The parents of a helmet baby go through a process of several steps together with their baby before the cranial helmet is finally placed and custom fitted for their baby. First, they get the news from their pediatrician, relative or friend who brings the odd shape of their baby’s head to their attention or astute parents themselves will notice it. They begin the helmet process with an appointment with an orthotic specialist who is highly recommended. The baby gets measured and scanned thoroughly and concisely which is critical to the success of helmet therapy.

Those same parents then have to deal with their insurance company to hopefully get compensated for this cranial therapy. Some insurance companies need to know exactly what the Cobb curve number is to see if the child has a severe case of plagiocephaly, which is over ten, but this can be frustrating because there is no question that the baby needs a helmet even in the case of moderate plagiocephaly. It is certainly challenging when this type of stalemate occurs even though it is relieving to hear the word moderate instead of severe, yet it could limit insurance coverage.

Even if your insurance company does not agree to compensate you for the helmet, the helmet is at least as important as braces on your children’s teeth. By hook or crook, you must find the funds to pay for the helmeting, whether it is a loan or gift from grandparents or cashing in on your savings.

After all the technical work is done there is one more optional step which helps the whole family emotionally to accept the cranial helmet and that is the decoration of the helmet. If the baby has older siblings, they can be asked to choose the helmet motive be it their favorite sports team or cartoon character and this will give each member of the family a lift that there is a lighter side to helmet therapy.

One of the major concerns of parents dealing with helmet therapy is the realization that the baby will be wearing the helmet for twenty-three out of twenty-four hours of the day. This translates to the fact that the baby will be wearing the helmet while sleeping. Cranial therapy helmets are designed with sleep and comfort in mind however, it may take several days for your baby to acclimate to their brand-new head gear.

Some mothers compare the breaking in of their baby’s new cranial helmet to buying and wearing a new pair of shoes for the first time. Even though the shoes fit well you still feel like something foreign is on your feet. Yet, the best way to break in new shoes is to keep wearing them and the same is true for your baby’s new cranial helmet; the more he or she wears it the quicker they will get used to it.

Here are some popular tips that usually work to get your baby sleeping soundly while wearing his or her helmet. If we look at the helmet as the baby wearing a hat (heavier than one of those light infant beanies) then we can understand that his or her body temperature may rise slightly while wearing the helmet. If your child’s helmet becomes sweaty that means that your child is too warm. During the summer outdoors it could be tempting to take off the helmet to cool the baby off, so you are better off keeping the baby in indoor air-conditioned venues if he or she has their helmet therapy during a hot summer.

Temperature of the Baby’s Bedroom

Most would agree that a cool room is healthy to sleep in. If your baby is dressed in a footed sleeper, you should change to a lighter cotton stretchy without feet. By removing unnecessary layers, it will be easy for your baby’s body to maintain a comfortable temperature to have longer and more easy sleeping patterns. You can also put a fan in the room although this might not be practical if others are sleeping in the room such as other children or the parents themselves. Not everyone has an extra bedroom for baby number one.

Give Extra Time

Getting used to the helmet by your baby may cause a longer falling asleep time since your baby will independently find the best comfortable position for his or her head. Don’t expect them to fall asleep as easily for the first few days so give your baby some extra time in the crib. Earlier than usual bedtime is wise if the baby is cranky from shorter than usual daytime napping. Your cranial therapist can help, give the proper support and ideas for sleep challenges should they become prolonged.

Check the Helmet at Morning Waking Time

When your baby wakes up after a nighttime sleep this is time to take off the helmet to check for two problems, is the helmet sweaty? Are there any red spots or irritations anywhere on the head? If there are some signs of stress you will take the baby back to the cranial therapy center to have the helmet adjusted. Sometimes the helmet needs adjustment to get perfect symmetry and the reputable cranial therapy center will want you to come back periodically to check as the baby’s head grows. In any case, any soreness should be brought to the therapist’s attention immediately.

In What Position Should My Infant Sleep With the Helmet?

The most common reason for a flat head is because of the introduction of the “back to sleep movement” in the nineties which substantially lessened the tragedy of crib deaths. Although your baby is wearing a helmet to sleep, doctors still advise putting the baby to sleep on the back and if the baby rolls himself on to the stomach, then they are at the age where they are independent in their sleep positions. Once your baby is accustomed to the helmet, he or she should go back to their previous sleeping positions.

What to Do If You Find That Your Baby Sweats From the Helmet During Sleep Time

Most cranial helmets do not totally enclose the head so there should be room for the head to breathe except if your child’s helmet totally surrounds the head. You can check with the therapy center for them to drill a couple of holes in the helmet.

When babies sleep, they do not move around the same way adults do. Tossing and turning is more of a grown-up problem and once the baby is used to the helmet he or she should sleep soundly. By continuing to sleep in one position the baby’s temperature begins to rise and so even a baby without a helmet sweats during sleep. The way the body normalizes its temperature is by sweating and even though a helmet does not need to be washed and dried daily, you may have to at the beginning till you adjust the temperature in the room or your baby’s helmet is remediated.

Keeping the Helmet From Smelling

One of the worst complaints that parents have is that when the baby sweats in the helmet it begins to smell. One parent explained that it smelled like a locker room, oh no, how could a baby smell bad? Aren’t they supposed to smell good except when they have a dirty diaper?

The parents have a harder time adjusting to this issue, the baby couldn’t care less and if you want to keep your baby’s helmet from smelling that won’t be likely unless you clean it often and keep it sweet smelling by using these tried and true methods.

1) Make sure you have a good sprayer or power spray. Some products such as Dawn Dish Soap come with a power sprayer.

2) You may find a brand of isopropyl alcohol (seventy percent) that comes in a spray, otherwise use your own new bottle, and fill it with the alcohol. Mothers claim that this works more effectively than alcohol pads.

3) To dry the helmet quickly, attach a stroller fan to your bathroom counter.

Final Words

There are many facets to the transition of a parent and baby to the phenomena of cranial helmet wearing. Cranial helmets are a wonderful invention that precludes the embarrassment and discomfort of having torticollis or plagiocephaly become a permanent liability for your baby.

That your baby will have to wear a helmet for at least three months is challenging enough and finding out that your baby must wear it while sleeping could seem like a tough blow. Generally, the baby will get used to the helmet within a few days and begin returning to his or her normal sleep positions and patterns. Hopefully by the time your baby dons the helmet for the first time, he or she already has a schedule so you will be able to try to keep to it as best as you can. Your baby may sweat more than before while wearing the helmet to sleep since the body is regulating its temperature and the helmet is similar to the baby wearing a warm hat. By lowering the temperature in the room and dressing your baby lightly the sweating problem should lessen substantially.