Why Do Babies Have To Wear A Helmet

November 27, 2020 Post a Comment

Babies wear helmets to treat flat head syndrome or craniosynostosis. Simply put helmets formally known as Cranial Remolding Orthosis CRO help correct a babys skull shape by redirecting a childs head growth.

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What are baby helmets used for.

Why do babies have to wear a helmet. While this may seem like overkill a babys skull is. Learn why some infants and toddlers may need to wear a baby helmet due to flattening of portions of the head in infancy and what can be done to help. Why do some infants need a baby helmet.

Helmet therapy is used to gently correct the shape of babies skulls over time. Sutures help the skull protect the babys brain. If a baby has to wear a helmet it is important that they wear it all the time.

As cranial sutures are not fused in infants helmets can help modify the skulls shape. Newborn babies skulls are soft plates with spaces between them. This is because the skull bones of the infant have not hardened yet making them susceptible to sustained pressure.

The flat spot results in diagonal asymmetry of the skull making it have a slanting or irregular appearance. Plagiocephaly helmets use pressure to mold a babys soft skull correcting the misshapen head. There are actually three different types of misshapen heads as causes of.

Other Reasons to Use Helmet Therapy Have you ever seen a baby wearing headgear that looked like a helmet. In general the only time the helmet is removed is for bathing and dressing. As a fetus develops the bones of the skull are flexible and sutures are not fused.

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. Helmet therapy also known as cranial orthosis helmet orthosis or helmet molding therapy is a treatment method to mold the shape of a babys head.

The closer your baby gets to one year old the slower their growth curve. It appears as a result of sustained pressure to the part of the head that is flat. Ask your doctor if your baby needs a helmet and what you can do to.

A big reason for that is likely because of the safe sleep practices of babies sleeping on their backs. But there are many reasons why babies can develop flat spots. Its not to say that your baby cant wear a helmet after 1 year old but generally speaking most kids are done.

Some babies are born with a birth defect that causes the bones in the skull to fuse too early craniosynostosis. Given time and a little effort your babys head will grow and return to normal as they begin moving and doing more. Theyre usually made of plastic with a foam lining and they look similar to a kids bicycle helmet.

A baby helmet forces the flat spot to round out while the skull plates are developing. Once our son Otis got his helmet on I started seeing helmet babies ALL OVER. It is the primary reason babies wear a helmet.

In a small percentage of cases children with an abnormal head. Wearing a helmet is also a good way to correct large malformation or flat spots on your babys head. I think its much more common these days to see babies with helmets.

This allows passage through the birth canal which can cause flattening of the head. The situation can be both genetic and environmental. I think its great that there is such an effective treatment option out there so its.

One of the reasons you may see a baby or toddler wearing a baby helmet is plagiocephaly or a misshapen head. Most babies end their helmet journey close to the 1 year old mark because the improvements in head shape tend to be relatively small after this time frame. To work molding helmets must be worn during the time when the skull and brain are actively growing.

Helmets will not help after brain growth is done and three-fourths of brain growth happens by age 2. This results in abnormal skull shape and restricts brain growth. Sometimes when a baby sleeps in the same position the soft plates may develop a flat spot or uneven appearance.

They may be doing helmet therapy or cranial orthosis. Craniosynostosis is corrected by cranial surgery and many times a post-operative helmet. As the baby grows these plates grow gradually harden and knit together.

Flat Head Syndrome Treatment Plagiocephaly Brachycephaly