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Questions about plagiocephaly and helmets

elizbritt09elizbritt09
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months

I was just wondering what other moms experiences were with this.  I just went to my son's two month appointment and was referred to a pediatric plastic surgeon but do not have an appointment until April.  How long does or did your little one wear the helmet?  Do they wear it 24/7 or only when they sleep?  Any information would be greatly appreciated.  I plan on doing research also regarding this but would like to hear what other moms have to say too. 

 

Thanks so much!

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Re: Questions about plagiocephaly and helmets

  • chick730chick730
     noticed that DD's head was flat in the back (plagiocephaly)around 6 weeks.  I mentioned it at her 2 month appt. and her pedi agreed and recommended some stretches to do and to position her head to the side while sleeping.  She said she would re-evaluate it at her 4 month visit to see if more aggressive steps (a helmet) would need to be taken.

    I noticed that it was getting worse and didn't want to wait until her 4 month appointment.  At 12 weeks I took her for a free evaluation at Cranial Technologies.  They told me that her plagiocephaly was severe and she they strongly suggested that she be fitted for a helmet.  I took their report back to her pedi and she agreed that it was best to move forward with the treatment.

    The next day I brought her back for a fitting, and one week later (on her 3month birthday) she got her helmet.  She has had it for over a week now and is doing great with it.  She doesn't mind it at all and we are already starting to see change!  She needs to wear it 23 hours a day.  I take it off for half an hour in the morning to clean it, and then I take it off for half an hour at night to give her a bath and to clean it again.

    Feel free to email me at tinae0704@yahoo.com if you want more info

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  • bride2be79bride2be79

    My dad is a certified orthotist so I know a little about this.  Basically, the surgeon will evaluate your son to determine whether or not he needs surgery.  If not, the Dr may still think he needs a helment and will refer you to someone for that service.  I would strongly recommend that you see a certified orthotist ( a CO, in Texas they have to be licensed by the state too but not all states require that).  I don't know if cranial technologies has COs on staff or not.  There are a couple of different "brands" of helmets.  They are mostly basically the same but your Dr may prefer that you get one kind over another. 

    You son will be measured at his first appointment (a plaster mold may have to be taken of his head but not necessarily).  He'll return a few weeks later to have the helmet fitted.  Most of the time he will start wearing it gradually, a few hours at a time and until he works up to 24 hrs a day (or however long the Dr wants him to wear it per day).  He will likely wear it for a few months and then be weaned off of it.  He will periodically go to see the orthotist who fitted it to have adjustments made and to be sure that he's progressing as they want him to.  He may also be prescribed some physical therapy depending on what the root problem is (for example torticollis).  Most kids do fine and within a few days they don't even notice the helmet.  My dad said one side effect is that some kids w/ siblings realize that with the helmet on their head is like a weapon and they start to whack their older siblings with their head when they get mad. (It's pretty funny to see).  Good luck!! 

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