Hey parents, how many of you are aware of the different flattened heads for your child? Firstly, Various types, such as plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, and scaphocephaly, restrict your child’s head growth. In some cases Flattened heads are usually present in all children. Sometimes, it will gradually shape the head. Other it won’t.
Here comes helmet therapy, which is helpful for all kinds of unshaped heads. Cranial remolding helmets are also known as infant head shapers that gradually correct the skull’s shape. In this parents guide discover how helmet therapy will improve the head shape, the ideal age for intervention, and the entire babies head shaping process.
What are all the different 4 types of flattened heads?
1. Plagiocephaly: The baby’s head should be flattened on one side, which makes it misaligned. The forehead and the head may bulge on the flat side.
2. Brachycephaly: The back of the head becomes flat, which makes it broader and shorter.
3. Scaphocephaly: The head would be long and elongated, common in premature babies.
4. Craniosynostosis: This is also known as congenital plagiocephaly, which is also a serious birth defect with the skull’s fibrous joints close prematurely.
Infant Head Shape and Growth
1. Restricted Growth
There are different causes of an infant’s typical head development: in-utero restraints, constraints, neck muscle dysfunction, torticollis, preferred positioning, and supine position dependency. Hence, repositioning within the first three to four months is the most effective way of counseling head asymmetry and proportion.
2. Unrestricted Growth
At six months, babies start rolling, sitting, and touching. As a result, the head size increases proportionately, but babies don’t have an endocranial cast that realigns facial distortions. The enlargement may conceal differences in asymmetry, and significant changes demand resistive forces within certain spheres.
3. Directed Growth
Broad skull slight variations are normal and usually do not represent a problem. However, suppose the child has a moderate or severe deformity that may persist after repositioning. In that case, the parent may consider getting the baby a cranial remolding helmet, usually called an infant head shaper or baby head-shaping helmet. These devices use mild force to control skull development in areas with minimal volume. The doctor says wearing a cranial helmet therapy promotes early treatment to gain the best results quickly.
In conclusion, always Consult a specialist to evaluate your baby’s condition and choose the best options, like helmet therapy, for effective results.”
Can a Baby’s Flat Head Syndrome Be Corrected?
Yes, this flat head syndrome can easily be corrected earlier using helmet therapy (cranial helmets) or different exercises. If the head shape is poorly shaped (moderate to severe), your child may undergo minor or major surgery. After surgery with cranial helmets, the child will get the actual shape again. Helmet therapy works best when the child is getting up to 12 weeks.
Learn How Helmet Therapy Helps in Shaping Babies’ Head?
Helmet therapy is very effective in correcting abnormally shaped heads in infants. It is also known as cranial remolding or infant head shapers, a safe and conservative way to help prompt normal head shape development.
They function by applying some pressure onto the specific key areas while stimulating growth in sections that have become flattened. Ideally, early childhood intervention is effective if it starts before the child reaches six months. Properly monitoring and using appropriate cranial helmets will make your baby healthy and have normal head development.
Answers to the Questions Every Loving Parent Asks
1. What is the best age for helmet therapy and In what ways does helmet therapy help the developmental process?
Helmet therapy is intended for use when your baby’s head and skull remain soft between 4 and 12 months. Subsequently, an infant head shaper made to measure is developed based on an individual preliminary examination and three-dimensional measurement. Correct pressure at the specific skull locations helps growth in areas where the skull is flat.
The helmet is worn 20–23 hours daily for at least 3 to 6 months, with follow-up visits to the provider to evaluate the fitting and progress. This helmet therapy for your baby is worth using as they provide ultimate comfort and yield the best results.
2. Does my baby need surgery?
If a child is affected with craniosynostosis (severe flat spot), the doctor will recommend surgery. There are significant and minor surgeries, such as traditional open surgery and minimally invasive surgery. After this surgical process, they want to follow helmet therapy to correct the head shape.
3. What exactly is a cranial re-molding helmet, and how does it help my baby during helmet therapy?
The cranial helmet rectifies the unusual shapes of the skull and improves head growth wherever necessary. Usually, cranial remolding helmets are made of a hard outer shell with a foam lining. Gentle pressure is applied to achieve a normal head shape, inhibiting growth in prominent areas and efficiently permitting development in the flattened area.
Adjustments are made frequently with cranial helmets as the baby’s head grows. The helmet provides a tight, round space for the head to grow. Even if your child continues to rest the child on one side, the helmet will provide cushioning to prevent the head from further flattening.
“It is preferred that helmet therapy be begun before the child is one year old to attain the best outcome. Let us assist you in this and help your child have a healthy and solid head for a great future.“
Learn more about baby head shaping helmets from How a Baby Head Shaping Helmet Can Help Reshape Your Child’s Head?
