How to Put a Helmet on a Baby

When my youngest daughter was about iv months one-time, I started to notice a flat spot on the back of her head. I knew since babies slept on their backs, sometimes they developed little bald and balmy apartment spots. Merely, and then, I noticed she had a crash-land on one side of her forehead and decided to enquire the pediatrician virtually information technology at our next visit.

Our ped confirmed my baby had torticollis—a shortening or tightening of the muscle that goes from behind the ear to the front of the neck. It's the muscle that helps your baby turn their head. My daughter had a clear preference to turn to ane side, contributing to what I'd later learn was her positional plagiocephaly.

She and I left the office with a pamphlet on exercises to reposition her caput opposite her preference, a referral to pediatric physical therapy, and a follow-up date to cheque progress one month down the road. A month later, her torticollis and plagiocephaly hadn't improved plenty, so she was referred to an orthotics specialist to get her fitted for a baby helmet.

Now, I call up babies in helmets (and babies in glasses) are guaranteed to become smiles from strangers, simply it's tough being the parent going through the stress of having a child with any kind of "diagnosis." Not only are you worried nearly your child'southward health, just you may likewise be stressing well-nigh the cost of treatment and the time needed for so many therapy and medical visits.

And so, what to do if yous're a new parent worried your infant will need helmet therapy? Here are answers to some common babe helmet questions readers shared with united states of america on The Everymom's Instagram.

What are baby helmets used for?

Simply put, helmets (formally known as Cranial Remolding Orthosis—CRO) assistance correct a babe's skull shape past redirecting a child's head growth.

According to HealthyChildren.org, "the well-nigh common cause for baby helmets today is a positional head shape deformity or positional plagiocephaly. In a minor percentage of cases, children with an abnormal caput shape take craniosynostosis." Every bit they mention, this condition occurs when in that location is an abnormal fusion of the skull bones that results in abnormal skull shape and restricted brain growth. This condition is corrected past cranial surgery and may besides be followed by postoperative helmet therapy.

For the more mutual positional head shape deformity, the helmets are custom-fitted by a cranial specialist for each baby to let growth where they need it. Lance Weersma, CO, a certified orthotist at Mary Gratuitous Bed Rehabilitation Infirmary, shared the process with u.s.a., "The concept is quite simple. We browse the child'south head and use that shape to create a larger and more symmetrical or amend-proportioned helmet. The helmet then holds the areas of the skull that we exercise not want to see growth and then allows void for the skull to abound into. At that place is never any pressure level that should cause pain or injury every bit there is always room in the helmet for the child to grow into."

He added, "when the helmet is used as recommend and the child grows as expected, in that location is e'er a positive outcome."

Why are baby helmets more common now?

The institution of the Back-to-Sleep programme in 1994 has significantly reduced the likelihood of SIDS and the guidelines are and then important to follow, but more babies today are developing mild flat spots on the sides and backs of their heads. By spending and then much fourth dimension on their backs, flat spots develop easier, and cadre muscle strength takes longer to develop.

How will I know my baby needs a helmet?

In those early months, you're seeing your pediatrician often. Proceed an heart out for head asymmetry, apartment spots, an unusually prominent forehead, or a cone-shaped crown, and bring information technology up at your adjacent appointment. Your pediatrician volition be the i to provide a referral to therapy or an orthotist consultation.

Karen Munger, MSPT, a physical therapist specializing in pediatrics from the Centre for Concrete Rehabilitation, shared with usa another signs to look for in your babe, including favoring 1 side, tilting their head to 1 side (ear to shoulder), reaching with merely i of their hands, or rolling only one way.

Considering your infant is growing so rapidly, the earlier the diagnosis, the quicker it usually takes to correct information technology with concrete therapy, helmet therapy, or a combination of the ii. Often, Munger begins her piece of work with infants between two to 4 months old.

What can I do to help avoid a infant helmet?

First, y'all are not a failure if your baby needs helmet therapy. Many times, babies are even predisposed to torticollis from positioning in the womb. There are sure things you tin exercise at home to help.

Try to accept at least 30 minutes of tummy time per day in total. If your baby won't tolerate traditional stomach time, Munger suggests laying them on your chest if yous're reclining on the couch. That way, their muscles are still doing the work only they may exist happier being held.

When babies are small, they love to look at your face, then Munger recommends letting them look at you from either side. She also recommends putting babies downwards the opposite manner each fourth dimension you lay them down to slumber. Babies are more likely to face the door where their parents come up in, and so by alternating their sleeping position, the direction where they plow their head to look for you likewise changes. You can also make certain you lot're switching artillery when you lot're holding them.

Munger besides advises against letting babies sleep in car seats because babies tend to tilt to one side when they are in their car seats for an extended menstruation of fourth dimension. This tilt can contribute to them favoring that side.

When babies are older than two months, they may show interest in toys and you can move a toy across your baby's view that forces them to turn their head both ways to strengthen their muscles. Your pediatrician tin besides provide yous with repositioning exercises if yous're concerned.

When are babies most frequently diagnosed?

Weersma typically begins treatment with babies at 4-six months of age, later on repositioning has been attempted. Baby'south skulls are soft for a reason since three-quarters of encephalon growth occurs past age ii. Co-ordinate to HealthyChildren.org, helmets are non effective one time a child's encephalon growth is complete and Weersma shared the devices are only FDA cleared to the historic period of eighteen months.

In moderate or severe cases of torticollis, long term effects tin can include gross motor difficulties, vision issues, facial and ear asymmetry, and asymmetric jaw development if left untreated, according to Mary Complimentary Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, where my girl was treated.

HealthyChildren.org also states that uncorrected plagiocephaly will not influence a child's neurological development, just it could bear on a child's social well-being later in life if the abnormality is noticeable to peers.

How long do babies have to wear the helmet?

Once again, the before your babe is diagnosed, the quicker their skull is growing and likely volition mean a quicker correction. This is different in every case and so much depends on the historic period helmet therapy started. In early infancy, the brain and skull grow very quickly. Therefore, the helmet tin direct growth over a shorter fourth dimension.

The orthotist will check your child'southward progress at each visit to run across if their head shape is improving. In some cases, a brusque ane to two months may be all that is needed. In other cases, it may be longer, sometimes even requiring a 2nd helmet. Weersma shared that, on average, treatment tends to be iv-six months for well-nigh children.

Is a baby helmet uncomfortable?

More often than not, it is recommended that babies wear their helmet 23 hours a solar day, only removing it for bathtime and for cleaning. Babies are hands adaptable, and my daughter was used to hers within a couple of days. Of class, some babies will tolerate it better than others.

"There should be no pain associated with the helmet," says Weersma, "after all, it's something the babies wears all the time, like a diaper. If the caregivers embrace information technology with a positive attitude, the babe probable will also."

My daughter likewise had to wearable her helmet in the heat of summer and did develop some skin irritation. Our orthotist recommended she have a few 20-minute breaks throughout the day, rather than one hour-long break menstruum. I as well bought her a protective sun hat a few sizes upward to assist keep her shaded and cooler when we were outside.

What'south the one matter you wish yous'd known about babe helmets?

Our orthotist said the helmet would bother the states more than information technology would bother the babe, and she was correct.

Part of me was upset about the barrier between my baby's head and infant snuggles for those two months, only I knew it was all-time for her. Plus, her oldest sister loved to decorate her helmet in princess stickers, and so it helped with sibling bonding.

Yous may become a few stares from people who are likely just curious near why your adorable little infant is sporting a helmet, so effort non to worry about what's going on inside their heads. I was pleasantly surprised past the number of people who came upward to me to either share stories of their own babies in helmets or enquire me questions because they were facing the aforementioned worries I had.

It was all the same another skillful reminder that we're all in this parenting thing together.

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Source: https://theeverymom.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-baby-helmets/

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