Baby helmets are medical devices designed to gently reshape an infant’s skull. These custom-fitted helmets address head shape irregularities during a baby’s rapid growth. They guide the skull’s natural development, ensuring a more typical and symmetrical head form.
Understanding Head Shape Conditions
Infants sometimes develop specific head shape conditions due to the malleability of their skulls. Deformational plagiocephaly, commonly known as “flat head syndrome,” involves a flattening on one side of the back of the head, leading to an asymmetrical appearance, such as misaligned ears or a bulging forehead. Brachycephaly is a flattening across the entire back of the head, making it appear wider. These conditions are distinct from craniosynostosis, where skull bones fuse too early, which often requires surgical intervention.
These head shape variations arise from prolonged pressure on the soft skull bones. A primary cause is placing babies on their backs to sleep, which reduces SIDS risk but can lead to flattening if the baby favors one position. Other contributing factors include a baby’s position in the womb and prematurity, as premature babies have softer skulls and may spend more time lying in one position. Torticollis, a condition involving tight neck muscles, can cause a baby to consistently tilt or turn their head to one side, increasing pressure on that area.
How Helmets Aid Corrective Growth
Cranial remolding helmets operate on the principle of guided growth, leveraging the rapid growth of a baby’s skull. These custom-fitted helmets are made from a hard outer shell with a foam lining. The helmet applies gentle, consistent pressure to prominent areas of the skull, while leaving space for the flattened areas to round out. This process redirects the natural expansion of the head, encouraging it to grow into a more symmetrical shape.
Helmets do not compress the baby’s brain. They work with the skull’s inherent flexibility, composed of soft plates connected by sutures that allow for rapid brain growth. The helmet provides a controlled environment, guiding skull growth where it is needed most without applying intense pressure. This therapy supports healthy development.
The Helmet Treatment Journey
Helmet therapy typically begins with an assessment and diagnosis by a specialist, often after repositioning techniques have not improved the condition. A custom-fitted helmet is then designed based on precise measurements. Babies usually wear their helmets for approximately 23 hours a day, removing it only for bathing and cleaning.
The duration of treatment averages three to six months. Regular adjustments are crucial and are performed by a specialist, often every two weeks, to ensure the helmet continues to fit correctly and guide growth effectively. Parents are guided on caring for the helmet, including daily cleaning with rubbing alcohol or mild baby shampoo, and performing skin checks. Most babies adapt quickly, and while initial sweating is common, discomfort is not typical if the helmet is properly fitted and maintained.
Why Intervention Matters
Addressing significant head shape irregularities is important. While many mild cases may improve with repositioning, more severe instances benefit from helmet therapy. Untreated deformities can lead to persistent head shape differences, extending beyond cosmetic concerns to facial asymmetry, such as misaligned ears or an uneven jawline.
There are suggestions of a link between severe head shape deformities and developmental delays, particularly concerning motor function, though more research is ongoing. Practical difficulties can arise in adulthood, such as problems wearing standard protective headwear or glasses due to ear misalignment. The psychological impact of a noticeable head shape difference, including social concerns and effects on self-esteem, also underscores the value of timely intervention.