This article was written by a parent who didn’t want to be named and wished to share with other parents the discussions and decisions that her family made regarding a cranial helmet.
Hmm, this flathead situation with the baby is stressing me out. I’ve read so much conflicting advice online about whether to get a cranial helmet. On one hand, some say it’s just cosmetic, and the flat head will round out over time on its own. But others say if it’s severe enough, it can cause long-term issues, and the helmet helps reshape the skull properly. I’m just so worried about making the right choice for my little one.
Part of me thinks a flat head isn’t the end of the world, and the helmet seems like a huge hassle. Having to keep that rigid thing on my baby’s head 22 hours a day sounds like a nightmare, especially with how squirmy they are at this stage. What if it rubs and causes sores or pulls their hair? I may leave it be.
But then I read success stories from parents who did get the helmet and how their child’s head shape improved dramatically in just a few months. The doctors do seem to recommend it for my baby’s case since the flatness is quite severe from all that back sleeping. If it’s not corrected early enough, it could affect the skull and brain growth in the long term. I could never forgive myself if I didn’t get the helmet, and my child ended up having issues years down the road that could’ve been avoided.
You know what? I’ve weighed the pros and cons and will commit to getting the cranial helmet for my baby. Yes, it’ll be a challenging few months, but it’s a relatively short period to ensure their head shape rounds out properly. I’ll take it day by day, use lots of creams to prevent rubbing and focus on how great the results will be. Modern medicine has come so far – I’m lucky we have this option!
UPDATE:
And I’m so glad I stuck with the helmet treatment! Those first few weeks were rough getting my baby used to it, but he adjusted remarkably well. Within a few months, I could see obvious reshaping and rounding out of the flat areas. By the time treatment finished in 3 ½ months, you’d never know there were any flat head issues before. It was the best decision I could have made to ensure healthy skull and brain development. The short-term challenges were so worth having permanent correction. What a relief!
The Cranial Center of New Jersey is one of the first and finest cranial centers on the East Coast, specializing in early intervention cranial and helmet therapy. Cranial Center was the first to offer the STARband™ scanner and helmets in New Jersey and the third company in the world with 3-D technology. Owned and operated by Stuart Weiner, CPO, the Cranial Center is certified by the American Board of Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics. Our facilities are conveniently located across New Jersey: Hackensack, Hazlet, and Morristown. Contact us for a complimentary consultation at 800 685 9116 or at info AT cranial center dot com
