From Baby to Toddler
helmet to prevent flat head
Ellen
Dear moms,
Are there any moms who have experience with a helmet and/or who chose to use a helmet despite a study indicating it's not effective?
Mark (now 6 months old) had a flattening at the back of his head measuring 93.1 at 10 weeks and now 102. According to various sites, he falls into the severe to very severe category. However, the advice from the pediatric physiotherapist and the pediatrician at the consultation bureau is that it's not necessary. They mention that the flattening will never completely disappear but will improve. According to the study they base their advice on, a helmet doesn't help.
When I read that study, it excludes very severe cases with a CPI > 104 and is based on only 84 children. In short, I'm not yet convinced that a helmet doesn't help, and my gut feeling says something different from the specialists' advice.
I'm really curious to hear your experiences!
Are there any moms who have experience with a helmet and/or who chose to use a helmet despite a study indicating it's not effective?
Mark (now 6 months old) had a flattening at the back of his head measuring 93.1 at 10 weeks and now 102. According to various sites, he falls into the severe to very severe category. However, the advice from the pediatric physiotherapist and the pediatrician at the consultation bureau is that it's not necessary. They mention that the flattening will never completely disappear but will improve. According to the study they base their advice on, a helmet doesn't help.
When I read that study, it excludes very severe cases with a CPI > 104 and is based on only 84 children. In short, I'm not yet convinced that a helmet doesn't help, and my gut feeling says something different from the specialists' advice.
I'm really curious to hear your experiences!
Replies
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Melanie Guest #2
Hi,
my daughter also had severe flattening of her head because she had a preferred position. When she was two months old, she ended up with a physiotherapist, who already said that as soon as she could hold herself up on her tummy, she would strengthen her muscles and the flattening would gradually improve on its own. She’s now nine months old, and indeed, as she can hold herself up better and gets stronger, the flattening is almost gone. Without a helmet.
I wouldn’t do it. It’s uncomfortable for the baby, and it’ll get better on its own. -
kruimel #3
Hi
No experience with helmets, but have experience with flattening.
My daughter had a score of 108.8 after measurement.
After intensive exercises with physio, this was pulled back to 104.2 after 6 weeks.
I was told that a helmet doesn't work better than good exercises and that helmets are now only used for flattening/preferred positioning with shortened neck muscles or motor delays.
My daughter was also 6 months old at the first measurement.
Now you only see it when her hair is wet, then one side of her skull is much flatter.
Xkruimel
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