When life throws you a helmet – have fun with it! That’s what we decided anyway…
At five months old, my baby boy, Mason, was diagnosed with brachycephaly. In layman’s terms: a severe flat spot on the back of his head.
I took him to a physiotherapist for eight weeks to correct the problem, but there was no improvement. Instead, it was recommended by various medical professionals that my flat-headed son be fitted with a ‘helmet’. A what!?
The cause
Flat spots can be the result of many different things, but generally they develop because babies spend a lot of time on their back*.
Mason also suffered with severe silent reflux and was hospitalised after aspirating on his own vomit. Important ‘tummy time’ was too uncomfortable for him, so aside from cuddles and feeding, he spent most of his awake and asleep time slightly elevated on his back.
The decision
Countless hours on good ol’ Google produced few answers and little encouragement or advice about corrective helmets. I lost a lot of sleep trying to decide if I was doing the right thing by my unsuspecting baby boy.
My first concern was how the helmet would affect Mason’s sleep. I thought it would be irritating and prevent him from sleeping through the night.
I also didn’t want him to resent me for making him wear the unflattering and potentially uncomfortable device.
My third concern was how it would affect the whole family, in particular, my four-year-old daughter. Mason would look different to other babies. People might stare. And the biggest issue for any four year old: he might get much more attention.
The night before I collected the helmet, my husband (and very proud dad) raised a few concerns.
Hubby: “It’s not like anyone will know he’s wearing it.”
Me: “It’s going to be on 23hours a day.”
Hubby: “But you don’t ‘have’ to take him everywhere in it do you? And you definitely won’t post any photos to Facebook of him wearing it”.
Me: “Why not? Why should we care what strangers think? And our ‘true’ family and friends will be supportive. We can’t hide at home for three months. I think we should just ‘put it out there’”.
Hubby: “I suppose. I just don’t want people to make fun of him.”
Me: “As soon as we get it I’ll email everyone and post a pic on FB with all the information so people have a chance to process and accept it before they see him wearing it.” My husband was just being honest. No parent wants their child to be teased or thought of as ‘different’.
I have gained so much respect for the parents of handicapped children. There were some days when we just needed to quickly get a few items from the shop and I couldn’t get down one aisle without someone asking “Oh my, what happened to him?”
Some days I felt like handing out a ‘why my son has a helmet on’ flyer to avoid the probing questions. I would remind myself how lucky I was; Mason’s problem was easy and quick to fix.
About the helmet
We had our helmet made and fitted at Brisbane Prosthetics & Orthotics.
The helmets are made with a soft, spongy, waterproof foam and a hard outer casing. They work by leaving a gap where the flat spot is – this encourages growth into that gap & alleviates any pressure on the existing flat spot.
The helmets are usually fitted between 4-7 months of age – this is the most effective time while a baby’s head is still growing quickly. Usually the quicker the head grows the less time is needed in the helmet.
A baby’s head will naturally grow into a more correct shape as they get older but using a helmet will ensure a good ‘head’ start and give the best results in the shortest space of time.
Making lemonade out of lemons
Once the helmet was on, I decided to turn a negative into a positive and take a head-on (don’t mind the pun) approach by adding a touch of fun and creativity to the otherwise bland device. I wanted family, friends and even strangers at the supermarket to feel free to ask questions and feel comfortable with it.
We could have got some patterns on the helmet, but as cute as they were, we decided to go with a plain white one to help Mason stay cool in the hot climate we live in. Instead, I decided to decorate it myself with fun stickers. If there was a holiday or party, Mason’s helmet was themed appropriately. The serious fun started when I realised I could use a whiteboard marker to write on it.
Mason became a ‘spokesbaby’ for Playgiochepy. Whether we were at playgroup, the local shops, restaurants, birthday parties or on holidays, Mason’s helmet would invite many questions. I was often approached by mums who were considering one for their baby, or knew of another baby wearing one. I was surprised how many other babies we met who were wearing helmets too!
Playgiochepy is more common than you might think. In the future, as the treatment becomes more accessible, I’m sure ‘helmet babies’ will be a ‘normal’ sight.
Tips for a happy helmet-wearing bub
1. We continued to wrap Mason’s arms down for his sleeps so he couldn’t pull at his helmet in his cot. I found sticking to his normal sleep routine helped him adjust to the helmet quickly.
2. We put a lambskin/sheepskin in his cot and pram to help cushion the helmet. This is not SIDS approved, but it helped Mason.
3. Request that lots of holes be cut in the helmet. This lets their head breathe and helps prevent heat related issues.
4. Be prepared to see some heat rash-type symptoms in the first few weeks. We used a powder inside the helmet and on his body when rashes occurred. If you are concerned, it’s best to consult your helmet team. I asked a few other ‘helmet baby’ Mums and their babies had experienced the same one-off rash in the initial weeks.
5. Be prepared to wean them out of their helmet. It’s not as simple as just taking it off – there is an adjustment period. It even took me a few weeks to shake the ‘something is missing’ feeling.
6. Most importantly: stick to the rules! The helmet is designed to wear 23 hours a day. I think some parents think they’re doing the right thing by taking the helmet off to give their baby a rest. Can you imagine how confusing that would be for a baby? Consistency will help them adjust quickly and get the best possible results.
Ninja for a Sister lol!
Foot loose and helmet free!
As I write this, my happy, healthy and helmet free baby is climbing all over me. I can’t help but wonder what all the fuss was about.
While every child and situation is different, I can say with confidence that the helmet was the best decision we made for our baby boy.
All the things I was worried about were not an issue once I decided to have some fun with it. Even my four-year-old daughter took it in her stride and requested to wear her bike helmet to the shops to match her little brother.
The time went fast and was filled with so many special memories. Mason celebrated his first Christmas, all with his little white helmet. And I have lots of photos of my cute boy sporting the helmet to show at his 21st birthday. Hopefully by then he will just be grateful for his normal shaped head!
Now his helmet sits abandoned on top of his bookshelf. I have joked that it became my third child after the time I spent bathing and drying it each night. I’m sure I’ll think of something fun to do with it!
* This is recommended to reduce the chance of SIDS. I do not recommend any different.
Please feel free to ask any Q’s in the comments section :).
Louise x
I just love this post.
You are such an inspiration.
I wish I had known about these as my eldest who is now 7 had a really bad flat spot and hasn’t grown right out of it at all, its noticable when she has her hair up in a bun etc, a story like yours would have been so wonderful.
I just kept getting told to sleep her on her stomach etc but she just hated being on her tummy so much and would scream and we had such a tough time getting her to sleep every single day until she was about 2, so when she would finally fall asleep you were loath to try and turn her as she 99 out of 10 times would then wake up. She too had reflux as well and only liked to sleep on one side or her back.
Thank you !
Thank you for your kind words and sharing your story with me.
My 4 yo daughter has a mild flat spot on one side – I understand the guilt and frustration at not being able to correct it – especially when Mason was able to have the helmet. It just wasn’t offered as a solution back them. We knew Mason was having the same issue from 8weeks but his reflux made it nearly impossible to treat. I think it’s a lot easier for girls – as their hair hides it so well.
I hope this story will help other parents learn of this treatment as I wished I had known.
Louise x
Love, love, love this post! Sometimes life can be so hard but if you try to turn it into a positive, which you’ve done, it makes everything so much easier. What a great mum you are, well done!
Thank you. I often use humor to help deal with difficult situations…that and drink wine hehehe! x
This is a great story and thanks for sharing. my nephew had a helmet be was 5month. We are now promoting awareness and more importantly Prevention with safe baby pillow for sleep and tummy time plus positioning.
btw really like your creative photos.
big kiss for your baby X
Hi Louise thank u for sharing this incredible Helmet journey with us. My daughter has developed a flat spot on her left head, she is now 7 months old and we hv been doing everything to try to get her looking on the right for the last 5 months, it does improve but the flat spot still quite obvious, I am thinking of helmet but worried if 7 month too late ? And can you let me know the total cost for the helmet? Many thanks.
Hi Angela,
Sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you. Our helmet cost $500 total including all check-ups and fittings. From what I understand you see the best improvements in the shortest amount of time when they are youngest. I know out helmet guy said he had fitted them at 7months but said they don’t see results as quickly and sometimes need them removed due to irritation from having them on longer than 12 weeks. Do you have a helmet specialist near you? They would be able to give you the best advice.
Good luck and let me know if I can answer any other questions :). Louise x
I am really glad you took the time to do this for your baby.
I am an adult with “flat head”. My pediatricians/parents had no idea this even existed when I was a baby (I grew up in a very medically ignorant region of the world).
This cranial deformity has caused me all kinds of problems. It’s great that there exist treatments…but it’s important that more people know about the existence of this problem and that it IS treatable, so fewer kids end up like me!
Thank you for your support – I’m sorry this method of treatment wasn’t available to you and your parents at the time.
One of my Drs told me that this generation (due to the SIDs sleeping on their backs) will be full of ‘flat heads’ and therefore it won’t be ‘unusual’ and didn’t need treatment. I wondered how these children would feel about that when they grow up.
Thank you for taking the time to comment – I hope others will read it and it will help them to make the best choice for their baby.
Louise
This is exactly our situation. Our pediatrician ignored our pleas and I wished I followed my mom gut earlier. Our pediatrician told us that it would work itself out as soon as our son would start rolling over and such. At his appt last week she longer told us to wait but that his head was what it was. Wouldn’t get better but probably wouldn’t get worse. But this is normal
Now and many children will have flat spots. Normal or not, it’s not right. My sons head did not get better and we are seeing our first neurologist this Thursday. Thank you for alleviating some of my fears!
Hi Louise,
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m the mum of a 3month old with a flat head on one side. I’ve seen 3 different doc who have all dismissed it, but am going to see a paediatricain next week. I live in New Zealand. Do you know where I would be able to find out where to get a helmet fitted over here? I’m really worried as it’s looking really severe now.
Thank you.
Bernie
Hi Bernie,
I think you are doing a great job advocating for your baby and seeking the advise from a Paed. I’m unsure of any helmet places in NZ though. I’m sure your Paed will be able to help you with that…if they’re unsure I could call our helmet place and enquire with them.
There are a lot of GP and Paeds over here who think the helmets are unessessary, as the condition is only cosmetic however I’ve been told they’re more commonly used in the USA even for treating mild cases.
Keep me posted on how you’re going.
Louise x
Bernie, ring your midwife she could possibly be an advocate for you and give you the information you desire or phlunket
Hi Louise,
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! We are going through the same thing at the moment. Our 6 month old son has a very flat head on one side and after seeing a physio and an oesteo we decided to go the helmet route. It was a very tough decision as our GP and paed both said that there was no evidence to support the success of helemts. After much agonising we picked it up last week and we are in the weaning on stage. We are quite concerned how bub is going to go sleeping with it on at night. He’s quite happy in it during the day but his daytime naps have been a bit tricky. Am really worried the helmet will mess with his sleeping through the night. Did you find that it took a few nights of broken sleep before your bub was able to sleep through? I know you mentioned using a sheepskin to cushion their heads but what do you think about using one of those support pillows? Also how often did you get his helmet checked and readjusted? We’ve been told monthly but was wondering if that was often enough?
Thank you again for sharing. Your article has made us feel so much better about a hard decision!
Kym
Hi Kym,
We were so worried about Mason’s sleep – he had been waking once during the night before having his helmet and he continued to do that for the first three nights…then he started sleeping through!!! So surprisingly it had no effect on his sleep at all.
We also did monthly checks, if I was ever concerned I would call the helmet team and they were great – I even emailed a photo at one stage as I thought it was sitting funny and they got back to me straight away. It just depends how fast their little heads grow.
I asked about the positioning pillow and was advised against it – I think it’s best that they can freely move their head from side to side if it gets uncomfortable. I suppose it would depend on the type of pillow? I was also worried about the risk of SIDS so in the end I thought the sheepskin would be a safer option for us (he still has it in there).
Feel free to email me at pagingfunmums(at)yahoo.com.au if you have any further questions.
I’m so glad our story was of help to you and your family.
Louise x
It is very encouraging to see someone go through this with a great sense of humor. We are in the very beginning stages, haven’t even been evaluated other than talking to my friend who made cranial helmets. But I know that a helmet is most likely in my 5 month olds future. I work in special ed and I know many professionals and I know that there are WAY MORE serious issues I could be facing, so this is not too concerning for me in terms of my childs well-being. I love your pics! How wonderful. This makes me feel much better.
Hi Christie,
Thank you for your wonderful comment :). It sounds like you’re in a great mind set ‘heading’ into this (pardon the pun). 😉
Mason is now 14months old and but it’s such a far distant memory for us now. The time passed by so fast!
Feel free to contact me down the track if I can be of any help…for instance – if you need help coming up with funny answers why your baby is wearing a helmet (I had way too much fun with that lol).
Good luck with it all.
Louise xx
Hi thank you so much for all this information, on reading this we have decided to get our daughter a helmet too! we are on our second day and so far all going well (she doesn’t even know it’s on!) I do have a question tho………… what did you dress your son in at night time?? my daughter loves to be warm, before the helmet she’s sleeps in at night in a singlet, fleesy PJ’s, blankets and heater on at 25c, just not sure how much to strip her down too! can you advise??
Many thanks…… Vicky
Hi Vicky,
I’m so glad that our story was able to help you with your decision.
Mason wore his helmet in summer however we always set his air-con
to 21-22. He would wear a cotton bonds body suit with a sleeveless sleeping bag.
I would maybe suggest dressing her the same but checking her temp an hour after she goes to bed?
Please feel free to email me at anytime for advice at [email protected].
Good luck
Louise xx
Thank you so much Louise, our first night is in two sleeps…… wish us luck!!
I remember I was so worried but it was all for no reason. Wishing you luck all the same :).
Louise xx
How did you get started with if he really needed it or not? Did you have to go to a specialist first? Did your family doctor have to refer you to one? How long from the time it was first mentioned until you had the helmet?
My little guy is 6 months old. Our family doctor doesn’t seem concerned about it at all, but I would at least like to get it checked out by someone that sees this type of thing everyday….Where do I begin?
Hi Becca,
We were referred to a paediatric Physio who took the original (cranial) measurements. She then referred us to a cranial surgeon HOWEVER after waiting two weeks and still not knowing when or if we would get an appointment we went back to our Paediatrician. Our Pead informed us that we didn’t need a referral for the helmet manufacturer and we could just see them directly.
They took more measurements and we had our helmet two weeks later.
Where are you situated? Maybe you would like to email me directly at [email protected] and I might be able to recommend somewhere near you.
Louise x
So clever! 🙂 I have seen several little ones with the same helmet here in the middle of the US where I live. I love how you turned the experience into something positive and most of all fun! My favorite is the shopping list, the look on his face is priceless! How lucky your kiddos and husband are to have you!
What a lovely comment – thank you! And I just read it out to my husband and he agreed – although he was a great support through our helmet days too.
Again, thank you for those lovely words :).
Louise x
I just read the article about Mason in Practical Parenting Magazine. It was like reading our own story and the ‘before’ photos look exactly like our daughter. She too had silent reflux and spent a week in hospital due to aspiration. I have been wondering if she will need a helmet. I get the feeling that her paed is not a fan of the treatment but I will pursue it with her and see how we go
Thanks
Hi Elouise,
I’m so sorry to hear about your daughters Silent Reflux – Mason still has bouts of it when he is teething. Reflux in many ways was far worse to deal with than the helmet!
I actually haven’t seen the article in print yet but I’m so glad you found it!
Feel free to email me if you have any further Q’s about the helmets or the Reflux – I know how scary both situations can seem. [email protected].
Stay in touch and keep me posted on your daughter’s journey.
Louise xx
wow what a difference it has made. my boy had reflux too and had a very flat head. Peads here have mentioned his head shape often but never mentioned about the helmets just that he will grow out of it in time. hes now 22 months and is better than before but still an odd shape. we are hoping it looks better when he starts to get some hair. thanksfor for sharing. i guess its too late for my boy now but help other parents and children
Hi Robyn,
After speaking with lots of Mums I think there is definitely a link between reflux and flat spots.
The reflux was so horrible to watch him suffer through – unlike the helmet which was thankfully fairly easy ;).
I’ve also seen more improvement in Mason’s head shape with age (he is now 16months old). I’m sure it will continue to improve too :).
Thank you for your comment – I sure hope this article helps others with their helmet journey.
Louise xx
Greetings from North Dakota!
My cutie pie Connor JUST got his helmet! This was such superb information! and very encouraging! The helmet Here are my questions for you:
1. Connor got is camouflage… I let his daddy pick out the design… go figure…but it KINDA looks like a watermelon instead of camo! =S Uffdah! I would like to put stickers on it… but what are the rules for stickers?
2. I LOVE the funny shirts that you made for your baby to wear! What kind of markers work the best for that?
Hi Jenne & hello Connor!
So happy you were able to find us and our blog :).
In response to your questions –
1). Vinyl stickers work best and last well with all the helmet washes.. I looked for Vinyl Car and Vinyl Wall stickers that I could cut to fit.
There are also a few stores that sell them specially for the helmets on Etsy (just search for helmet stickers in Etsy).
Just make sure they don’t cover any breathing holes in your Son’s helmet with the stickers.
2). We used fabric markers that we bought at our local craft store – I’m sure permanent sharpie markers would probably work well too.
Sounds like you have a great positive attitude and are looking to have some fun with your helmet journey too :). I promise it will be over and done with before you know it!
Please drop back and let me know how you and Connor are going. Feel free to send in a cute photo too!
Louise xx
Thanks for the onsie inspirations! Just got making 2 for my little helmeted German Beefcake Baby! =)
Thank you for writing this article. My sister in law went through this with her daughter a few years ago. My niece had to be fit with a helmet because of a flat spot. I know they struggled with strangers in stores and restaurants asking questions. Most people were concerned that the baby had been in an accident and would sometimes make a big fuss. My sister in law does not have the sense of humor that you have, and I know it was hard for her to deal with. The good news is my niece is now five years old and has a beautiful round head to show for it. I think its great the way you dealt with your situation and that you are raising some awareness of the topic.
Hi Hannah,
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I really hope this article raises awareness so less people feel the need to ask ‘why’. Louise x
Did you ever have any issues with his helmet squishing his eye down and making an angry looking face? My daughters does that and I am worried her face is going to be permanently affected by it. Did they give you any info about that by chance?
Hi Wendi,
It did that sometimes when he was laying down and the helmet would move forward a fraction. In our case we gave it one week and then the helmet was fitting better and didn’t move as much.
I would call and ask your helmet team as they may need to adjust it a little?
Good luck. Louise xx
My first born (now 18 months) had a flat spot on her head as to start off with tummy time was not really an option as she had mild reflux. It has corrected itself due to her choosing to sleep on her tummy once she started rolling around. When I found out I was pregnant with twins (they are now four months) I looked at ideas on how to help prevent this from happening, I found little pillows that have a hollow middle, therefore their head is not flat on the bed, they have normal shaped heads with little to no flat spot.
What an amazing outlook you have its great to see you have a great sense of humor. Thank you for sharing. My besties little girl had a strawberry birth mark on her head and it was large it was amazing how many people would stop her and ask if Lilly was alright. I was with her for quite a few. My daughter also has a small blood vessel mark under her eye. It really is amazing how many people feel the need to point things like this out and question. I love the t-shirts and the helmets decorations i think my bestie bec would of loved a tshirt to make people stop asking.
I just read your beautiful story and it has made me happy and sad at the same time. My beautiful boy was diagnosed with low muscle tone at 10 months. He wasn’t sitting on his own yet and wasn’t moving as much as he should be. He also suffered bad reflux so didn’t have much tummy time. So he developed a flat spot on his head after spending so much time on his back on the floor, in a swing and a bouncer. The public medical system told me I wouldn’t qualify for a helmet despite the severity and I wasn’t advised I could just go and buy one myself. We tried physio but nothing worked. He is now 2 1/2 and still has the flat spot. I feel like a terrible mother. People may look at kids wearing these helmets and judge but doing it is so much better than your child having to go through their whole life with a flat head. I smile whenever I see kids wearing them cause I know their parents are just doing the best thing for them. Awareness is so important.
Hey roll with the punches. what an inspiration
Hi, my eldest who is now nearly 10 had one of these. It was one of the BEST decisions we ever made.
They wasn’t very well known about in the uk at the time and the looks and comments I sometimes used to get were not very nice. One lady even asked if he wore it because I had dropped him! I won’t repeat my reply.
We are so pleased we chose this course of treatment and would not of hesitated to do the same again for our other children, luckily for our bank balances it wasn’t nessesary.
To Anybody worrying about how comfortable they are, how it will affect their child’s sleep etc. please don’t. Yes it takes a short while for the child to get used to it, but they do get used to it and every parent I have met with a child wearing the helmet over the last 10 years says exactly the same.
Hi Louise,
Thank you so much for this post. Our daughter has just been fitted for her helmet and she will get it next Tuesday. I’m not worries at all about the helmet itself, but just don’t want her to be made fun of. You have definitely put me a little more at ease with this.
Thanks!!
Truly inspirational and heart warming – you really made this into a positive! We should all take a leaf out of PFM’s book : )
Awww, thank you Bryn! Louise xx
Thank you for sharing your story.
My son (6 months) is scheduled for an ultrasound to check for hydrocephalus. His ped also mentioned the use of a helmet to correct his flat spot (I feel due to his reflux). I just had a few questions. How long did your son need to use the helmet? Does it get resized often?
My first son also had reflux and I would use 2 sets of bumpers (one at his thighs and one up by his chest) to keep him positioned and I could change his sleeping positions. Since then I have been unable to find the bumpers and now feel guilty;(
Thanks for any input.
Hi Jessica, We didn’t need many adjustments at all :). We just added some extra holes to make it more breathable. Good luck with your journey and try not to feel guilty – these things happen. Louise xx
Hi!! Thank you so much for this post! Im getting my sons helmet tomorrow and reading this made me feel so positive about it! You’re an inspiration to all mommies! Im going to do the mini helmets party to help my daughter who is 6 with the transition of seeing her baby brother, whom she adores, in a helmet 23/7. I got it in baby blue, I’ll probably getting little vinyl stickers and change them up. if ours is also workable with the dry erase markers.. then its on 🙂 Im going to ask about drilling holes because we live in very hot and humid weather.. Also… those shirts… so cute!!! im all over it……….. from the bottom of my worried mommy heart.. thank you!!
Thanks for sharing your story, there really does need to be more awareness of plagiocephaly. My son developed a flat spot about the size of my palm at the back of his head slightly to the right side by 6 weeks old it already started. At all his check ups I was just told ‘more tummy time’ which I did. I tried turning his head to each side in his sleep but no one told me I was meant to do that when he was born (first time mum) so by this stage he was used to his head being centre. I did manage to get a referral to a pediatrician (who worked at the royal children’s plagiocephaly clinic and they fit the helmets for free… obviously only severe cases we found out) and we had images taken to track the progress over time. It wasn’t deemed severe enough for a helmet at 5 months. We were told after 2 months if there was no improvement we would consider a helmet but they said the same thing again. There was an overall improvement in head shape but that flat spot was the same size and still looked the same. At 8 months I got an appointment to the private helmet clinic to get peace of mind. We were told at this stage the helmet wouldn’t do anything now and the measurements weren’t that bad and his hair would cover it. I strongly urge parents out there to go with your gut and get things checked out, maternal health nurses and GPs will just say it will improve over time once they sit, don’t sleep on their back anymore etc but that’s not always the case. My son’s flat spot has not improved, he has slept on his tummy since 8 months (now 15 months) and is basically never on his back but it still looks the same. We even tried a couple of chiropractic adjustments but we just couldn’t afford to keep going. First time parents make sure you rotate your babies heads from side to side in their sleep from birth and be really diligent with the tummy time. We got a mimos donut pillow for my son at 5 months but by then it didn’t help. The maternal health nurse said they were dangerous and a SIDS risk but they are very light and breathable, even chiropractors that deal with this condition recommend it and the pediatrician said they are fine. I wish I had used it from 2 months when I asked her about it, then we could have seen some improvement. I only hope my son doesn’t grow up resenting me for the fact that he has an odd shaped head and I hope more awareness gives parents an opportunity to notice the condition and correct it while there’s still time.
Hi Dianne, Thank you so much for writing this comment. I know how you feel, we were told time & time again that it would fix itself…I was told that if we lived in the USA he would have been fitted with a helmet straight away as it’s a more common treatment over there. I, like you, just hope more and more parents can read our story and hopefully it will become a more common treatment here in Australia too.
I’m not sure if I can make you feel any better but I know that you love and care for your son very much. I doubt he will ever resent you for anything!You are clearly an amazing Mum :).
Louise xx
Very well done…from first decoration to completion of the story! You’ve demystified the helmet and made having to deal with it as much fun as possible.
Your kids are adorable!
Thank you so much Ellen :). I’m so thankful that our story has helped others see a bright side and understand the benefits of this treatment.
Louise x
Wonderful story, thanks for sharing and he is so cute. I like his helmet with the grocery list on it, what a fun way to remember.
Thank you Shirley, we like to always find the positive side to things :). Louise xx
I love, love, love your approach to this, you really are a fun mum xx What an amazing difference his helmet made too.
Hi Kylie, Thank you!! We do like to have a little ‘fun’ around here lol! Louise xx
Omg your boy is just to cute in his helmet. Good on you for doing what best for your boy
Thank you Sarah! Louise x
Hey!
Thanks so much for sharing your journey!
I’ve seen a baby with a helmet before and always wondered what it was for (suspected it was protection from seizures or another reason a baby may fall and hurt themselves). Veru glad to know that it’s not as bsd as seizures and that bub doesn’t have to wear it for too long.
Thank you for educating me and thank you for all the awesome families that do this for their children
Hi Noa, I’m so thankful for your lovely comment. I’m just so happy to see awareness spread so more people understand :). Louise xx
Hi. I love this post and good on you for sharing the journey and I love your sense of humour!! My son is currently wearing a helmet and is on his second week now. The first week was spent weening him into it. His name is Jett and has a picture of a Jet plane on the front, as well as cars and planes. (His dad is a V8 fan) I love what you did with you with the white helmet, such great ideas and lots of fun!!! And yeah people can be so judgemental…thinking of having a t-shirt made…lol..
Thanks
Julz xo
Hi Julz,
So glad to hear you enjoyed reading about our journey. It sounds like Jet will also have a great helmet story to share :). I love the designs you’ve mentioned too – what boy wouldn’t want to wear a helmet like that?? There are so many FUN things you can put on a T-shirt…do it :).
Feel free to pop back any time if you have a question. Good luck!
Louise xx
Love that you had fun with the helmet and that you didn’t change your lifestyle over it. The grocery list cracked me up!
Hi Heather, Thank you for your kind words :). We sure did have some fun with it :). Louise x
thank you so much for your inspirational post. We get ours on Wednesday.
Does anyone know anywhere in Australia that custom paints helmets?
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your lovely comment. I’m unsure of anyone who does the custom painting here in Australia. I think you might be able to order some pretty cool vinyl stickers online though? Good luck & please pop back if you have any questions. Louise xx
Hi, My daughter will receive her helmet in a week. I would like to know how to clean off the whiteboard marker? I will buy markers soon (hehe). Many thanks!
Hey! Your blog made me feel a million times better about my twins getting put in helmets. My son has Bracycephaly and my daughter has the classic form of plasgiocephaly. When you write on the helmets- are you using a dry erase marker? I am about to order several different decals for their helmets but they are soooo expensive!! I like the idea of writing on them for when we are between decals- but I don’t want to accidentally ruin them by using the wrong utensil.
Hi Ally,
I’m so pleased our story has helped you. We used dry erase markers, I think washable chalk pens would work too. Good luck with your journey. Lou xx
Hi, I’ve just seen your post now and come across your blog! We live in Sydney and my son was born with torticollis, causing him plagiocephaly. We are seeing the local hospital physiotherapist and have been referred to see the craniofacial clinic at Westmead to find out if our son needs a helmet. By then he will be 6 and a half months but was a 100 day wait to get in for this appointment. I am unsure what our outcome will be as the appointment is still over a month away, but I am hopeful that our son’s placiocephaly will be properly corrected. We’ve been doing physiotherapy since 5 weeks of age and unfortunately has only made very minor changes to our son’s head. If he needs a helmet, the physiotherapist is confident we’ll have one on by Christmas but if not I may have to explore other avenues. Glad to know you had good experiences with the helmet as I’m trying to keep an open mind about it all!
Thanks for your time, Emma.