8 Things about Cranial Helmets

Imagine you're walking around Walmart or the park and you see an infant with a cranial helmet on their head and you wonder why they are wearing it.  I was this person.  I never could figure out why an infant would need a cranial helmet and I always assumed it was something that had to do with the brain which isn't true.  So why do some babies wear cranial helmets?

Typically a baby will wear a cranial helmet if they have some sort of flat spot on their head that is larger than normal (because no one's head is perfectly shaped) which is called Plagiocephaly, or because there is an abnormal fusion of the skull bones which result in a misshapen skull that restricts brain growth which is called Craniosynostosis. Plagiocephaly is much more common out of the two.

My son's pediatrician noticed my son's flat spot at around two months old, but he wanted to try and correct it naturally before referring me to an Orthotist to get fitted for a cranial helmet.  Fixing it naturally didn't work so he was referred to an orthotist in our area to get his helmet.

Whether you are a parent of a child who is currently wearing a cranial helmet, or you are a parent who has a child who might need one and you're looking for more information, or you just want to learn more so you know why the babies around you might be wearing one, here are eight things you need to know about cranial helmets.

1. How do you get one and does insurance cover it?

Typically a child's doctor checks the head shape at check ups and will give you a referral to a certified orthotist if they feel like your child could benefit from a cranial helmet. My son was referred at six months to an orthotist who measured his head to see if he needed/qualified for a helmet.

Most insurance companies list cranial helmets as medically necessary if your child meets the criteria. My son needed to have at least six millimeters of asymmetry to qualify for our insurance to cover part of the cost of his helmet, and he had 13 millimeters of asymmetry. Contact your insurance agency to see what their criteria is. 

2. Is it normal to feel some type of guilt when your baby has to wear a cranial helmet?

Absolutely! However, it is NOT your fault!  When something happens to your baby and you feel like you could have prevented it, it is natural to feel guilty, but it's not your fault.  I felt so guilty when we went to the orthotist and my son had 13 millimeters of asymmetry (way beyond the normal 0-5 millimeters) I felt so guilty.  I kept telling myself that I could've have done this or that differently and maybe he wouldn't need this helmet, but it wasn't my fault.  I did everything in my power to help his head grow where the flat spot was, but it didn't work and that's okay.  Don't feel guilty if your baby has to wear a helmet.

3. How long do they wear it in a day? Do they sleep in it?

They wear their helmet for 23 hours every day and they do sleep in it.  The first week they have their helmet they will build up to the 23 hours. The first day they wear it one hour on then one hour off until bedtime.  They don't sleep in it until about half way through the first week.  The reason they gradually have it on longer and longer is because your baby needs to adjust to it.  It's a big change for them.  Some babies, like mine, don't have a problem with it at all while some babies hate it for awhile until they get used to it.  The other reason they gradually get to 23 hours is because you want to make sure that it's not irritating their skin or causing rashes that don't go away. 

4. When do they no longer need the helmet?

The average person has 0-5 millimeters of asymmetry so that's the goal for babies wearing cranial helmets.  Every baby grows at a different rate and every baby is at a different level of asymmetry, so there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer.  My son's been in his helmet for 2 months and hopefully only has one more month left before he can graduate from the cranial helmet.  The sooner you get the helmet, the less likely they are to wear it for a really long period of time.  

5. Is it heavy? Does it affect their ability to reach developmental milestones on time?

It is super light.  The inside is like a compact, non-porous styrofoam, so it doesn't put any extra strain on their neck or back.

It does not affect their ability to reach developmental milestones.  They will still be able to learn to sit up, crawl, etc just like any other infant.  It does act as a nice cushion when they are learning those new skills and they accidentally tip over. 

6. How do you clean it?

You can put rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and spray the inside of the helmet and wipe it out with a paper towel.  Our spray bottle is from IKEA but you can find one pretty much anywhere.  Make sure you let it dry COMPLETELY before placing it back on your child's head.  You should also wash your child's hair every night to make sure bacteria doesn't grow and also to ensure your child's head doesn't get infected.  We bathe our son every night because we have found that to be easiest.  However, we don't wash his body with soap every night.  We try to keep his skin as hydrated as possible since he is always in the bath. 

7. How do you keep your baby from overheating in the summer with the helmet on?

Dress your baby in lighter clothes (a onesie/shirt and shorts).  You can also have your orthotist add holes to your baby's cranial helmet if it doesn't have them already.  That has really help our son not get super hot and sweaty under his helmet this summer. 

8. Are there designs to pick from?

Yes! There are so many designs.  Not every orthotist uses the same company to make the helmets, so depending on who you go to, they will have their own library of designs and patterns.  You can also have someone paint the helmet or get vinyl lettering to make it cuter.  There are a lot of things you can do to make your baby's helmet super cute! 

There are so many things about cranial helmets that people don't know, so I hope these few things ease your mind a little if you're the parent of a child who needs a cranial helmet.  If your baby already has one then I hope this post helps you feel like you're not alone, and if you just wanted more information about cranial helmets then I hope this helped you too!