Helmets :(

MissyC979

Anyone else dealing with torticollis or a flat spot? We had a consultation today, after our PT's recommendation. I'm having a hard time with it, even though it seems like the best decision for Finn. I'm just so overwhelmed with life and being back to work and this is really stressing me, even though I know it's a cosmetic thing. Anyone else contemplating a helmet or dealt with it with another child?

ETA: The plan is to go back in two weeks for another round of measurements. From there, we'll decide about a helmet. If we do it, they estimate it will take 12 weeks, wearing it 23 hours per day...

SusanC111

I'm sorry! My first had torticollis, but no helmet. I actually really liked going to PT though. We learned all kinds of tummy time tricks, he got a massage, played with toys. We went for 7 months until he was straightened out.

MissyC979

SusanC111 said:

I'm sorry! My first had torticollis, but no helmet. I actually really liked going to PT though. We learned all kinds of tummy time tricks, he got a massage, played with toys. We went for 7 months until he was straightened out.

Did he get a flat spot from the torticollis? So far, PT has been great, but he's still fighting us when he sleeps so his head is misshapen....

Chichigo

2 of my nephews needed helmets. One had his at this age and had no problems. The other had it while learning to walk. He enjoyed crashing his head into things. It challenged his parents when the helmet came off.

MissyC979

Chichigo said:

2 of my nephews needed helmets. One had his at this age and had no problems. The other had it while learning to walk. He enjoyed crashing his head into things. It challenged his parents when the helmet came off.

They are recommending that he does it really young, while there is so much growth. I wish we had more time to decide, but  guess 4-6 months is prime time...

MissyC979

crazy4mas9 said:

I have no experience but ds has a really flat spot in the back of his head. I guess I should research this subject a little bit. I never had this problem with ds1, he was a tummy sleeper and I had more time to hold him for naps.

I didn't have problems either with DS1 and I hold DS2 for a lot of naps (at least, until I went back to work). I think the problem is his stiff neck. He really favors turning his head to the right and really fights us when we try to reposition him, so his head has gotten flat on that side.

SusanC111

MissyC979 said:

SusanC111 said:

I'm sorry! My first had torticollis, but no helmet. I actually really liked going to PT though. We learned all kinds of tummy time tricks, he got a massage, played with toys. We went for 7 months until he was straightened out.

Did he get a flat spot from the torticollis? So far, PT has been great, but he's still fighting us when he sleeps so his head is misshapen....

Yes, small flat spot, and still has it. I feel like the combination of torticollis and sleeping in the RNP at night created the flat spot. His PT said he should be in a slanted seat (car seat, swing, bouncer, RNP, etc) no more than 4 hours per day. And he slept in the RNP all night the first 2 months. She told me that at 3 months when he was crib sleeping, so the damage was done at that point.

ScarlettV

Our LO has both issues. He has a slight flat spot and an on call pedi told me to call about getting him a helmet. I haven't done so as of yet.

I've realized that part of his torticollis is a result of my right hand dominance and of how I hold him. So now I hold him over my opposite shoulder. I switched ends of the changing table so he has to turn to the left to see me. I stay on the opposite side when we play and for naps I prop him up on his side so he's kind of just slightly lying back. All of this has helped a lot.

Ktrue85

We have to go for a consult because J's head is asymmetrical, but only slightly. He had a decent flat spot but it's been getting a lot better because of TT and repositioning for all activities and sleep. I'm hoping we can avoid the helmet, but if not it's okay with me. Sure, I don't want it neccesarily, but I blame myself for the flat spot so it's my job to make sure it gets fixed.

cammyisagirlsname

Cameron has a little flat spot from when he slept in his RnP for the first 2.5 months. He always turned his head to the right in there. And once he started sleeping in his crib it slowly started to go away. Our pedi said it wasn't anything to worry about as it is so minuscule. But I of course freaked and googled the shit out if helmets. And once I did I realized it wouldn't be so bad. And it's only temporary so you do it and the issue will resolve.

azmama20

We may have to get one for Alexandra. We will know for sure at her four month check up in mid-April. If she still has a flat spot our pedi will refer us to a specialist. So I totally feel your pain/stress.

sugarjack

At 6 weeks, DS had a VERY flat spot and only turned his head to the right.  Since then I've been using the noggin nest when he sleeps at night in his crib and I make him face the right when he sleeps on me on his tummy.  It is still a little flat, but is WAY better than it was 8 weeks ago.  If you search flat head on babies on amazon you'll come up with all sorts of stuff.  I bought 4 different products and interchange them.

FutureMrsCaesar

ds1 had pretty severe torticollis that we had to do stretches and exercises and saw a chiro for.  He had a slight flat spot that did not require a helmet and you can't even tell now.  He did have trouble holding his head straight for almost a year, so it's kind of amazing it wasn't worse.  ds2 had mild torticollis also and a slightly asymmetrical head but we opted not to do a helmet after seeing how ds1s turned out (unnoticeable).   So I would just keep up with the pt and exercises, and if that isn't enough the helmet isn't that big of a deal.  I know we never want to hear anything is wrong with our children, but in the grand scheme of things a helmet isn't so bad, it's not painful for LO and after a day or two I bet she won't even notice it!

yty0205

LO has very mild torticollis where he favored the left with a right tilt. We've been doing exercises and stretches at home. It's better in that he looks to the right more frequently but he still favors the left. We'll see what the pedi says about the head shape at his 4 mo appt.

Eta stupid autocorrect

ScarlettV

sugarjack said:

At 6 weeks, DS had a VERY flat spot and only turned his head to the right.  Since then I've been using the noggin nest when he sleeps at night in his crib and I make him face the right when he sleeps on me on his tummy.  It is still a little flat, but is WAY better than it was 8 weeks ago.  If you search flat head on babies on amazon you'll come up with all sorts of stuff.  I bought 4 different products and interchange them.

I've heard if the noggin nest. Maybe we should try it.

notkateanymore

We have a flat spot but the doctor said she's never needed a helmet in 20 years so we're hoping not to break her streak. We're switching arms for feedings, never sleeping in the same position in the crib, etc.

Yankees0623

Mason needed a helmet but we were unable to afford it so the back of his head is still flat at 4. I keep his hair longer.

Mirabella did helmet therapy for a few months. Her re shaping went a lot faster than we thought it would.

ScarlettV

@Yankees0623 the back of my husbands head is crazy flat, though his hair hides it too. It's no big deal though he loves pointing it out sometimes.

This is sort of why I am reluctant to do a helmet. Plus LO HATES hats and would be so miserable. ( love your daughters rainbow leggings btw!)

Yankees0623

Mirabella hated her helmet, I hated weekly trips to the orthotist for measurements and refittings. Her head shape seriously changed so fast the orthotist said he'd never seen anything like it in his 30 some years of practice. He had to file the foam down and cut the ears more every week.

Those leggings have been worn by Mason, Mirabella, and Jeter. They still look brand new too. @ScarlettV‌

MissyC979

I know it's not the worst thing in the world and it's just cosmetic. I'm still sad about it though. I hate that he'll spend 12+ weeks wearing it, if we go forward. It's seeming like it's the right thing to do though. They did a ton of measurements and the right versus the left diagonals were off by 13mm. I think the specialist said anything 8+mm they recommend treating.

We're going back in two weeks to see whether he's made any changes. He recommended starting around 4-5 months, with the idea that it was a time of huge growth and that by the time the helmet comes off the baby will be more mobile, so there would be less chance of re-flattening. I really wish we could wait, but I'm worried that if we don't do it in the "prime" time that we'll wish we had later on when it is too late....

MissyC979

Yankees0623 said:

Mirabella hated her helmet, I hated weekly trips to the orthotist for measurements and refittings. Her head shape seriously changed so fast the orthotist said he'd never seen anything like it in his 30 some years of practice. He had to file the foam down and cut the ears more every week. Those leggings have been worn by Mason, Mirabella, and Jeter. They still look brand new too. @ScarlettV‌

How long was she in the helmet?

Yankees0623

This was 3 weeks. She wore it for ~5 weeks.

Yankees0623

She also had 6 months physical therapy, 1 occupational therapy session, and 1 year worth of early childhood intervention case work.

She went from not turning over, not sitting, and not crawling to doing all that and walking. At 6 months old she was at the development of our babies now, and now at 22 months she is at the development of a 4 year old according to ECI.

Brenns2711

My lo just got her helmet yesterday. They gave us the option to see if it resolved on its own but then if it didn't she would have to wear it 4-6 months and that would be during summer and it would be too hot for her. We decided just to go ahead with it because since she's so young she would wear it 4-6 weeks. If you need support or questions I'm here for you. I'm just starting our journey but at least I'll be here for support Here's my little lo ..

sugarjack

@Brenns2711

Do you have pics of the flat spot?  I'd be interested to see what a borderline case looks like.  I know my HMO pedi will not recommend a helmet, but I'm wondering if I should pursue it on my own anyway since DS still has a slight flat spot.

Brenns2711

sugarjack said:

@Brenns2711

Do you have pics of the flat spot?  I'd be interested to see what a borderline case looks like.  I know my HMO pedi will not recommend a helmet, but I'm wondering if I should pursue it on my own anyway since DS still has a slight flat spot.

Our insurance didn't cover any of it which sucks. The top of her head was uneven also because she favored one side ... Here's a pic from a month ago during a tummy time meltdown ha .. You can tell its flat but i was concerned because you can see ridges. I was
Concerned they were already fused together so we will see

Yankees0623

@Brenns2711‌ that reminds me of Mason's head. Our insurance doesn't cover them either. Luckily my in laws paid for Mirabella's and we are paying them back.

ScarlettV

Yankees0623 said:

This was 3 weeks. She wore it for ~5 weeks.

Wow, it does look much better for such a short period of time