Helmet study

PeachyBella

There's a lot of implications both ways on this. Definitely some food for thought:

https://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2014/05/01/helmets-do-little-to-help-moderate-infant-skull-flattening-study-finds/

EandIMommy86

I am not really familiar with how a helmet is suppose to work, but from what I have seen from others it doesn't make much of a difference. Also, a lot of times the flat head is also because the baby's head still has soft spots so it can be squished easier. I just assume that most of the time the problem fixes itself.

KatieintheCity

DS had a serious flat spot on one side until very recently. I asked his pedi about it at his 2 and 4 month appointment. Both times they said not to worry about it. They said that the majority of flat spots round out by the time the kids are 5(!)

Just recently I've finally noticed it starting to even out, so I'm less concerned.

[Deleted User]

DD was a severe case as well. She measured 106% and after the helmet she measured 94% so still not perfect but so much better. I agree that not all kiddos with flat spots will need them and a lot will probably shape out on their own but when my mom started calling DD "sponge Bob square head" I knew getting the helmet was the right thing for us

Our orthotist said that in her case they had to redirect her head to grow front to back more and side to side less.

[Deleted User]

wedding06 said:

Mommyxtwo1113 said:

DD was a severe case as well. She measured 106% and after the helmet she measured 94% so still not perfect but so much better. I agree that not all kiddos with flat spots will need them and a lot will probably shape out on their own but when my mom started calling DD "sponge Bob square head" I knew getting the helmet was the right thing for us

Our orthotist said that in her case they had to redirect her head to grow front to back more and side to side less.

How long did your dd wear it for and how old was she when she got it? At 4 mos DS measured at 97% and that was when we started working really hard to keep him off his head. They wanted us to wait and recheck at six mos. At 5 mos I could tell it was no better. He measures at 110%! After one week in the helmet he was at 107%. It is amazing how fast it can change. I do question the accuracy of the first measurement.

She got it the day before she turned 7 mos and kept it on until the week before her 1st birthday. So almost 5 months. I noticed an improvement almost immediately. Headbands still don't fit her right so I have to use those elastic ones still but other than that you'd never be able to tell.

Also in reference to the rolling you mentioned. Claire (DD) was very delayed at rolling sitting and crawling and I really believe it was partially because of how flat her head was. The helmet helped her mobility as far as I could tell. It was almost like having the helmet helped strengthen her muscles.

lamo1210

DS needs one... Not severe and it has actually gotten better. But we are still going with a helmet. Out of pocket (thanks insurance!) I would hate to do nothing and then really notice the issue when it's too late. It's a parents choice if they want to put the helmet on. They are told how severe it is and then they decide to move forward, so yea if you want to avoid paying for one or your child looking odd skip it, maybe it will correct on its own..maybe it won't.

I'm so sad that for possibly 3 months I can't just snuggle my babies forehead to my chin, instead I will get bumped by a helmet. This was a tough decision to make, but I believe it will benefit my child.

Tmgs2013

We are like @wedding06 DS has Brachycephaly that has been worsening with preventative measures. We went and had our scans done this last week and now he is starting to have shifting on his right side (his right ear is farther forward than his left ear). So we are going ahead with the helmet.