Helmet for Flat Head? Advice please

[margarita1979]

DS was officially diagnosed today with Positional Plagiocephaly (i.e., flat head). The pediatrician said that his case is minor and that the helmet is not really necessary, but that ultimately, it's our decision. The issue for DS will be cosmetic only. His head is rounder now than it was a few months ago (could also be that his hair is filling in). We've been sure to keep him upright during his awake time as much as possible. If he is laying down, we lay him on the Boppy Noggin Nest Pillow (i.e., during diaper changes). We don't use this at night, as we don't like having anything in the crib with DS.

We are leaning towards NOT getting the helmet (mostly due to cost), but wanted to hear from those of you with a LO who was also diagnosed with Positional Plagiocephaly. Did you decide for/against the helmet? If you did have the helmet for LO, was it cumbersome? Was LO bothered by it? How long did LO have to wear it before you noticed a difference?

And for those of you in Canada, how much did you pay for your helmet?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Zephram]

My baby has a flat head. I was worried about it and took him to the doctor and nurse. The doctor took one look and said, "My daughter's head was just like this and is now fine, don't worry about it" and the nurse said, "It's very common and unless it's very bad there is nothing to worry about. We've been putting babies to sleep on their backs since the 80's and you don't see adults walking around with funny shaped heads". So I tried not to worry about it over the next few months. Both doc and nurse said that once LO was rolling, sitting and crawling it would start to get better - and it has!

At 7.5 months you can now not really tell unless you look for it and I'm glad I tried not to stress about it. I anticipate by the time he's one it won't be there at all. Helmets were never mentioned, I don't think they tend to do them in this country. To be honest, unless you've got a very bad case, I would just let it take care of itself. The bones in the skull are changing up until about age 7, so it will eventually get mostly, if not all, better on its own. Like the nurse said - you don't see adults walking around with funny shaped heads.

That's just my two cents.

 

[kelkel]

my ds started getting a flat spot as a baby. I did what u do i put the mini boppy pillow under him when hes on his back (i did do it when he was sleeping too)..
I also kept him upright when awake too..

How at 6.5mths he still has a tiny flat spot not really noticeable, and his head looks and feels good (peditritions words)..
Ohh as he started rolling side to side i would put him down for naps on one side and the other side the next nap. Id roll up a receiving blanket and put it against his back..

 

[rose.]

We haven't had one but someone I know got one for their little girl. She had quite a severe flat head but it was completely symmetrical after about 4-5 months of wearing the helmet. It didn't bother her at all and they said they would 100% do it again! It cost quite a bit but not sure how much

 

[margarita1979]

Thanks ladies! I don't want to regret not getting it if DS does end up having a funny shaped had later on. Uggh, not sure what to do. Anyone have a time machine I can borrow?

 

[SaraEmily]

We're trying to get one for my LO. Her doctor kept saying it would round out once she's sitting up, but it's not getting any better. It's still very obvious, and yet her doctor won't write a prescription for a helmet so we're trying to switch doctors and hopefully the new one will let us helmet her. If your LO's flat spot isn't severe, I'd wait it out. But I've been waiting and it's not getting better.

 

[margarita1979]

We're trying to get one for my LO. Her doctor kept saying it would round out once she's sitting up, but it's not getting any better. It's still very obvious, and yet her doctor won't write a prescription for a helmet so we're trying to switch doctors and hopefully the new one will let us helmet her. If your LO's flat spot isn't severe, I'd wait it out. But I've been waiting and it's not getting better.

Oh no! Hopefully you can find a doctor who will write up the prescription. How long have you been waiting to see improvement?

 

[SaraEmily]

We're trying to get one for my LO. Her doctor kept saying it would round out once she's sitting up, but it's not getting any better. It's still very obvious, and yet her doctor won't write a prescription for a helmet so we're trying to switch doctors and hopefully the new one will let us helmet her. If your LO's flat spot isn't severe, I'd wait it out. But I've been waiting and it's not getting better.

Oh no! Hopefully you can find a doctor who will write up the prescription. How long have you been waiting to see improvement?

I've been keeping her off her head all day for the past 4 months and we tried a pillow made for flat spots during her naps. It has improved since she was 4 months old but it's still not anywhere near where it should be in terms of roundness.

 

[patooti]

I can't answer your ?s but do want to nite that there def are people with heads that stay flat. My DH has a flat spot and issues coming out now with his neck that were caused by this and he's 40!! DS has a mild flat spit and some torticollis to same side as DH and as a result we've been sleeping him on his side since he was about 6 weeks. It's mostly symetrical now.

 

[Serafina83]

Hello
How servere is it? A couple of my friends babies have had this both chose to get the helmet, first friend had it fitted when son was 6 months he is now just over 1 and is all healed no longer has to wear it. Second friend little boy has just turned 6 months and has had it on for a couple of months, she has already seen a dramatic improvement, I think the earlier you get it fitted the better it is. We are in the uk and it cost £2000.
My friend said the first week or 2 he found it really annoying, but he doesn't even notice it anymore x

 

[mommytobe11]

My LO developed a flat spot as a result of Torticollis. We saw a specialist who didn't think he would need a helmet but we continued going a few months in a row to keep an eye on it and make sure it didn't get worse. We were able to correct it by repositioning. Now you can't even tell. DH and I can tell there's still a slight flat spot, but that's because we knew it was there. The specialist said he has symmetry so it's not a concern. Good luck!

 

[feedindy]

My daughter had a minor flat spot to and out doctor said the same thing yours did. There was some forehead bulging and facial distortion too as a result of the flat spot. The measured difference in symmetry was 6mm. She was about 6 months old at that point. Well by the time she was 18 months, it was completely rounded out and perfect. No forehead bulging either or facial distortion. I wouldn't get the helmet personally for a minor flat spot. Their little heads will grow quickly and round out. We just encouraged her to sit up and roll a lot more and that's it.

 

[margarita1979]

I can't answer your ?s but do want to nite that there def are people with heads that stay flat. My DH has a flat spot and issues coming out now with his neck that were caused by this and he's 40!! DS has a mild flat spit and some torticollis to same side as DH and as a result we've been sleeping him on his side since he was about 6 weeks. It's mostly symetrical now.

Did your DH's doctor say that his neck issues were due to the flat spot he developed as a baby? What sort of neck issues does he have? Just curious.

 

[margarita1979]

Hello
How servere is it? A couple of my friends babies have had this both chose to get the helmet, first friend had it fitted when son was 6 months he is now just over 1 and is all healed no longer has to wear it. Second friend little boy has just turned 6 months and has had it on for a couple of months, she has already seen a dramatic improvement, I think the earlier you get it fitted the better it is. We are in the uk and it cost £2000.
My friend said the first week or 2 he found it really annoying, but he doesn't even notice it anymore x

The pediatrician we saw said that it was a minor case. I've attached a photo of DS' profile - hopefully it goes through. Thanks for the info!

 

[margarita1979]

My LO developed a flat spot as a result of Torticollis. We saw a specialist who didn't think he would need a helmet but we continued going a few months in a row to keep an eye on it and make sure it didn't get worse. We were able to correct it by repositioning. Now you can't even tell. DH and I can tell there's still a slight flat spot, but that's because we knew it was there. The specialist said he has symmetry so it's not a concern. Good luck!

That's so great! How long did it take (roughly) to even out?

 

[margarita1979]

My daughter had a minor flat spot to and out doctor said the same thing yours did. There was some forehead bulging and facial distortion too as a result of the flat spot. The measured difference in symmetry was 6mm. She was about 6 months old at that point. Well by the time she was 18 months, it was completely rounded out and perfect. No forehead bulging either or facial distortion. I wouldn't get the helmet personally for a minor flat spot. Their little heads will grow quickly and round out. We just encouraged her to sit up and roll a lot more and that's it.

That's good to hear! The pediatrician did take measurements of DS to see if there was any facial distortion, but there wasn't any. Thanks for the advice!

 

[margarita1979]

I can't answer your ?s but do want to nite that there def are people with heads that stay flat. My DH has a flat spot and issues coming out now with his neck that were caused by this and he's 40!! DS has a mild flat spit and some torticollis to same side as DH and as a result we've been sleeping him on his side since he was about 6 weeks. It's mostly symetrical now.

Did your DH's doctor say that his neck issues were due to the flat spot he developed as a baby? What sort of neck issues does he have? Just curious.

Hi patooti, could you comment on this? I'm interested to know. Thanks!

 

[patooti]

Sorry hadn't been online for a bit. Yes dr and osteo said it could be from developmental issues when he was a baby and that there is clear asymmetry there that would have happened that young. because he is 40 obviously they cant say for aure but it is most likely explanation and onky one we've been given. He has headaches and facial numbness on one side and thoracic outlet syndrome in the collarbone and shoulder area on that side too which affect the arm and shoulder. He also has some abnormalities in the blood vessels on one side of neck which showed on mri. His face and forehead are a
Bit asymmetric too but you can't really tell unless you are
Looking for it

 

[mommytobe11]

My LO developed a flat spot as a result of Torticollis. We saw a specialist who didn't think he would need a helmet but we continued going a few months in a row to keep an eye on it and make sure it didn't get worse. We were able to correct it by repositioning. Now you can't even tell. DH and I can tell there's still a slight flat spot, but that's because we knew it was there. The specialist said he has symmetry so it's not a concern. Good luck!

That's so great! How long did it take (roughly) to even out?

I'd say a couple months to even out. But I should mention his flat spot was on one side of his head, and not the back. So I dont know if that could make it different for your LO.

 

[margarita1979]

Sorry hadn't been online for a bit. Yes dr and osteo said it could be from developmental issues when he was a baby and that there is clear asymmetry there that would have happened that young. because he is 40 obviously they cant say for aure but it is most likely explanation and onky one we've been given. He has headaches and facial numbness on one side and thoracic outlet syndrome in the collarbone and shoulder area on that side too which affect the arm and shoulder. He also has some abnormalities in the blood vessels on one side of neck which showed on mri. His face and forehead are a
Bit asymmetric too but you can't really tell unless you are
Looking for it

Thanks, Patooti. I'm so sorry that your DH is going through this. What has the doctor said moving forward? Can surgery correct any of this? Take care!