why do some babies wear plastic helmets

Plagiocephaly Some babies are born with the condition torticollis which is a shortened muscle on one side of the neck. Helmet therapy is used to correct the shape of babies skulls over time.

Does My Baby Need A Plagiocephaly Helmet Parents

When a misshapen head needs correction a baby might need to wear a cranial helmet which is a device that reshapes the head as a baby grows.

. They also allow some flexibility and space so that the brain can grow. A number of factors contribute to positional plagiocephaly. We hope that it helps give you a brief view on having a baby who wears a helmet and helps to ease your worries about the process.

These conditions can be a result of babies being frequently positioned on their back or favoring one side of their head. Plagiocephaly helmets use pressure to mold a babys soft skull correcting the misshapen headTheyre usually made of plastic with a. Generally it is recommended that babies wear their helmet 23 hours a day only removing it for bathtime and for cleaning.

Have you ever seen a baby wearing a cute little helmet and wondered why. Theyre usually made of. Helmets are used to treat positional plagiocephaly which results in a baby having a misshapen head shape.

Craniosynostosis is corrected by cranial surgery and many times a post-operative helmet. Although costly cranial helmets correct an otherwise unsightly condition that can affect. Babies are easily adaptable and my daughter was used to hers within a couple of days.

Brachycephaly is having a head shape thats flat in the back which helmets can also correct. The reasons why babies have to wear helmets are plagiocephaly condition when only one part of babys head is flattened brachycephaly when the back of babys head is flattened which makes a wider portion of the skull in the back than the front and scaphocephaly or synostotis when the middle sutures of babys skull are closed. Some babies are born with a birth defect that causes the bones in the skull to fuse too early craniosynostosis.

They were measured with high-tech machines to build custom-made plastic helmets. Brachycephaly is having a head shape thats flat in the back which helmets can also correct. Many reasons could explain why a babys head is misshapen and requires a helmet.

Helmets will not help after brain growth is done and three-fourths of brain growth happens by age 2. Most commonly its a therapy for whats known as plagiocephaly which is when part of a babys skull is developing a flat spot. Learn more about why some babies have to wear helmets.

By Katy June 20 2013 at 922 am. While most babies wear a helmet because of flat head syndrome others might do so for protection. But if a parent is concerned a helmet can help properly shape the skull.

Some baby helmets on the market aim to protect crawling infants and toddlers from harm. Cranial baby helmets are the best thing that has happened since the Back To Sleep campaign began. Of course some babies will tolerate it better than others.

The most important thing when choosing an. In most cases the issue will fix itself by the time the child is 5 years old. By Allen Czermak October 21 2021.

Helmet therapy is specifically tied to deformations in babies skulls. This of course is just one mothers perspective. The Back To Sleep campaign has saved many babies lives from sudden infant death syndrome but at the cost of a bunch of flat heads.

Less commonly it comes as a result of a condition called craniosynostosis which is when the bones in a babys skull fuse too soon and abnormally. The reasons why babies have to wear helmets are plagiocephaly condition when only one part of babys head is flattened brachycephaly when the back of babys head is flattened which makes a wider portion of the skull in the back than the front and scaphocephaly or synostotis when the middle sutures of babys skull are closed. To help gain some insight we spoke with Kim Lapides of Eat Sleep Wear on her personal experience with baby helmets.

Is a baby helmet uncomfortable. The most common cause for helmets today is to treat positional plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome. Sutures help the skull protect the babys brain.

Baby Helmet Therapy On The Rise. So youre out walking around and you come upon a cutey cute little baby and. This results in abnormal skull shape and restricts brain growth.

Although this might seem overprotective its important to remember some babies could be more at risk of falling or of serious harm in the event of a fall. To work molding helmets must be worn during the time when the skull and brain are actively growing. Once the babies are used to the helmets theyll wear them 23 hours a day.

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