Moms of LOs with helmets: advice needed, pls

etoyama · April 2012

Grace has outgrown her helmet. She wore it for 10.5 weeks and went from 13mm asymmetry to 5mm. She doesn't have any brachy. Her cephalic index is well within normal range. Our orthodist says she looks beautiful and considers her "done". My husband agrees. My mother agrees. Everyone agrees. Here's the thing: I don't think she's done. I still see the asymmetry and it's driving me crazy. We would be OOP for the helmet but thankfully it's only $1750 (some are more), so money isn't a big factor here. The ortho says she doesn't think we'd see much, if any more correction, and if it were her child, she'd let it be. But I am just having such a hard time with this. I don't want to have any doubts in my mind. She's only 7.5 months so we have plenty of time left to correct this. Can you please share with me what your "end of helmeting" was like? Did you have hesitations? What are things like now? Thanks so much, in advance!

BRSaugust20 · April 2012

I think J'S final measurement was also 5 mm but we were happy with it. Keep in mind that no one's head is perfectly symmetrical. If the orthotist doesn't feel like there is going to be any signicant improvement, I wouldn't spend he money on another helmet.

itsmevkb · April 2012

Did they tell you that almost everyone on the planet is walking around with a 5mm asymmetry? You probably have that much asymmetry but don't notice it because it's never really been pointed out to you. But, once pointed out, it would become the only thing you'd notice.

I totally understand your dilemna as we are reaching the end of Sully wearing his helmet and although the back of his head looks awesome (like amazing how much it's been corrected) I can still see the bumpiness on the side of his head and even a little still on his forehead. Our ortho says hopefully that will get better in the next three weeks but honestly, I know that I will always notice it. We mothers can be a little obsessive when it comes to our babies so I have to accept that I will always notice things more than anyone else will. We won't be pursuing continuing with the helmet unless our ortho says it's necessary. I'll be happy if Sully can get to the 5mm asymmetry and pray his hair grows and covers up the bumpiness.

galway · April 2012

My son qualified for a helmet right before 6 months. We decided to give it a month or two to see if it got any better on its own (since he was starting to sit up and be off his head more.). It did get symmetric enought that at his next appointment he did not qualify for the helmet. However the flatness on one side really bothered me for a while - even if most people couldn't notice, I could. I must say however in the last year it has continued to get better on its own to the point where I don't think his head is any more asymmetric than anyone else's. Did they tell you that it might continue improving on its own?

mel72 · April 2012

DS2 had severe brachycephaly by 8 weeks old. (Me being clueless at the time) waited per pedi until 3 months to helmet. He wore it for approx. 9 weeks and we saw huge improvements. Ours was also not covered by insurance. He had no asymmetry when we finished. They rec. one more band but could not guarantee we would see dramatic results like we had w/ the first one. DH did not want to do a 2nd one. I felt sick not going w/ a 2nd band, almost to the point of obsessing...but his head has rounded out dramatically on it's own. Even comparing pictures of his results w/ "now" at just 19 months you can see a huge difference. Also, I think it's b/c I know he had the issue to begin w/ that I see it occasionally but nothing like when I see it on a child's head that has not had any correction if you kwim. GL in your decision, it's hard!

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