm under pants and anything that can hike up on a baby's bare leg (like pants and non-footed sleepers).
In the spring and fall when temperatures are mild, warming for new casts should not be necessary.
Keep baby as uncovered as possible, but not ever in direct sun uncovered. Unless Jaundice is in consideration.
Fans and air conditioning will help
Check the Baby Holds on this page for good airflow around casts while holding baby.
