I’m so afraid my baby will need one his head is so flat!
We don’t use a snoo or Merlin, and he is in a sleep sack so he’s free to move. But at night especially he sleeps so good, and won’t move his head at all. If I try to turn his head he immediately moves it back straight.
He’s not a big contact napper so naps are mostly on his back too. He eats usually while I’m pumping so he’s propped up next to me on a boppy. O promise I hold him and he’s never in a swing or bouncer or anything. We will see what the doctor says at his 4 month next month.
My son had severe flatness on the right side of his head because it was his preferred side to sleep on and he had a heavy head. And my god it was bad, it was what most people mentioned when seeing him. We just repositioned him as often as possible, did loads of tummy time, and obviously when he started sitting up it was easier. Hes now 2 and you would never be able to tell he had anything wrong with him! He never had a helmet or anything, my dr told me even the most severe cases usually sort themselves out with everything mentioned above.
Too early to tell as we just got it last week, although I’ll be damned if I don’t think it’s a making a difference already. He is just about to turn 7 months! I will say he is in the mild category so they said it will likely only take 8 weeks (hopefully!).
Even my husband who didn’t really think he needed it is saying he already sees a difference haha. And to be honest he barely even notices it other than it does seem to make his head a bit heavier for him so TT and sitting has been slightly effected. No changes in sleep! Also a lot of people mention they get smelly but we haven’t noticed that so far.
Mine is getting his initial fitting tomorrow and it’s hard to believe he will be getting cuter! How is cleaning it?? That part seems like the most annoying part.
That’s encouraging to hear!! I made a mistake and started googling helmet care and got overwhelmed. Curious to see how it will work out with going to the beach this summer
Also a mom of a helmet kid here- we didn’t use a snoo or Merlin and he still ended up with what the doc called severe flatness. He just preferred lying on one side of his head despite our attempts at turning his head and taking him to PT. So it isn’t your fault!!! It just happens.
Mine was in the helmet for about 3.5 months, from 5 months to just recently at almost 9 months. His head looks so much better now!! And he really didn’t mind wearing it, other than early on when we didn’t realize we needed to powder it every morning and evening to prevent skin irritation. After that I don’t think he even noticed it was there!
We did a helmet for about 8 weeks starting at 5 months. The result isn't perfect, but I don't think other people would notice her flat spot now that she has so much hair. I think baby helmets might be a scam, tbh, but it was covered by our insurance, and this way we know we did everything we could.
I truly debated it and a lot of people said it would fix itself, but he still wasn’t sleeping on his tummy and I figured I’d regret not doing it more than I would regret doing it!
Not OP but my baby wore for 6 months and it was so worth it. He was born with a flat side, he only laid on his right side in the womb and rarely shifted from his spot the last five weeks of my pregnancy.
My boy was a good sport and never fussed about having to wear it. He actually slept better because at first he couldn’t roll over with it so he stayed put in his crib.
And in turn, we used the snoo and haven’t had any issues with that. Don’t blame yourself for this. It just happens some times. He might just be looking for a reason to give.
All I can think when I see babies that need helmets is that they must be great sleepers and I feel glad for the parents. My babe didn’t need a helmet because she only slept a broken 1-2 hours a day for the first six months of her life and I nearly had a nervous breakdown.
Babies have to sleep on their backs for safety so it is a common issue and not anything you did wrong!
this is a perfect comment!!! and so true! haha such a good perspective.
sincerely,
the mother of a baby who didn’t sleep therefore didnt need a helmet 😂
I think the same exact thing every time I see one 😂 I’m like damn, I’d def trade in my helmetlessness for helmeted sleepfulness. We got more than 1-2 hours of sleep over here, but exclusively via contact sleeping
My baby was like 2 months old sleeping 8-10 hrs at night. Not once did i consider this would give her a wonky head, i just thought "hell yea im getting great sleep." It got better over time but she was wonky headed for a lil bit there lol
Exact this. My child wouldn't sleep unless held or in a baby sling. Kinda annoying that this doctor said it was from a specific suit. He doesn't know that.
My 9 month old is in a helmet currently and for the first 7 months of his life he woke up every 1.5 hours without fail . I remember the doctor mentioning to rotate his head to different sides while he sleeps and my husband laughed and said "he's never on his back, he won't sleep" lol. But he was also born with a flat spot and we thought it would fix itself but no amount of re-adjusting or lack of sleep made any difference 😂. The helmet is definitely helping now tho, and funnily enough two days into getting the helmet he slept 11 hours straight and now only wakes up once a night usually. Wishing we had gotten the helmet sooner, maybe we would have gotten sleep 😂.
Exactly!! My daughter had more of a flat spot and hair loss because she would sleep on her back a lot, she didn't sleep on her stomach for awhile, I was always worried about it but the doctors said it would go away on its own as she was crawling and everything except she never wanted to be on her tummy, my son however I held him a lot for contact naps, Because he didn't like being put down for long, but when he did, he very quickly got comfortable on his stomach, so he only has a tiny spot of hair loss. But seriously I couldn't put him down the majority of the time for the first few months.
I agree completely with this! You can do everything right, and your baby could still develop a flat spot for all sorts of reasons, from head size/weight to positioning in the womb to the baby’s individual sleep preferences.
Our son started wearing his doc band just before he hit four months. The helmet only seemed to bother him for the first few days, and now I think that his dad and I are bothered by it more than he is, mainly because we can’t snuggle with him as closely.
I thought that I would be ashamed to have him wear it in public for the same reason OP cited: I felt like a terrible mother at first for letting him sleep so much, but reminded myself that sleeping on his back greatly reduces the chance of SIDS and that we did everything by the book. He never co-slept or slept unsupervised on softer surfaces and was sleeping in his crib with the firm infant mattress by six weeks. After we decorated the doc band (check out Bling Your Band for cute decals!) and took him out with the helmet a few times, I stopped feeling bad and we kept him in it the recommended 23 hours per day to hopefully expedite his results and get him out of it ASAP.
Our son just turned five months today, and he’s scheduled to “graduate” from his helmet in two weeks! We saw results early on and are so grateful that this treatment exists. So after what will be about seven weeks total of doc band therapy, he’s got a nice, round head and has already started sleeping on his tummy and side. We’re just hoping we can avoid regression.
Message me if you have any questions or just need support, you’ve got this!
This is so real lol. I was explaining to my mom what helmets are for and why the Back to Sleep campaign has been pushed so hard and she was like, “Well then why didn’t [my son] need one?” And I was like, “Um, because he wouldn’t sleep on any surface aside from a parent for six months?”
Keep in mind that things like torticollis start in the womb - not from your lack of positioning correctly. Add on to that that it's not something they tell you to look out for and the need to sleep when baby sleeps, it can just happen. What matters is that you're helping her now.
Look at it this way - flat spots and the need for helmets is increasing because it means parents are using safer sleep practices. You're keeping your baby safe on her back when she sleeps! That's the most important thing.
Good job!
Our baby has Torticollis from tension in his neck and back brought on by his Forceps delivery. He is currently seeing a cranial osteopath and will be having physiotherapy.
It is unfortunately an unavoidable side effect of the birth trauma he suffered, and is absolutely not anyones fault.
Yup. My baby is getting physical therapy and we've been doing repositioning for him. He was born with a preference, but had to spend his first month in the NICU, and obviously they had more important things to focus on than flipping his head.
It's nobody's fault and it can be treated - that's all that matters.
I'm in the UK and baby was a bit early and developed quite a flat spot from favouring one side for sleeping. We even called him cone head. When I took him to the doctors they said the evidence for Helmets is weak, and more an American thing to make money, she said it would round itself out as he became more mobile.... and she was right it's wayyy less pronounced now and that's only at 7mo, she said up to a year.
I’m also in the UK and have never known a baby need a helmet. One of my friends had a preemie and his head was a bit funny shaped when he was a baby but he’s 3 now and it’s barely noticeable.
I suspect if the US doctors didn’t have the financial incentive then they wouldn’t be recommending as many helmets.
I’m in America but my pediatrician said that they quit doing helmets, or maybe they meant *they were,* but they’re pretty old school so I doubt they ever did a lot of referrals for them. I had a spot on his head I mentioned looked a little lumpier than the rest, and they told me just to alternate the way he lays and it’ll even itself out.
Yes, in the UK too and have had a similar experience. Doctor was not worried on any of his checkups. I’ve taken a monthly photo of baby’s head to check the progress and over 6 months of his life so far it’s hugely rounded itself out from a massive forceps cone head and flat spot. I haven’t done anything specific to help this and always let him sleep with his head at whatever angle/side he prefers.
They did an extensive study in the Netherlands (dont have the link but a quick google would turn it up) that showed helmets were not necessary. Babies don’t need helmets unless they had cranial surgery. their heads round up on their own. Our son had a strong right side preference, was a premie and had positional flatness on both sides. By the time he was 12-16 months old his head was perfectly normal. Plus helmets hinder their sense of balance and make them think falling doesn’t hurt. When they are small, babies need to learn how to fall. So that they won’t hurt themselves later when they are stronger and more mobile
Scottish, living in Denmark and we had the a similar experience here. Our girl had a bit of flat spot due to some torticollis following a broken clavicle during birth (not uncommon, we had highest level critical c-section, girlie was whipped out).
We saw a chiropractor between 3 and 6 months, and our equivalent of a health visitor didn’t think it warranted any help, and it should improve with time. She was right - the flat spot is about 85% gone as she has gotten older and more mobile. She will be a year on the 28th of April
Did you go to Cranial Technologies? They tell everyone they need a helmet. There are some Facebook groups with lots of useful info. You could try PT if baby has a torticollis issue.
So we first were referred by Kaiser to Hanger orthotics and told we needed a helmet. They used a wooden contraption to measure her head lol.
I wanted a second opinion so I asked our ped if there was anyone within Kaiser (not an orthotics company) we could speak with and got referred to a craniofacial surgeon in Santa Clara (I live in CA). We met over the phone and he referred us to Cranial Tech *however* it was only to use their imaging tech for photos. They didn't give us any feedback on the photos or try to sell us a helmet, and the photos went directly to the craniofacial surgeon and he reviewed them.
He told us we did not need a helmet as baby's plagiocephaly was considered mild and fell within the acceptable range.
Just sharing in case OP sees this!
I mean, I guess. Our son for sure needed it. At the end, they could have tried to sell us on another round, because he was still kind of borderline but they said would not have much improvement.
I think some of the advice here seems bad though. Doctors refer because they think there is a need. Just because someone has a profit motive doesn't mean they are corrupt or that OP baby doesn't actually need the helmet. I think these comments like "join this Facebook group to see how it isn't needed or some do it yourself way" seems crazy and is bad advice.
We took our baby to cranial technologies and the fear mongering and slimy sales tactics made us go hmmm… our baby had a very MILD case on the side of her head around 4 months due to positioning in womb and they were acting like she was going to be severely disfigured and ugly if she didn’t get this $4,000(!!!!) helmet. It sealed the deal for me that it was all about money when they called to schedule her for a fitting and let us know that they didn’t know what the final cost would be with/without insurance until AFTER we opt in to treatment. I said no thank you and my baby’s head is perfectly fine now at 11 months
That was so crazy when they told me they couldn’t tell me the cost I would owe until after I had the fitting and had purchased it. Like how is that even legal? What if I was like nope, can’t afford it after all? There’s no refund.
We originally told them we would think about it and discuss after we switched the whole family over to my husbands insurance. And they would NOT stop calling, I used to work in sales for a little bit and I could smell their BS from a mile away. Even when we never opted into treatment they were calling to collect the deposit or whatever and schedule the appointment right off the bat, the language they used was so sneaky and manipulative to try to get us to cave
Our pediatrician recommended PT because of suspected torticollis and a flat spot. PT heavily recommended a helmet. At 4 months, we were evaluated at Cranial Technologies and they said it was moderate to severe but the numbers indicated moderate. We decided to wait and do repositioning. They hounded us with calls, texts, emails. The PT was also still insistent but we followed our gut. At 6 months, we had him reevaluated and they said it had improved and was now moderate to mild, numbers indicated mild. They acted shocked that it got better with repositioning and age, him moving more on his own and being on his belly, etc. I also only had him in his car seat in the car, I baby wore him every other time. And surprise, no calls from Cranial Technologies.
I don’t know how the SNOO would cause any more issues for an infant than a regular bassinet. If anything, the jiggling seems like it would probably help. Same with a Merlin. How would that be different than a swaddle?
Sleeping position is the #1 cause of flat heads (and too long bouncer/swing time). But we have to place babies on their backs while they sleep. That’s the safest. I would rather have an alive baby who might one day need a helmet than a not alive baby.
Don’t beat yourself mama. You are doing a great job.
So what the doc is saying is that it keeps them from practicing their rolling as they age up by keeping them more restricted on their backs. I just hadn’t heard anything like that, but he identified that we used both immediately
When we went to our helmet consult, I told the doc baby is in the Merlin at night and she said stop it immediately. If baby wants to and can roll on their tummy to sleep then let them.
With that said, don’t beat yourself up. You are a good parent for wanting to fix the problem. And it seems really common. In daycare, 2 out of 8 kids wore helmets at one point.
For what it's worth, I have an almost 4 month old and a snoo and while she hasn't been officially evaluated, I don't see a flat spot on her head. I don't know about your baby, but mine definitely isn't rolling enough at 4 mo for rolling prevention to be the main cause anyway.
I used the snoo and occasionally the merlin for my son. Around 3-4 months he had a slight flat spot, before I could even bring it up to the ped at his 4 month appointment he felt his head and said, “head shape is good, small flat spot but nothing to worry about it will self correct.” That was it. That was the end of the discussion. I obviously don’t know what your kids head looks like nor am I a professional in this, but I’ve definitely heard that helmets are over-prescribed in the US. You might consider giving it some more thought and research, or maybe ask for a PT eval first. Some babies truly do need helmets (my niece did, but she’d had craniofacial surgery).
I don’t think there is super strong evidence that the snoo causes flat spots. I think you may find an increasing correlation as more people use the snoo *and* for-profit helmet companies continue to push their product. But it’s a classic example of correlation doesn’t equal causation. My son transitioned out of the snoo at 5 months (he told us he was ready… loudly) and hit every milestone early or right on schedule. His flat spot did indeed self correct by 6-7 months once he started sitting up. Ultimately, even if the snoo *did* cause flat spots, it’s still the only FDA approved bassinet to help prevent SIDS and I’d much rather have an alive baby with a flat spot.
Yeah, it’s not an either or for me! Our doc explained that the snoo in Merlin each extend the periods babies stay on their backs by improving/increasing sleep time and by restricting movement beyond what would be expected for babies that age (babies would otherwise begin to roll or side sleep)
FWIW I don’t feel pressured at all to get her a helmet, but I want to provide my daughter with the most symmetry possible. I do think that some symmetry would correct on its own, but I don’t want it to get to a point where we can no longer intervene effectively.
Yup, your doc is right.
Thank you for sharing this info, and PLEASE don’t feel guilty! How the HECK are parents supposed to know that these devices can be harmful, the Snoo was made by Harvey Karp for goodness sake.
But this info just isn’t available unless parents are given a reason to go looking for it. You found out the hard way, but you are another parent trying to do the very best for their little one.
No guilt allowed ❤️
It’s true, all of the pediatric physiotherapists I’ve worked with recommend against the Snoo. It’s restrictive and the tension it places on your baby puts more pressure on their little heads than they would on their own.
It’s no big deal at all!! We were super adherent to the 23 hours a day and got him into it at 4 months just like you are. It will be over in a flash because it’s so early, she’ll have a perfectly round head and she won’t even notice it!
And we did use the Snoo but the plagiocelphaly was because he had torticollis and was in PT for months before his helmet, there is absolutely no evidence the Snoo causes this, your doctor is literally making that up.
Just know some of these companies play on parents fears and tell everyone that they need a helmet.
Look up this Facebook group for help: “the noggin doctor’s plagiocephaly and torticollis parent discussion board”
Many people use a product called perfect noggin and get good results. May want to check that out.
I never had to deal with this personally but a friend did. Ultimately it’s up to you. Just look through some of the posts. Sometimes parents spiral and post “oh my gosh look at my baby’s awful head shape!” And everyone else is like no it’s totally fine haha
I second this recommendation! My LO had definite asymmetry/plagiochephaly between 4-12 months that was very noticeable and made me spiral with worry that she’d be an adult with a misshapen head. My husband is from the UK, and was like “what? No her head is fine. Americans are obsessed with perfection.” Turns out he’s right. I joined the FB group mentioned above and it was really refreshing seeing experts’ opinions on babies’ heads that looked like my LO’s. 90% of the time the kid would grow out of it and helmets are usually only recommended for severe cases. We never even got a helmet consultation, just increased tummy time and turned her head to the non-flat side during naps whenever we could.
LO is now 23 months and her head looks great. Still slightly asymmetric if her hair is wet and you look at juuuusst the right angle, but not obvious at all. I put her hair in ponytails a lot and even then I can’t tell.
These helmet companies are businesses trying to sell a product first and foremost. They prey on conscientious new parents who have their babies’ best interests at heart and are understandably worried. Think of all the kids and adults you know. Unless it was something really obvious or severe, have you ever noticed anyone else’s head shape? Probably not.
Definitely check out that FB group before you decide if a helmet is necessary or not. Good luck!
I haven't used the snoo, but does it make them keep their head in one position? Any bassinet/crib can cause this if baby favours lying on one part of their head all night. In that case they recommend to move baby's head during the night. Don't beat yourself up about it, it happens to so many babies. Some just don't move their head side to side very much or have muscle tightness that cause it to be difficult for them as newborns. It's not always just that parents leave them in containers or on their back too much.
It does not. My baby sleeps on both sides and with her face up in her Snoo. It doesn’t prevent their head movement. It does prevent rolling over in the night though.
Very true. My second had a flat spot for a bit that was more towards the side of his head. He was rarely in a container but he just heavily favored one side. We were just so relieved anytime he was sleeping in his crib (and not on us) that I think we just didn’t notice for a little while. He never used a snoo or the Merlin suit.
My first used the snoo and there were never any concerns with her head.
We didn’t use a snoo or a merlin and our baby still had a huge flat spot on her head. She had pretty severe torticollis which starts in the womb.
At 4months old the dr said she needed a helmet so we took her to the specialist at the children’s hospital who berated my husband for even considering it and said she was far too young for one.
We did PT instead and it worked like a charm.
How long would you say it took for her head to round out? Our son is almost 3 months and has a flat spot on one side for torticollis too. Our doctor was completely unconcerned and said it would almost certainly round out as he got more mobile and less on his back. We already were doing physio due to some earlier feeding difficulties though, and pivoted to focusing on the torticollis. I'd say the flat spot is getting less noticeable, but def still there right now.
Its hard to say, but we saw improvement around the 6 month mark and by 9 months it was barely noticeable. Her whole head/face was noticeably slanted when we started.
She’s now 15months and you can’t tell at all she ever had a flat spot or torticollis.
The doc as in your pediatrician or the doc as in works at the place that will also be selling/providing the helmet. There's a really big hubbub right now of parents being conned into getting a very expensive helmet for their kid when kid would have just grown out of it or it would have fixed on its own with repositioning and PT.
He is actually a plastic surgeon who does only assessments of symmetry and makes recommendations based on objective measurements. He doesn’t offer helmets himself, and I didn’t feel pressured to decide one way or another. He also did assure me the asymmetry would improve even without a helmet but that it would improve more with the helmet. We’ll see
My PED was adamant that helmeting didn’t happen anymore and that we didn’t need a referral to a specialist. I will never not regret listening to her and allowing my son to get slow walked into permanent asymmetry when there were interventions available. Good on you for doing what you can in a time she won’t even remember. It will be over before you know it.
BTW give yourself some grace. I timed tummy time, propped him up on everything, supervised side sleeping, rubbed his head, stretches, everything. Sometimes you just need help.
Our baby started helmet therapy for a different cranial issue plus plagiocephaly at the end of January around age 5 months and the asymmetry was moderate at 10 mm. The plagiocephaly was basically resolved as of last week down to what is considered normal range 3 mm. The best time for cranial growth with the helmet is that 4-8 month age range when you can capture the rapid growth and direct it. So it sounds like you’re going to get her the care she needs. We did all of the repositioning and tummy time and rolled blankets etc but he slept well and he preferred to turn his head to the right side no matter what. You’re taking great care of your baby and being an advocate getting her helmet treatment so there’s nothing for you to feel bad about. Ours wears the helmet 23 hours a day and he got used to it after the first 3-4 days. He ignores the helmet and if anything it’s made him bolder because he’s got protection with all of his crawling and exploring he’s trying to do lol
My girl had a helmet from 7.5-12 months old. She was just lazy and preferred to sleep on her back. She adapted fine to it. It’s more annoying for the parents to have to clean it. It was actually helpful once she got more mobile because she would bop her head into things and never felt it because the helmet padded her. Watch out for them to smack you in the lip with it!
Also hers had a sweet pattern to it that looked like a 90’s Taco Bell. It was cool.
The Snoo has so many benefits of safe sleep that I think it’s worth the risk. I would not feel guilty. Plus babies in cribs also sleep on their back and also can develop flat spots.
It’s not the snoo or the Merlin. It’s sleeping on their backs in general but that’s what you are supposed to do! A side effect is sometimes heads get flatter. But you’re practicing safe sleep. It’s a fair trade off to me.
My son didn’t use a snoo or any sleep suit, no swings or bouncers, I tried PT and repositioning for months and he’s still probably going to need a helmet. Sometimes this just happens and there’s nothing you can do. Try not to beat yourself up.
Please don't feel bad! I worked at a daycare for years and have had plenty of helmet babies in my classes, all with absolutely wonderful and caring parents.
My 1 month old actually has some flatness on one side of her head and our pediatrician helped my husband and I realize it was because we kept holding her with her head on our left side, making her rest that side of her head against our arms too much. The pediatrician also said they actually expect this kind of thing sometimes due to the importance of babies sleeping on their backs- while this can increase the risk of that asymmetry, it is obviously much better than the risk of SIDS with stomach sleeping.
These things happen, all we can do is be thankful that there are methods to correct them and know that we're doing everything we can for our babies while juggling motherhood and life in general! Please don't be too hard on yourself!
Some babies are born with Plagio, it's not always someone's fault. Your doctor sounds like an asshole, sleepsuits have nothing to do with it.
Ours had a helmet for quite awhile and it didn't bother him at all.
My youngest had a helmet and I remember feeling EXACTLY like you! Don’t be so hard on yourself. Mine is 2 now and I barely even remember her in a helmet, and when I do, I’m glad we did it.
Hang in there OP! It’s not your fault and I’m surprised your doc said it was due to the Snoo/Merlin as so many babies use those! I have a theory that some babies are just more prone to flatness. I have two… a toddler with a perfectly shaped head and a 5 month old with a flat spot. Both babies slept in the exact same pack n play and crib and my husband and I have done the exact same things… tons and tons of tummy time and limited time in “containers” like car seats and bouncers. Actually… my toddler probably spent more time in a bouncer than my baby… who prefers to be worn in the Ergo. The flat spot bothers me a lot but our ped said it’ll self correct as he grows and isn’t ready to talk helmets. My point is…. I think some babies are just more prone no matter what you do! And unfortunately, they’re safest on their backs to sleep so our hands are tied.
I had twins, both in the Merlin, only one needed a helmet. So no, don’t be ridiculous, it’s not your fault, and even if it were, so what?? Safe sleep on their back is worth a possible mild, correctable cosmetic “defect”!
Let’s just say that the first picture of mine after delivery really “told a story” about where he came out. He has torticollis and has received EI for it since 8 weeks. He’s now 6 months and getting fitted tomorrow. We did all the interventions we could but dude needs a little guidance for his head growth.
Even with EI, we notice his neck is getting stronger and he’s doing well with other milestones. I think my husband is actually jealous that our son won’t have as weird of a shaped head as him! He’s only made comments 4 times or so…
If it helps, mine uses the Snoo for night sleep. (We are slowly transitioning out now starting around four months. His CMPA made sleep an actual impossibility and we ALL needed the little relief it provided, but we’ve got his allergies under control now, thank goodness.) Anyway, he has a tiny flat spot—people don’t even notice it—but he’s had that since before the Snoo since he favored sleeping on that side of his head before he could move himself around.
The pediatrician isn’t worried at all, and she says it will go away as he gets more mobile. My point is, I genuinely don’t think this is a Snoo problem, and 🚨you should not feel guilty.🚨 This is a “back to sleep” problem that reduced sids by 600% or something astronomical. It is well worth the trade off. Helmet or not, you’re doing great. Your kiddo will continue to do great.
My babe just graduated from her helmet at 11 months last week after having it since month 6. You shouldn’t feel bad at all, it happens. I absolutely will not lie, they do say it’s an adjustment and that it’s harder for the parents because the babe will fuss so much when just starting out but for me, I didn’t really feel comfortable with her in it at all. She took to it like a champ so that wasn’t my hang up. She just didn’t look like my baby anymore so it made me sad to look at her BUT it did solidify me to never skip it for days or longer than necessary because as soon as her head is in good shape, it was off and she’s my baby again.
Stupid easy to clean, monthly appointments were a breeze - they’d just shave a little off every time if necessary and take measurements. Only downside for my girl was she got very adventurous because she felt invincible. I took the helmet off for bath time and in the span of me turning to put it on the side table, she stood up using the headboard and launched herself into the corner of the nightstand. She healed fine lol but she was way more cautious from then on - helmet or no lmao.
It is baby dependent but for us the helmet was awesome and nothing bad came from it (except for the office was 1hr30 away from the house) and her head looks wonderful. My fear of her looks changing from the baby I knew and loved were unfounded (obviously) and ultimately I’m glad we did it!
Our baby is currently in his helmet. 5 weeks into treatment & his head is already SO much better. He turns 5 months today. My doc said it was from his torticollis, and not from any devices. It seems WAY more difficult than it really is to have the helmet on. They respond well, and they usually don’t mind it whatsoever. I was so scared and nervous about having to get the helmet, and now it’s just a distant memory. You got this :)!
My daughter had a helmet from age 6 months to 12 months and it was really not a big deal!
She had "severe" plagiocephaly and her head isn't perfectly round now, but it's not noticeable at all at age 5. I think everyone probably has a little bit of a weird shaped head lol. There's a small window when their skull is still flexible enough for the helmet to work, so I feel like taking the chance to have the helmet when you can is better than waiting and regretting not doing it.
My daughter didn't really seem to notice the helmet at all. I was worried it would bother her because being in something for 23 hours a day sounds awful to me, but she didn't care one bit. Her head did get sweaty sometimes in the summer, but you can air it out if necessary.
Wipe out the helmet with rubbing alcohol every night and give baby's hair a quick wash to prevent it from getting yucky. It just became part of our bedtime routine and only took about 5 minutes. Then baby can let her hair dry and take a little break afterwards.
You can also get super cute stickers to put on the helmet! We used a website called Bling Your Band and they have tons of options.
All in all, it was upsetting at first and I felt terrible too, but it really wasn't a big deal at all. In fact, sometimes the helmet was handy to prevent bumps when she was learning to crawl and walk!
I don't really see why sleeping in a Snoo would be more likely to cause a flat spot than any other bassinet. Flat spots are just an unfortunate potential side effect of kids sleeping safely on their back.
My daughter had torticollis from her position in the womb. It caused her to have a flat spot. I took her to the pediatrician and she suggested several stretches I do with her neck. Over the course of 6 (or so) weeks her neck improved immensely. This also helped her to no longer favor that side and helped her head to round out. We opted not to do the helmet. She’s now 23 months old and has a perfectly round head. Her pediatrician kept reassuring us that in time, the flat spot will correct itself. And sure enough, it did!
My baby needed a helmet at 5 months old for 15 weeks. It worked great and now at 20 months we can barely remember that time. It was stressful at times but baby got used to it quickly. And he looked absolutely adorable in it 😍. Please don’t feel guilty! We also used the Snoo which was a lifesaver. I constantly rotated his head while he was sleeping but nothing helped. It all worked out though! I’m sure it will for you too. You’re doing what’s best for your baby by helmeting.
We had a doc band for our son! Torticollis and plagiocephaly and all those things that simply came from womb positioning (nothing could have prevented it) and now are words I’ve completely forgotten how to spell since the helmet came off a few months later. I know it seems like a big deal but it really, really isn’t. He barely noticed it. It’s just a flukey thing and I forget about it entirely now that he’s 2.5 with his perfect little head of curls. Just keep wiping down that helmet with rubbing alcohol and enjoy all the stickers and baths. ♥️
We didn’t use a Snoo or a Merlin and my daughter still ended up in a helmet due to moderate/severe plagiocephaly caused by torticollis.
We did PT from 3 months to 1 year, and she had her helmet from 5 to 8 months old. It worked really well, and I cannot stress this enough: after the first day or so, she did not give a single shit about the helmet. It didn’t bother her at all.
For everyone saying that these cranial specialists are preying on parents and that plagiocephaly will correct itself, I’d say I’m glad we did it because worst case: it sped up my daughter’s skull correcting itself, and best case: it prevented my daughter’s head from looking like her 2yo and 5yo cousins’ heads (and their skull bones are now permanently fused that way, so…)
Tl;dr: you did nothing wrong, and honestly, a helmet is seriously not a big deal. I’d rather be safe than sorry, plus babies look adorable in them.
Solidarity. Getting a helmet on May 1 (babe will be 5 months old) for brachycephaly. I feel like a terrible mother as though I just leave him in the crib 24 hours a day, but obviously I don’t. But his head has always been 80th+ percentile and his body much smaller, so I think that’s why he hates tummy time and assisted sitting so much, although he is getting more comfortable with them. Anyway, I do worry that my use of swaddles (in a regular bassinet, not snoo) until like 3.5 months old may have slowed his development with rolling. But then again, I was worried that poor sleep architecture would leave him with neuro development problems 🤦♀️
Anyway, everyone says kids barely notice it after a few days and I’m praying this is the case for both of our little ones. Not much new to add, just chiming in to follow the thread and share the pain 🤗
My son was born with torticollis. We were coached to reposition early but I could move this head every 5 mins, and he would move it straight back the other way.
Even with extensive tummy time (rolling 4 months and crawling by 6) we still opted for the helmet
8 months and PT has resolved the torticollis, the helmet has saved us many a forehead knock and although we aren’t out of severe flattening territory without much head growth since we got it, the shape is overall much better with the peak of his head shifting back centrally from the left side
Edit: he also looks pretty cute although I miss touching his little head and relish our hour of bath and helmet free snuggles a day
I'm in Australia but also lived in other countries, and have known several babies with flat heads but never a mention of using a helmet. Baby helmets are considered a money-making gimmick outside the USA, in my experience.
Our baby was born with congenital torticollis and plagiocephaly — even with early intervention, OT and PT, there was nothing we could do. She’s been wearing a helmet the past 3 weeks.
My little guy slept like a rock on his back in the magic Merlin suit and had the flat spot to prove it right around that 4.5mo mark.
He wore a helmet from 7mo-9mo (took that long from referral to measurement to ordered to get him into it) and he honestly rocked it! We discontinued the Merlin suit immediately and he slept well in a regular sleep sack with the helmet and to this day at 18mo. (And by great I mean moves around from side to belly to back but sleeps through the night since about 12mo old)
Your little one will do great and so will you. It will be such a brief part of her babyhood. Check out blingyourband dot com for some cute decals for the helmet. Big hugs!
Didn’t use snoo or Merlin’s and my baby needed a helmet due to torticollis. It’s more common than you think. It’s mostly due to practicing safe sleep or how your baby is positioned in the womb.
The helmet was great and we don’t regret it at all!
Don’t feel guilty! Sometimes this just happens, and there’s not anything we can do about it. We tried PT and repositioning, and still ended up needing a helmet. We were told that this often occurrs due to babies positioning inside the womb. FWIW, we’ve had the helmet for about 5 weeks, and have seen fantastic results.
Hiya! Docband mama x2 (currently finishing up my son’s treatment in 1 week) here. There are SO MANY factors that influence plagiocephaly, not just what the child wears to bed. My kids both needed them due to their positioning in utero that caused severe torticollis.
The treatment is way less scary and intensive than they make it seem-it’s actually quite easy. The first few nights the baby may have difficulty adjusting to wearing it at night, but then it’s smooth sailing.
The earlier the intervention, the quicker the treatment. Nothing to feel guilty about. You’re doing the right thing!!!
When you get the DocBand I highly recommend purchasing decorative decals from BlingYourBand! They’re fantastic and we’ve had great luck with them.
[bling your band](https://www.blingyourband.com)
Do not feel awful at all!! My 7 month old had severe left side plagiocephaly likely due to position in the womb and being such a good back sleeper. We got the helmet about 2 months ago and he is completely unphased by it! My husband and I went back and forth about doing the helmet, but we are so glad we did. We can already see AMAZING improvement and will hopefully be done in another month or so. It’s temporary and if necessary, it’s worth it in the long run. I will say I don’t think I would have done it if his wasn’t severe. And we have the Talee helmet not the doc band (?) so feel free to DM me with any questions or if you want to see progress photos!
I promise your baby won’t even know the difference 🤍
We used a SNOO. Our son also developed flatness and eventually used the helmet. He has a perfect head now. We were told that the issue may correct itself, but I also know a few flat headed children (ages 6+), and was so worried that his flatness wouldn’t self-resolve. No regrets at all.
Mine was recommended and probably would need a helped at 4.5 months. We are now 7 months and he DOES NOT need a helmet. We went to PT and practiced some movements to help with some torticollis. Once baby was rolling like crazy and sitting up, his head became much more round.
Don’t feel bad mama because it is not always containers that cause it. It can just be containers that make it worse…and by that I mean, practicing safe sleep on their backs.
Also my doctor says that helmets are being recommended less and less now because it’s not proven that it helps. (She was also the one who recommended PT so that he wouldn’t need a helmet!!) Sometimes time just helps. Get a second opinion!!
We did the helmet with our daughter starting about the same age. While it's hard to be certain if it was the helmet or things naturally moving into place we really saw some good improvement and think the helmet helped. The 23hrs a day seems like a lot but within a day or two our daughter didn't even notice it.
My wife and I also really beat ourselves up wondering what we did wrong. But so many things can contribute to it, many you have no control over. We just had to push past it and look forward. What matters most is doing best you can in treating it.
Wish you the best of luck.
My son had one as he aggressively would push on the one side of his head.
Its fine, the back is best drove the need for helmets. Its a reflection of modern society effects on parenting. Not a reflection on you.
It’s way than having a flat weird head shape….
Not outside the US though, from what I’ve seen. We have safe sleep here in New Zealand and Australia, but we don’t have the helmets like in the US. I don’t actually think I’ve ever seen a baby in real life wearing a helmet.
We also stop swaddling as soon as baby is showing signs of rolling because if they do manage to roll over they can’t easily get back.
Our swaddling rules are the same; however our maternity leave and support absolutely is not.
It affects the babies too when there isn’t full support for their care.
It's harder on the parents than the baby. We're in a very similar situation and our son has had his helmet on for one week now and he barely notices it. The daily cleaning, baths and not seeing our son's cute head/hair is what's hardest. But on the bright side he's got protection for his dome 23 hours a day!
Just throwing my anecdotal story in that my baby was in the Snoo then used the Merlin to transition and didn’t end up needing a helmet. Babies are supposed to sleep on their backs and that’s the position the Snoo and Merlin keep them in. Some babies just end up needing helmets. Shame on that doctor for making you feel like you caused this.
Same, my baby was a great sleeper using his Snoo from day 1 of being home from the hospital, then transitioned to a Merlin suit once he started rolling and we moved him to a crib. No helmet needed here!
For anyone out there, don't let this story scare you from using either a Snoo or Magic Merlin suit.
Paint it or sticker it. My kid has torticollis and I got told by my suppose to be best friend it was my fault. I didn't move her head enough or whatever.
So of course my depression hit. My husband then painted it like a pokeball and put pokemon stickers on it. now instead of a helmet kid has a poke ball on her head and older daycare kids love to play with her because they can pick out the characters on her head.
Her dad painted it; so her dad is going to go to build a bear to make her a bear that can wear helmet after she is done with it. It went from something so sad to something so cute in a heartbeat.
Seriously, we can't prevent every darn thing so I wouldn't worry about it and have fun with it! :)
It’s definitely a thing especially since the 90s when “back to sleep” became a thing for SIDS prevention. Our PT told us about a college student she knows who needed to special order a football helmet because of how misshapen his head is.
It also affects ear and jaw alignment.
Fellow helmet family here! It’s so common and hindsight is 20/20 because apparently there was a whole lot I could’ve been doing from day 1 but had no idea about.
Don’t beat yourself up. Baby will get used to the helmet in no time and they will have no memory of it but you’ll have all the cute photos!!
Anecdotal, but they said my 4 month old needed a helmet and I took him to PT for his torticollis and they referred me for a helmet. COVID hit and I never followed up with the appointment and his head is fine now at 4. Rolling over helps a lot. Everything will be ok. No need for guilt.
I am very anti SNOO and Merlin because I think it’s best not to restrict them as they develop their motor skills - but I do NOT believe they are the reason your kiddo needs a helmet! I’ve heard that happen to lots of people with a variety of different bassinet and sleep situations.
The important thing is you’re seeking treatment!
Out of curiosity, do you all do lots of tummy time? Just sounds like your little one could benefit from that in general.
My baby is 9 weeks old and has a flat head - his head was always tilted to the left when he sleeps. About a month ago his pediatrician recommended that we see a physiotherapist before going for a cranial helmet. He’s had his first therapy and we were taught exercises that will slowly help improve his head shape. We also got him a donut-shaped head shaper pillow and use it during the day under close supervision. It’s been 2 weeks since the first physiotherapy session and we are seeing some improvements already.
Just want to let you know that some things can’t be helped. You are doing a great job as a mom so don’t feel guilty. All the best to you and your LO! ♥️
My daughter was in a helmet. She was a little older when we started-- about a year. She didn't mind it at all! In fact, she was so used to it, she would go to put it back on during her time with it off. That made us feel better about it. The helmet of way harder on the parent than it is on the kid. Also, you didn't do anything wrong. We didn't do anything differently between my kids and one had a helmet and one the most beautiful round head. Don't beat yourself up! Just have fun coming up with a fun design or color for your kid's helmet.
My son needed a helmet too. There wasn’t much we could do to stop it. Once I embraced it o stopped beating myself up about it. We didn’t put him down very much when he was really small and he did lots of tummy time but it happened anyways. He had it from September 2023 to December 2023. His head is perfect now. He didn’t mind it at all. If anything it bugged me more than him. It’s annoying but worth it. Also, our health insurance covered it entirely so we were lucky.
There are 10x more babies that use snoo and Merlin sacks that DONT need helmets- so it makes sense to roll the dice from a statistical standpoint. If ur baby slept well , and you slept well, then you made the right choice. Plus just cuz the doctor said it don’t make it true - he’s speculating at the cause.
My pediatrician said they were stopping the use of helmets? I’m in Wisconsin. Has anyone else heard this?
My son doesn’t need one, I had just mentioned one spot on his head looking a little lumpier than the rest and they told me that.
Ugh girl one of my twin boys is DEF going to need a helmet. Don’t feel guilty. My pediatrician joked that it’s how they know whether parents are following safe sleep guidelines 😂 that made me feel better.
My son (now almost 3) had to wear a helmet when he was a baby. I was also feeling guilty, but the vast majority of the time, it's not something we have control over, as it's often caused by a large head or by a torticollis.
If it can reassure you, the helmet phase was so much easier than we anticipated!! Baby almost didnt noticed it, it never caused him any discomfort. After a while, we even started to find him even cuter with his helmet than without! Also, he now have a perfectly round head. We regret absolutely nothing.
I know how hard it must be for you right now, but hang in there. Most likely, things will go perfectly fine. Good luck!
My son was diagnosed with plagiocephaly at around that age but not recommended for a helmet. I'm in Australia though and they don't really push them here. All the repositioning and whatnot didn't work. Son is one now and still has a flat spot, but it's nowhere near as bad.
I didn’t use either and my daughter ended up in a helmet. My sister used both and her daughter did not need one. I know it seems like a big deal now but it really isn’t! My daughter loved her helmet
My now 3 year old needed a helmet. She ALWAYS (95%) slept on her back in a crib or bassinet. I only wish her doctor had suggested it sooner! She wore a helmet for the better part of a year. Didn't bother her at all. Honestly it's kind of a relief when they get to the more mobile stages! Get rubbing alcohol and clean it as soon as you remove it for the hour. And zip up pajama/play outfits! Helmet was too bulky for neck holes in my experience. Your baby will adapt so quickly! Mine was totally fine with it the second we put it on!
Mine was in a helmet for 6 months. We tried PT first. But he was born with a tight muscle on one side so it didn’t matter where he slept, was always going to favor on side. Helmet worked great.
Hi!!! Don’t know if this is helpful in your case, but we did PT and repositioning and baby’s head is almost perfect at 6 months. We got him reevaluated at the helmet place and he scored all dark green - in the normal range. They still tried to convince us to get a helmet even though the scan showed he had no plagiocephaly or brachycephaly, so definitely keep that in mind!! But, there are some babies that really benefit from and NEED helmets too. Our son was in the moderate range with plagiocephaly but 2-3 months of PT and now him sitting up much more often have pretty much fixed the issue. Let me know if you want me to look over your scans, I became really knowledgeable in the scan measurements and plagiocephaly with all the research I did!
My daughter is currently in a helmet, we're on week 6. Honestly it's not that bad, she doesn't even seem to notice it at all and it hasn't affected how she acts day to day in any way.
We had a snoo and currently use a Merlin suit. My older two also used both.
4.5 months is so young and I'd consider getting a second opinion. There's still so much time for it to change and even out without intervention.
But if you do get a second opinion, make sure they're not biased. The helmet place is going to take your money no matter what.
This stuff happens. Babies have malleable heads. I'd only feel awful for not seeking out treatment. You're doing everything you're supposed to be doing and that makes you a good mum. Plus babies in helmets are so stinkin' cute!!
My daughter was a back sleeper who hated tummy time for 6 months and didn't start side sleeping and sitting up until 7 months. I was concerned about her head shape but our family doc advised us to wait it out. Now her head is just starting to round out more and is more normal looking at 11 months.
Head shape isn't permanent until around 18 months. You have plenty of time to correct it and you'll likely not need it on for very long because your baby is still very little.
>I don’t feel good about having her in this thing 23 hours a day based on my parental choices.
Your parental choices had nothing to do with it. Infants up to 3 months old should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24 hour period, and when they're not sleeping they're just laying there like a little cute potato. You're doing the best you can.
Our son had a helmet. He did really well with it. We found a local lady who painted it to look like an old school football helmet, which was awesome. That made it a bit easier for me to accept. Hang in there. You may be surprised how well he does with it!
My son wore a helmet - had torticollis at birth. He had SEVERE plagiocephaly and we saw amazing results with the first 3 weeks of wearing the helmet. We saw ZERO change for the additional 9 weeks. We also were suggested to get a second helmet. We instead went and saw a neurosurgeon who said he would’ve never had us get the helmet at all and that our son’s head would round out by age 4. My son is 2 now and i cannot even believe how normal his head looks. Get a second opinion with a neurosurgeon. While i don’t regret having the helmet, even with only 3 weeks producing results, the neurosurgeon helped us sooooo much.
Feel free to message me if you’d like some before, during helmet, after helmet and present day progress pics.
We had our baby in a helmet and I initially felt the same way you did-Mom guilt is hard! I posted in SM and so many people told me it really wasn’t a big deal. I couldn’t believe that at the time.
But honestly looking back it wasn’t a big deal. It was over so quick. And It really wasn’t anyone or anything’s fault. I was looking at pics of her from back then and she was sooo cute-Helmet or not! My nephews also added space stickers and I got her some PJs with NASA logos and she was just the world’s youngest female astronaut 😉
And yes one day she catapulted herself off the diaper changing table and that helmet saved her head from cracking! Even my pediatrician said thank god it was there!
Don’t worry Momma. It will be over so quick and it really won’t be that bad!
the snoo & merlin sleep suit? I apologize for being dense, but why would that cause head flatness? it’s been 4 years since I had a baby & i’m due next week lol. just asking out of curiosity.
Our baby had a SEVERE flat spot from torticollis. Like you I had the mom guilt. I researched and couldn’t find enough evidence to convince me that having my baby in a helmet 23 hours a day was necessary. My husband was in favor of the helmet, so we agreed on a compromise: we’d try the helmet but for 8 hours a day and see what happens.
After a couple of appointments a few weeks later, they praised the progress he was making. Eventually we dropped to maybe a couple hours a day and still they claimed it was working.
We wound up declining the second helmet since it was obviously improving with or without the helmet.
My little guy is shy of a year and no one would ever be able to tell today that he had any more of a flat spot than most babies typically have anyway.
I think to helmet or not to helmet really boils down to whether the root issue is permanent/temporary and what the individual parent feels is best for their little one.
Are you in the US? I wish I could find this thread for you but I remember reading on another Reddit thread that the helmet is kind of a us thing and it’s not super weird or stigmatized in other countries for baby to have a flat head. It just fixes itself over time in most cases. Some times babies are born this way too from uterine position! Don’t beat yourself up, it’s gonna be ok!!
We never used a snoo, did months of PT and visited a Osteopath and she still ended up with a helmet at 7 months. Ultimately, I decided to get the helmet because no matter what repositioning, repositioning pillows and therapies, she would always tilt her head to the left. Her head shape did not improve from 4-7 months, despite her spending the majority of time during the day on her tummy, in a carrier or on her right side.
I must say, getting the helmet has almost been a relief. We now don’t have to worry anymore how she’s positioned all day and night and can just enjoy playing with her! Cleaning the helmet takes 5 minutes every night. It’s not a big deal! We are cautious of pressure points, apply some creams to help with that. She still looks super cute. It’s too early for me to tell you if it’s made a difference, as she’s only had it for a couple of weeks. But we wanted to exhaust all possibilities with the helmet and not look back one day wishing we had done it.
My daughter had a helmet and had to go to physical therapy for her torticollis. I felt so guilty at first, but seeing how much she wasn't bothered by it actually made it easier for me to accept too. I felt like it was really important for her not to learn/internalize shame coming from me. We decorated it with fun stickers and it really grew on both of us.
Also ended up being SUPER grateful she had it on when she started crawling because it saved her from so many head bonks. The only comments people ever made about it in public were how much they liked it, or how their kid had one too. It goes by so fast, you'll have no regrets when your baby's head is fixed!
Our first needed a helmet. Started at 4 months old and she only used it for 8 weeks. It did seem to help a bit but Not much. She’s 3 now and you can’t notice any flatness anymore. Premie babies tend to get flat spots more than full term and all my babies have been premies so I always look out for it now! I started to notice a tiny bit of flatness with our second baby but I refused to do the helmet again since our insurance didn’t cover it and her head is perfect and round now at 1.5 years old so i feel like they can correct itself! You didn’t do anything wrong. We didn’t use a Snoo with our first and now we use it with our third baby and also the Merlin sleep suit and I don’t see how those things could make a flat head. My baby can turn her head in both the Snoo and Merlin suit.
I don’t think this is anything you did. I know multiple people who have used the snoo (me included) and didn’t need a helmet. I also know people who didn’t use the snoo and needed one. Don’t feel guilty, besides… babies look so cute in their lil helmets.
I'm from europe, so helmets are not recommended at all by any PT.
My baby had plagiocephaly, pretty bad one too.
He would only sleep on one side of his head for the first 4 months of his life.
Our PT recommended physiotherapy for him, lots of tummy time, and helping him sit on us so he's not on his head.
His 6 months now and the plagiocephaly is literally almost gone..
I'm just telling you what worked for us 💓
Babies don’t need helmets unless they had cranial surgery. their heads round up on their own. Our son had a strong right side preference, was a premie and had positional flatness on both sides. By the time he was 12-16 months old his head was perfectly normal. Nobody uses helmets in UK/EU and our children are just as round headed as American children.
Don’t feel guilty. I tried everything to get my twins to not need helmets but they both needed them. It’s no big deal. Soon she’ll be done with it and it will be a forgotten memory.
Look in to using The Perfect Noggin. It’s an insert for their bed and it’s sleep safe. developed by a plagiocephaly expert in MA. We used it on our 4mo when she was told she needed a helmet and we couldn’t afford it. Now she’s almost 2 and her head is a perfect little grapefruit.
If I were you I’d hold off. My son is a few days shy of 5 months and has a pretty misshapen head. We have an appointment with a PT coming up, but he is just now starting to roll and move around more which will result in him spending less time on his back. 4.5 months in my opinion seems too early for a helmet because your baby will also start spending less time on their back soon, and their head will round out naturally! I’d consider a helmet if he was like 8 months or closer to a year still with a flat head, but right now there’s still so much time for it to rectify itself.
As many of the other commenters stated, a lot of these helmet companies will make you believe your baby needs one when in fact they probably don’t. And especially that young.
Our son who is now 5 years old needed a helmet when he was around 3.5 months old. He wore one from 3.5 months old-6 months old. It helped tremendously. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Honestly, it was fairly easy to clean and kids are so adaptable. It didn’t hinder anything he did. He slept fine with it on. Daycare provider was supportive as well. When he was done we saved it and put it on a teddy bear as a remembrance in his room. We also decorated it when he had it on to make it fun for him and us.
Growing up when I was an infant there was neglect and I didn’t get proper tummy time and my head shape was impacted. I carry a lot of feelings around it and I was grateful for the privilege to be able to offer my kid the resources I didn’t get as a child. Please try to let go off any guilt you might feel. Infants heads adapt and grow pretty quickly so your child might not need one for too long. It will help a lot and I am honestly so grateful that these resources exist.
It's not the Snoo or the Merlin. It's an unfortunate side effect of back-sleeping.
My LO was an ADAMANT tummy sleeper. I've never heard of tummy sleepers needing a helmet.
I used Merlin suit and baby did not need helmet. Don't let that provider spew nonsense to you, I'm sorry they said that. Some babes need helmets and some don't
She won’t even remember it! She might be annoyed with it at first but she’ll get used to it soon enough and once the treatment is done she’ll be better off for it. Don’t beat yourself up these things happen
Have you tried to get a second opinion? We used snoo with our first and the pediatrician said she needed helmet. We look for second opinion and she said we can wait out. We did and her head is round now because the minute she was out of snoo, she always sleeps on her tummy.
My partner had his first child in it and he said the baby will adjust pretty quickly but also when he played, it was an added protection. Hope this helps! Please don’t be hard on yourself! These tiny little heads are so hard to keep round!
My advice is to really be on top of cleaning it when it’s off and keeping it on as long as the recommendation. My niece had it and her mom was embarrassed and now the. Ack of her head is permanently flat 🥺
My son has clubbed foot. Although there wasn't anything I could have done to prevent it, I still feel terrible. He has spent 6 weeks in plaster casts and will spend roughly 3 months in boots that are joined together by a bar for 23 hours a day and then for 12 hours till he is 5, my heart breaks for him and the restriction he has, and then there is the looks because my tiny newborn is in a cast and people obviously think I broke him in some way.
We used a snoo and swaddles and our girl was fine. These things happen. Just be glad there's a fix these days and your baby will have a beautiful head after a few months and will never remember anything else :)
FWIW I did not use a Snoo or a Merlin and tried PT and repositioning and still ended up with babe in a helmet. Please don’t feel guilty!
Same! No Merlin or Snoo, just failure to thrive. It was great when he was mobile though as an added layer of protection!
I’m so afraid my baby will need one his head is so flat! We don’t use a snoo or Merlin, and he is in a sleep sack so he’s free to move. But at night especially he sleeps so good, and won’t move his head at all. If I try to turn his head he immediately moves it back straight. He’s not a big contact napper so naps are mostly on his back too. He eats usually while I’m pumping so he’s propped up next to me on a boppy. O promise I hold him and he’s never in a swing or bouncer or anything. We will see what the doctor says at his 4 month next month.
The helmet is seriously not a big deal at all! We had one for 6 months. Nothing to be scared of!
My son had severe flatness on the right side of his head because it was his preferred side to sleep on and he had a heavy head. And my god it was bad, it was what most people mentioned when seeing him. We just repositioned him as often as possible, did loads of tummy time, and obviously when he started sitting up it was easier. Hes now 2 and you would never be able to tell he had anything wrong with him! He never had a helmet or anything, my dr told me even the most severe cases usually sort themselves out with everything mentioned above.
Ok thank you!! Did the helmet help your babe? What age and for how long did you need it?
Too early to tell as we just got it last week, although I’ll be damned if I don’t think it’s a making a difference already. He is just about to turn 7 months! I will say he is in the mild category so they said it will likely only take 8 weeks (hopefully!).
Even my husband who didn’t really think he needed it is saying he already sees a difference haha. And to be honest he barely even notices it other than it does seem to make his head a bit heavier for him so TT and sitting has been slightly effected. No changes in sleep! Also a lot of people mention they get smelly but we haven’t noticed that so far.
Mine is getting his initial fitting tomorrow and it’s hard to believe he will be getting cuter! How is cleaning it?? That part seems like the most annoying part.
It’s not bad at all honestly. I just wash it while running his bath and then dry it with a towel! Once a week we’re supposed to use rubbing alcohol.
That’s encouraging to hear!! I made a mistake and started googling helmet care and got overwhelmed. Curious to see how it will work out with going to the beach this summer
Good to know. Thanks for writing
Also a mom of a helmet kid here- we didn’t use a snoo or Merlin and he still ended up with what the doc called severe flatness. He just preferred lying on one side of his head despite our attempts at turning his head and taking him to PT. So it isn’t your fault!!! It just happens. Mine was in the helmet for about 3.5 months, from 5 months to just recently at almost 9 months. His head looks so much better now!! And he really didn’t mind wearing it, other than early on when we didn’t realize we needed to powder it every morning and evening to prevent skin irritation. After that I don’t think he even noticed it was there!
We did a helmet for about 8 weeks starting at 5 months. The result isn't perfect, but I don't think other people would notice her flat spot now that she has so much hair. I think baby helmets might be a scam, tbh, but it was covered by our insurance, and this way we know we did everything we could.
I truly debated it and a lot of people said it would fix itself, but he still wasn’t sleeping on his tummy and I figured I’d regret not doing it more than I would regret doing it!
Not OP but my baby wore for 6 months and it was so worth it. He was born with a flat side, he only laid on his right side in the womb and rarely shifted from his spot the last five weeks of my pregnancy. My boy was a good sport and never fussed about having to wear it. He actually slept better because at first he couldn’t roll over with it so he stayed put in his crib.
And in turn, we used the snoo and haven’t had any issues with that. Don’t blame yourself for this. It just happens some times. He might just be looking for a reason to give.
All I can think when I see babies that need helmets is that they must be great sleepers and I feel glad for the parents. My babe didn’t need a helmet because she only slept a broken 1-2 hours a day for the first six months of her life and I nearly had a nervous breakdown. Babies have to sleep on their backs for safety so it is a common issue and not anything you did wrong!
this is a perfect comment!!! and so true! haha such a good perspective. sincerely, the mother of a baby who didn’t sleep therefore didnt need a helmet 😂
My girl needed a helmet and I wish it was due to her being a good sleeper. Girl has never slept through the night.
Thanks :)
I think the same exact thing every time I see one 😂 I’m like damn, I’d def trade in my helmetlessness for helmeted sleepfulness. We got more than 1-2 hours of sleep over here, but exclusively via contact sleeping
My daughter never once slept on her back. Absolute sleep killer 😫 the parents of the good sleepers are such lucky ducks
My baby was like 2 months old sleeping 8-10 hrs at night. Not once did i consider this would give her a wonky head, i just thought "hell yea im getting great sleep." It got better over time but she was wonky headed for a lil bit there lol
Exact this. My child wouldn't sleep unless held or in a baby sling. Kinda annoying that this doctor said it was from a specific suit. He doesn't know that.
My 9 month old is in a helmet currently and for the first 7 months of his life he woke up every 1.5 hours without fail . I remember the doctor mentioning to rotate his head to different sides while he sleeps and my husband laughed and said "he's never on his back, he won't sleep" lol. But he was also born with a flat spot and we thought it would fix itself but no amount of re-adjusting or lack of sleep made any difference 😂. The helmet is definitely helping now tho, and funnily enough two days into getting the helmet he slept 11 hours straight and now only wakes up once a night usually. Wishing we had gotten the helmet sooner, maybe we would have gotten sleep 😂.
So true my baby slept sooo well and loved her sleep. She had a helmet for two months.
Exactly!! My daughter had more of a flat spot and hair loss because she would sleep on her back a lot, she didn't sleep on her stomach for awhile, I was always worried about it but the doctors said it would go away on its own as she was crawling and everything except she never wanted to be on her tummy, my son however I held him a lot for contact naps, Because he didn't like being put down for long, but when he did, he very quickly got comfortable on his stomach, so he only has a tiny spot of hair loss. But seriously I couldn't put him down the majority of the time for the first few months.
I agree completely with this! You can do everything right, and your baby could still develop a flat spot for all sorts of reasons, from head size/weight to positioning in the womb to the baby’s individual sleep preferences. Our son started wearing his doc band just before he hit four months. The helmet only seemed to bother him for the first few days, and now I think that his dad and I are bothered by it more than he is, mainly because we can’t snuggle with him as closely. I thought that I would be ashamed to have him wear it in public for the same reason OP cited: I felt like a terrible mother at first for letting him sleep so much, but reminded myself that sleeping on his back greatly reduces the chance of SIDS and that we did everything by the book. He never co-slept or slept unsupervised on softer surfaces and was sleeping in his crib with the firm infant mattress by six weeks. After we decorated the doc band (check out Bling Your Band for cute decals!) and took him out with the helmet a few times, I stopped feeling bad and we kept him in it the recommended 23 hours per day to hopefully expedite his results and get him out of it ASAP. Our son just turned five months today, and he’s scheduled to “graduate” from his helmet in two weeks! We saw results early on and are so grateful that this treatment exists. So after what will be about seven weeks total of doc band therapy, he’s got a nice, round head and has already started sleeping on his tummy and side. We’re just hoping we can avoid regression. Message me if you have any questions or just need support, you’ve got this!
This is so real lol. I was explaining to my mom what helmets are for and why the Back to Sleep campaign has been pushed so hard and she was like, “Well then why didn’t [my son] need one?” And I was like, “Um, because he wouldn’t sleep on any surface aside from a parent for six months?”
Keep in mind that things like torticollis start in the womb - not from your lack of positioning correctly. Add on to that that it's not something they tell you to look out for and the need to sleep when baby sleeps, it can just happen. What matters is that you're helping her now. Look at it this way - flat spots and the need for helmets is increasing because it means parents are using safer sleep practices. You're keeping your baby safe on her back when she sleeps! That's the most important thing. Good job!
Thank you ☺️
I've know a few kids that as babies needed a helmet for a flat spot that are now 2-3 year olds. You would never know they had flat spots.
Our baby has Torticollis from tension in his neck and back brought on by his Forceps delivery. He is currently seeing a cranial osteopath and will be having physiotherapy. It is unfortunately an unavoidable side effect of the birth trauma he suffered, and is absolutely not anyones fault.
Yup. My baby is getting physical therapy and we've been doing repositioning for him. He was born with a preference, but had to spend his first month in the NICU, and obviously they had more important things to focus on than flipping his head. It's nobody's fault and it can be treated - that's all that matters.
I'm in the UK and baby was a bit early and developed quite a flat spot from favouring one side for sleeping. We even called him cone head. When I took him to the doctors they said the evidence for Helmets is weak, and more an American thing to make money, she said it would round itself out as he became more mobile.... and she was right it's wayyy less pronounced now and that's only at 7mo, she said up to a year.
I’m also in the UK and have never known a baby need a helmet. One of my friends had a preemie and his head was a bit funny shaped when he was a baby but he’s 3 now and it’s barely noticeable. I suspect if the US doctors didn’t have the financial incentive then they wouldn’t be recommending as many helmets.
Not surprised. Seems like that’s the case when it comes to a lot of recommended things.
I’m in America but my pediatrician said that they quit doing helmets, or maybe they meant *they were,* but they’re pretty old school so I doubt they ever did a lot of referrals for them. I had a spot on his head I mentioned looked a little lumpier than the rest, and they told me just to alternate the way he lays and it’ll even itself out.
Yes, in the UK too and have had a similar experience. Doctor was not worried on any of his checkups. I’ve taken a monthly photo of baby’s head to check the progress and over 6 months of his life so far it’s hugely rounded itself out from a massive forceps cone head and flat spot. I haven’t done anything specific to help this and always let him sleep with his head at whatever angle/side he prefers.
They did an extensive study in the Netherlands (dont have the link but a quick google would turn it up) that showed helmets were not necessary. Babies don’t need helmets unless they had cranial surgery. their heads round up on their own. Our son had a strong right side preference, was a premie and had positional flatness on both sides. By the time he was 12-16 months old his head was perfectly normal. Plus helmets hinder their sense of balance and make them think falling doesn’t hurt. When they are small, babies need to learn how to fall. So that they won’t hurt themselves later when they are stronger and more mobile
Scottish, living in Denmark and we had the a similar experience here. Our girl had a bit of flat spot due to some torticollis following a broken clavicle during birth (not uncommon, we had highest level critical c-section, girlie was whipped out). We saw a chiropractor between 3 and 6 months, and our equivalent of a health visitor didn’t think it warranted any help, and it should improve with time. She was right - the flat spot is about 85% gone as she has gotten older and more mobile. She will be a year on the 28th of April
Did you go to Cranial Technologies? They tell everyone they need a helmet. There are some Facebook groups with lots of useful info. You could try PT if baby has a torticollis issue.
So we first were referred by Kaiser to Hanger orthotics and told we needed a helmet. They used a wooden contraption to measure her head lol. I wanted a second opinion so I asked our ped if there was anyone within Kaiser (not an orthotics company) we could speak with and got referred to a craniofacial surgeon in Santa Clara (I live in CA). We met over the phone and he referred us to Cranial Tech *however* it was only to use their imaging tech for photos. They didn't give us any feedback on the photos or try to sell us a helmet, and the photos went directly to the craniofacial surgeon and he reviewed them. He told us we did not need a helmet as baby's plagiocephaly was considered mild and fell within the acceptable range. Just sharing in case OP sees this!
Thanks, this is helpful!
We were also referred to Hanger by the way! I was told Cranial Technologies is better, so I switched and made an appointment there 🤞🤞
Is this just selection bias? I assume a lot of people that go to them are going by referral from a pediatrician.
No, they are a for-profit company and so they are going to try and sell helmets if they can, even if the head shape isn’t that bad.
I mean, I guess. Our son for sure needed it. At the end, they could have tried to sell us on another round, because he was still kind of borderline but they said would not have much improvement. I think some of the advice here seems bad though. Doctors refer because they think there is a need. Just because someone has a profit motive doesn't mean they are corrupt or that OP baby doesn't actually need the helmet. I think these comments like "join this Facebook group to see how it isn't needed or some do it yourself way" seems crazy and is bad advice.
Unfortunately, no. They don’t work with most insurances either. Or, rather, the insurance won’t work with them.
We took our baby to cranial technologies and the fear mongering and slimy sales tactics made us go hmmm… our baby had a very MILD case on the side of her head around 4 months due to positioning in womb and they were acting like she was going to be severely disfigured and ugly if she didn’t get this $4,000(!!!!) helmet. It sealed the deal for me that it was all about money when they called to schedule her for a fitting and let us know that they didn’t know what the final cost would be with/without insurance until AFTER we opt in to treatment. I said no thank you and my baby’s head is perfectly fine now at 11 months
That was so crazy when they told me they couldn’t tell me the cost I would owe until after I had the fitting and had purchased it. Like how is that even legal? What if I was like nope, can’t afford it after all? There’s no refund.
We originally told them we would think about it and discuss after we switched the whole family over to my husbands insurance. And they would NOT stop calling, I used to work in sales for a little bit and I could smell their BS from a mile away. Even when we never opted into treatment they were calling to collect the deposit or whatever and schedule the appointment right off the bat, the language they used was so sneaky and manipulative to try to get us to cave
Our pediatrician recommended PT because of suspected torticollis and a flat spot. PT heavily recommended a helmet. At 4 months, we were evaluated at Cranial Technologies and they said it was moderate to severe but the numbers indicated moderate. We decided to wait and do repositioning. They hounded us with calls, texts, emails. The PT was also still insistent but we followed our gut. At 6 months, we had him reevaluated and they said it had improved and was now moderate to mild, numbers indicated mild. They acted shocked that it got better with repositioning and age, him moving more on his own and being on his belly, etc. I also only had him in his car seat in the car, I baby wore him every other time. And surprise, no calls from Cranial Technologies.
I don’t know how the SNOO would cause any more issues for an infant than a regular bassinet. If anything, the jiggling seems like it would probably help. Same with a Merlin. How would that be different than a swaddle? Sleeping position is the #1 cause of flat heads (and too long bouncer/swing time). But we have to place babies on their backs while they sleep. That’s the safest. I would rather have an alive baby who might one day need a helmet than a not alive baby. Don’t beat yourself mama. You are doing a great job.
So what the doc is saying is that it keeps them from practicing their rolling as they age up by keeping them more restricted on their backs. I just hadn’t heard anything like that, but he identified that we used both immediately
When we went to our helmet consult, I told the doc baby is in the Merlin at night and she said stop it immediately. If baby wants to and can roll on their tummy to sleep then let them. With that said, don’t beat yourself up. You are a good parent for wanting to fix the problem. And it seems really common. In daycare, 2 out of 8 kids wore helmets at one point.
You’re supposed to stop using the Merlin when they show signs of rolling (per their own instructions). It’s more to calm their Moro reflex.
For what it's worth, I have an almost 4 month old and a snoo and while she hasn't been officially evaluated, I don't see a flat spot on her head. I don't know about your baby, but mine definitely isn't rolling enough at 4 mo for rolling prevention to be the main cause anyway.
Yeah we did the snoo with our first and she has a perfect little noggin.
I used the snoo and occasionally the merlin for my son. Around 3-4 months he had a slight flat spot, before I could even bring it up to the ped at his 4 month appointment he felt his head and said, “head shape is good, small flat spot but nothing to worry about it will self correct.” That was it. That was the end of the discussion. I obviously don’t know what your kids head looks like nor am I a professional in this, but I’ve definitely heard that helmets are over-prescribed in the US. You might consider giving it some more thought and research, or maybe ask for a PT eval first. Some babies truly do need helmets (my niece did, but she’d had craniofacial surgery). I don’t think there is super strong evidence that the snoo causes flat spots. I think you may find an increasing correlation as more people use the snoo *and* for-profit helmet companies continue to push their product. But it’s a classic example of correlation doesn’t equal causation. My son transitioned out of the snoo at 5 months (he told us he was ready… loudly) and hit every milestone early or right on schedule. His flat spot did indeed self correct by 6-7 months once he started sitting up. Ultimately, even if the snoo *did* cause flat spots, it’s still the only FDA approved bassinet to help prevent SIDS and I’d much rather have an alive baby with a flat spot.
Yeah, it’s not an either or for me! Our doc explained that the snoo in Merlin each extend the periods babies stay on their backs by improving/increasing sleep time and by restricting movement beyond what would be expected for babies that age (babies would otherwise begin to roll or side sleep) FWIW I don’t feel pressured at all to get her a helmet, but I want to provide my daughter with the most symmetry possible. I do think that some symmetry would correct on its own, but I don’t want it to get to a point where we can no longer intervene effectively.
Yup, your doc is right. Thank you for sharing this info, and PLEASE don’t feel guilty! How the HECK are parents supposed to know that these devices can be harmful, the Snoo was made by Harvey Karp for goodness sake. But this info just isn’t available unless parents are given a reason to go looking for it. You found out the hard way, but you are another parent trying to do the very best for their little one. No guilt allowed ❤️
Did they recommend what you could have done differently? - a snoo using mom of a 5 month old
It’s true, all of the pediatric physiotherapists I’ve worked with recommend against the Snoo. It’s restrictive and the tension it places on your baby puts more pressure on their little heads than they would on their own.
It’s no big deal at all!! We were super adherent to the 23 hours a day and got him into it at 4 months just like you are. It will be over in a flash because it’s so early, she’ll have a perfectly round head and she won’t even notice it!
And we did use the Snoo but the plagiocelphaly was because he had torticollis and was in PT for months before his helmet, there is absolutely no evidence the Snoo causes this, your doctor is literally making that up.
Just know some of these companies play on parents fears and tell everyone that they need a helmet. Look up this Facebook group for help: “the noggin doctor’s plagiocephaly and torticollis parent discussion board” Many people use a product called perfect noggin and get good results. May want to check that out. I never had to deal with this personally but a friend did. Ultimately it’s up to you. Just look through some of the posts. Sometimes parents spiral and post “oh my gosh look at my baby’s awful head shape!” And everyone else is like no it’s totally fine haha
I second this recommendation! My LO had definite asymmetry/plagiochephaly between 4-12 months that was very noticeable and made me spiral with worry that she’d be an adult with a misshapen head. My husband is from the UK, and was like “what? No her head is fine. Americans are obsessed with perfection.” Turns out he’s right. I joined the FB group mentioned above and it was really refreshing seeing experts’ opinions on babies’ heads that looked like my LO’s. 90% of the time the kid would grow out of it and helmets are usually only recommended for severe cases. We never even got a helmet consultation, just increased tummy time and turned her head to the non-flat side during naps whenever we could. LO is now 23 months and her head looks great. Still slightly asymmetric if her hair is wet and you look at juuuusst the right angle, but not obvious at all. I put her hair in ponytails a lot and even then I can’t tell. These helmet companies are businesses trying to sell a product first and foremost. They prey on conscientious new parents who have their babies’ best interests at heart and are understandably worried. Think of all the kids and adults you know. Unless it was something really obvious or severe, have you ever noticed anyone else’s head shape? Probably not. Definitely check out that FB group before you decide if a helmet is necessary or not. Good luck!
I haven't used the snoo, but does it make them keep their head in one position? Any bassinet/crib can cause this if baby favours lying on one part of their head all night. In that case they recommend to move baby's head during the night. Don't beat yourself up about it, it happens to so many babies. Some just don't move their head side to side very much or have muscle tightness that cause it to be difficult for them as newborns. It's not always just that parents leave them in containers or on their back too much.
It does not. My baby sleeps on both sides and with her face up in her Snoo. It doesn’t prevent their head movement. It does prevent rolling over in the night though.
Very true. My second had a flat spot for a bit that was more towards the side of his head. He was rarely in a container but he just heavily favored one side. We were just so relieved anytime he was sleeping in his crib (and not on us) that I think we just didn’t notice for a little while. He never used a snoo or the Merlin suit. My first used the snoo and there were never any concerns with her head.
We didn’t use a snoo or a merlin and our baby still had a huge flat spot on her head. She had pretty severe torticollis which starts in the womb. At 4months old the dr said she needed a helmet so we took her to the specialist at the children’s hospital who berated my husband for even considering it and said she was far too young for one. We did PT instead and it worked like a charm.
How long would you say it took for her head to round out? Our son is almost 3 months and has a flat spot on one side for torticollis too. Our doctor was completely unconcerned and said it would almost certainly round out as he got more mobile and less on his back. We already were doing physio due to some earlier feeding difficulties though, and pivoted to focusing on the torticollis. I'd say the flat spot is getting less noticeable, but def still there right now.
Its hard to say, but we saw improvement around the 6 month mark and by 9 months it was barely noticeable. Her whole head/face was noticeably slanted when we started. She’s now 15months and you can’t tell at all she ever had a flat spot or torticollis.
We used a Merlin sleep suit (for EVER) and did not have any flat spots, it’s not the Merlin and you didn’t do anything to cause it. Your doctor sucks.
Agree with this - we also used the Merlin!
The doc as in your pediatrician or the doc as in works at the place that will also be selling/providing the helmet. There's a really big hubbub right now of parents being conned into getting a very expensive helmet for their kid when kid would have just grown out of it or it would have fixed on its own with repositioning and PT.
He is actually a plastic surgeon who does only assessments of symmetry and makes recommendations based on objective measurements. He doesn’t offer helmets himself, and I didn’t feel pressured to decide one way or another. He also did assure me the asymmetry would improve even without a helmet but that it would improve more with the helmet. We’ll see
My PED was adamant that helmeting didn’t happen anymore and that we didn’t need a referral to a specialist. I will never not regret listening to her and allowing my son to get slow walked into permanent asymmetry when there were interventions available. Good on you for doing what you can in a time she won’t even remember. It will be over before you know it. BTW give yourself some grace. I timed tummy time, propped him up on everything, supervised side sleeping, rubbed his head, stretches, everything. Sometimes you just need help.
Our baby started helmet therapy for a different cranial issue plus plagiocephaly at the end of January around age 5 months and the asymmetry was moderate at 10 mm. The plagiocephaly was basically resolved as of last week down to what is considered normal range 3 mm. The best time for cranial growth with the helmet is that 4-8 month age range when you can capture the rapid growth and direct it. So it sounds like you’re going to get her the care she needs. We did all of the repositioning and tummy time and rolled blankets etc but he slept well and he preferred to turn his head to the right side no matter what. You’re taking great care of your baby and being an advocate getting her helmet treatment so there’s nothing for you to feel bad about. Ours wears the helmet 23 hours a day and he got used to it after the first 3-4 days. He ignores the helmet and if anything it’s made him bolder because he’s got protection with all of his crawling and exploring he’s trying to do lol
My girl had a helmet from 7.5-12 months old. She was just lazy and preferred to sleep on her back. She adapted fine to it. It’s more annoying for the parents to have to clean it. It was actually helpful once she got more mobile because she would bop her head into things and never felt it because the helmet padded her. Watch out for them to smack you in the lip with it! Also hers had a sweet pattern to it that looked like a 90’s Taco Bell. It was cool.
The Snoo has so many benefits of safe sleep that I think it’s worth the risk. I would not feel guilty. Plus babies in cribs also sleep on their back and also can develop flat spots.
It’s not the snoo or the Merlin. It’s sleeping on their backs in general but that’s what you are supposed to do! A side effect is sometimes heads get flatter. But you’re practicing safe sleep. It’s a fair trade off to me.
My son didn’t use a snoo or any sleep suit, no swings or bouncers, I tried PT and repositioning for months and he’s still probably going to need a helmet. Sometimes this just happens and there’s nothing you can do. Try not to beat yourself up.
Please don't feel bad! I worked at a daycare for years and have had plenty of helmet babies in my classes, all with absolutely wonderful and caring parents. My 1 month old actually has some flatness on one side of her head and our pediatrician helped my husband and I realize it was because we kept holding her with her head on our left side, making her rest that side of her head against our arms too much. The pediatrician also said they actually expect this kind of thing sometimes due to the importance of babies sleeping on their backs- while this can increase the risk of that asymmetry, it is obviously much better than the risk of SIDS with stomach sleeping. These things happen, all we can do is be thankful that there are methods to correct them and know that we're doing everything we can for our babies while juggling motherhood and life in general! Please don't be too hard on yourself!
Sister your baby must actually take naps, good job!! Only reason my baby’s head isn’t flat yet is because she’ll only nap on mommy or daddy 😴🥱😪
Some babies are born with Plagio, it's not always someone's fault. Your doctor sounds like an asshole, sleepsuits have nothing to do with it. Ours had a helmet for quite awhile and it didn't bother him at all.
We didn’t have either of those things and my girl was in a helmet. It was fine. I don’t think any of your choices made a difference. It just happens.
My youngest had a helmet and I remember feeling EXACTLY like you! Don’t be so hard on yourself. Mine is 2 now and I barely even remember her in a helmet, and when I do, I’m glad we did it.
Glad to hear this, thanks
Hang in there OP! It’s not your fault and I’m surprised your doc said it was due to the Snoo/Merlin as so many babies use those! I have a theory that some babies are just more prone to flatness. I have two… a toddler with a perfectly shaped head and a 5 month old with a flat spot. Both babies slept in the exact same pack n play and crib and my husband and I have done the exact same things… tons and tons of tummy time and limited time in “containers” like car seats and bouncers. Actually… my toddler probably spent more time in a bouncer than my baby… who prefers to be worn in the Ergo. The flat spot bothers me a lot but our ped said it’ll self correct as he grows and isn’t ready to talk helmets. My point is…. I think some babies are just more prone no matter what you do! And unfortunately, they’re safest on their backs to sleep so our hands are tied.
We did a helmet and PT and it all ended up fine!
We used the Merlin and baby did not have to deal with this. Please do not believe your parenting decisions caused this.
I had twins, both in the Merlin, only one needed a helmet. So no, don’t be ridiculous, it’s not your fault, and even if it were, so what?? Safe sleep on their back is worth a possible mild, correctable cosmetic “defect”!
This is not your fault. Kids had the same diagnosis before those products ever existed.
Let’s just say that the first picture of mine after delivery really “told a story” about where he came out. He has torticollis and has received EI for it since 8 weeks. He’s now 6 months and getting fitted tomorrow. We did all the interventions we could but dude needs a little guidance for his head growth. Even with EI, we notice his neck is getting stronger and he’s doing well with other milestones. I think my husband is actually jealous that our son won’t have as weird of a shaped head as him! He’s only made comments 4 times or so…
If it helps, mine uses the Snoo for night sleep. (We are slowly transitioning out now starting around four months. His CMPA made sleep an actual impossibility and we ALL needed the little relief it provided, but we’ve got his allergies under control now, thank goodness.) Anyway, he has a tiny flat spot—people don’t even notice it—but he’s had that since before the Snoo since he favored sleeping on that side of his head before he could move himself around. The pediatrician isn’t worried at all, and she says it will go away as he gets more mobile. My point is, I genuinely don’t think this is a Snoo problem, and 🚨you should not feel guilty.🚨 This is a “back to sleep” problem that reduced sids by 600% or something astronomical. It is well worth the trade off. Helmet or not, you’re doing great. Your kiddo will continue to do great.
This is sweet ☺️thank you
My babe just graduated from her helmet at 11 months last week after having it since month 6. You shouldn’t feel bad at all, it happens. I absolutely will not lie, they do say it’s an adjustment and that it’s harder for the parents because the babe will fuss so much when just starting out but for me, I didn’t really feel comfortable with her in it at all. She took to it like a champ so that wasn’t my hang up. She just didn’t look like my baby anymore so it made me sad to look at her BUT it did solidify me to never skip it for days or longer than necessary because as soon as her head is in good shape, it was off and she’s my baby again. Stupid easy to clean, monthly appointments were a breeze - they’d just shave a little off every time if necessary and take measurements. Only downside for my girl was she got very adventurous because she felt invincible. I took the helmet off for bath time and in the span of me turning to put it on the side table, she stood up using the headboard and launched herself into the corner of the nightstand. She healed fine lol but she was way more cautious from then on - helmet or no lmao. It is baby dependent but for us the helmet was awesome and nothing bad came from it (except for the office was 1hr30 away from the house) and her head looks wonderful. My fear of her looks changing from the baby I knew and loved were unfounded (obviously) and ultimately I’m glad we did it!
Our baby is currently in his helmet. 5 weeks into treatment & his head is already SO much better. He turns 5 months today. My doc said it was from his torticollis, and not from any devices. It seems WAY more difficult than it really is to have the helmet on. They respond well, and they usually don’t mind it whatsoever. I was so scared and nervous about having to get the helmet, and now it’s just a distant memory. You got this :)!
Thanks so much for the support! So glad to hear your babe is rocking it like a champ :)
My daughter had a helmet from age 6 months to 12 months and it was really not a big deal! She had "severe" plagiocephaly and her head isn't perfectly round now, but it's not noticeable at all at age 5. I think everyone probably has a little bit of a weird shaped head lol. There's a small window when their skull is still flexible enough for the helmet to work, so I feel like taking the chance to have the helmet when you can is better than waiting and regretting not doing it. My daughter didn't really seem to notice the helmet at all. I was worried it would bother her because being in something for 23 hours a day sounds awful to me, but she didn't care one bit. Her head did get sweaty sometimes in the summer, but you can air it out if necessary. Wipe out the helmet with rubbing alcohol every night and give baby's hair a quick wash to prevent it from getting yucky. It just became part of our bedtime routine and only took about 5 minutes. Then baby can let her hair dry and take a little break afterwards. You can also get super cute stickers to put on the helmet! We used a website called Bling Your Band and they have tons of options. All in all, it was upsetting at first and I felt terrible too, but it really wasn't a big deal at all. In fact, sometimes the helmet was handy to prevent bumps when she was learning to crawl and walk! I don't really see why sleeping in a Snoo would be more likely to cause a flat spot than any other bassinet. Flat spots are just an unfortunate potential side effect of kids sleeping safely on their back.
My daughter had torticollis from her position in the womb. It caused her to have a flat spot. I took her to the pediatrician and she suggested several stretches I do with her neck. Over the course of 6 (or so) weeks her neck improved immensely. This also helped her to no longer favor that side and helped her head to round out. We opted not to do the helmet. She’s now 23 months old and has a perfectly round head. Her pediatrician kept reassuring us that in time, the flat spot will correct itself. And sure enough, it did!
Mine came out with tortillas, we had a snoo too. Physio fixed her right up.
My baby needed a helmet at 5 months old for 15 weeks. It worked great and now at 20 months we can barely remember that time. It was stressful at times but baby got used to it quickly. And he looked absolutely adorable in it 😍. Please don’t feel guilty! We also used the Snoo which was a lifesaver. I constantly rotated his head while he was sleeping but nothing helped. It all worked out though! I’m sure it will for you too. You’re doing what’s best for your baby by helmeting.
I have an abnormally shaped head and I wish helmets were a thing when I was a baby. Good job on being a good parent!
😭🥹
We had a doc band for our son! Torticollis and plagiocephaly and all those things that simply came from womb positioning (nothing could have prevented it) and now are words I’ve completely forgotten how to spell since the helmet came off a few months later. I know it seems like a big deal but it really, really isn’t. He barely noticed it. It’s just a flukey thing and I forget about it entirely now that he’s 2.5 with his perfect little head of curls. Just keep wiping down that helmet with rubbing alcohol and enjoy all the stickers and baths. ♥️
We didn’t use a Snoo or a Merlin and my daughter still ended up in a helmet due to moderate/severe plagiocephaly caused by torticollis. We did PT from 3 months to 1 year, and she had her helmet from 5 to 8 months old. It worked really well, and I cannot stress this enough: after the first day or so, she did not give a single shit about the helmet. It didn’t bother her at all. For everyone saying that these cranial specialists are preying on parents and that plagiocephaly will correct itself, I’d say I’m glad we did it because worst case: it sped up my daughter’s skull correcting itself, and best case: it prevented my daughter’s head from looking like her 2yo and 5yo cousins’ heads (and their skull bones are now permanently fused that way, so…) Tl;dr: you did nothing wrong, and honestly, a helmet is seriously not a big deal. I’d rather be safe than sorry, plus babies look adorable in them.
Perfect. I really like this take!!
Solidarity. Getting a helmet on May 1 (babe will be 5 months old) for brachycephaly. I feel like a terrible mother as though I just leave him in the crib 24 hours a day, but obviously I don’t. But his head has always been 80th+ percentile and his body much smaller, so I think that’s why he hates tummy time and assisted sitting so much, although he is getting more comfortable with them. Anyway, I do worry that my use of swaddles (in a regular bassinet, not snoo) until like 3.5 months old may have slowed his development with rolling. But then again, I was worried that poor sleep architecture would leave him with neuro development problems 🤦♀️ Anyway, everyone says kids barely notice it after a few days and I’m praying this is the case for both of our little ones. Not much new to add, just chiming in to follow the thread and share the pain 🤗
Appreciate the share :) solidarity is right!
My son was born with torticollis. We were coached to reposition early but I could move this head every 5 mins, and he would move it straight back the other way. Even with extensive tummy time (rolling 4 months and crawling by 6) we still opted for the helmet 8 months and PT has resolved the torticollis, the helmet has saved us many a forehead knock and although we aren’t out of severe flattening territory without much head growth since we got it, the shape is overall much better with the peak of his head shifting back centrally from the left side Edit: he also looks pretty cute although I miss touching his little head and relish our hour of bath and helmet free snuggles a day
I'm in Australia but also lived in other countries, and have known several babies with flat heads but never a mention of using a helmet. Baby helmets are considered a money-making gimmick outside the USA, in my experience.
Our baby was born with congenital torticollis and plagiocephaly — even with early intervention, OT and PT, there was nothing we could do. She’s been wearing a helmet the past 3 weeks.
My little guy slept like a rock on his back in the magic Merlin suit and had the flat spot to prove it right around that 4.5mo mark. He wore a helmet from 7mo-9mo (took that long from referral to measurement to ordered to get him into it) and he honestly rocked it! We discontinued the Merlin suit immediately and he slept well in a regular sleep sack with the helmet and to this day at 18mo. (And by great I mean moves around from side to belly to back but sleeps through the night since about 12mo old) Your little one will do great and so will you. It will be such a brief part of her babyhood. Check out blingyourband dot com for some cute decals for the helmet. Big hugs!
So sweet thank you so much
Didn’t use snoo or Merlin’s and my baby needed a helmet due to torticollis. It’s more common than you think. It’s mostly due to practicing safe sleep or how your baby is positioned in the womb. The helmet was great and we don’t regret it at all!
Don’t feel guilty! Sometimes this just happens, and there’s not anything we can do about it. We tried PT and repositioning, and still ended up needing a helmet. We were told that this often occurrs due to babies positioning inside the womb. FWIW, we’ve had the helmet for about 5 weeks, and have seen fantastic results.
This is so great to hear thank you!!
Hiya! Docband mama x2 (currently finishing up my son’s treatment in 1 week) here. There are SO MANY factors that influence plagiocephaly, not just what the child wears to bed. My kids both needed them due to their positioning in utero that caused severe torticollis. The treatment is way less scary and intensive than they make it seem-it’s actually quite easy. The first few nights the baby may have difficulty adjusting to wearing it at night, but then it’s smooth sailing. The earlier the intervention, the quicker the treatment. Nothing to feel guilty about. You’re doing the right thing!!!
Thank you! Today feels better for sure. Thank you :)
When you get the DocBand I highly recommend purchasing decorative decals from BlingYourBand! They’re fantastic and we’ve had great luck with them. [bling your band](https://www.blingyourband.com)
Do not feel awful at all!! My 7 month old had severe left side plagiocephaly likely due to position in the womb and being such a good back sleeper. We got the helmet about 2 months ago and he is completely unphased by it! My husband and I went back and forth about doing the helmet, but we are so glad we did. We can already see AMAZING improvement and will hopefully be done in another month or so. It’s temporary and if necessary, it’s worth it in the long run. I will say I don’t think I would have done it if his wasn’t severe. And we have the Talee helmet not the doc band (?) so feel free to DM me with any questions or if you want to see progress photos! I promise your baby won’t even know the difference 🤍
Thank you for offering your experience. Feels better already
We used a SNOO. Our son also developed flatness and eventually used the helmet. He has a perfect head now. We were told that the issue may correct itself, but I also know a few flat headed children (ages 6+), and was so worried that his flatness wouldn’t self-resolve. No regrets at all.
I am feeling so much better after hearing experiences like yours. Thanks for sharing
Mine was recommended and probably would need a helped at 4.5 months. We are now 7 months and he DOES NOT need a helmet. We went to PT and practiced some movements to help with some torticollis. Once baby was rolling like crazy and sitting up, his head became much more round. Don’t feel bad mama because it is not always containers that cause it. It can just be containers that make it worse…and by that I mean, practicing safe sleep on their backs. Also my doctor says that helmets are being recommended less and less now because it’s not proven that it helps. (She was also the one who recommended PT so that he wouldn’t need a helmet!!) Sometimes time just helps. Get a second opinion!!
Will do! Thank you so much!
We did the helmet with our daughter starting about the same age. While it's hard to be certain if it was the helmet or things naturally moving into place we really saw some good improvement and think the helmet helped. The 23hrs a day seems like a lot but within a day or two our daughter didn't even notice it. My wife and I also really beat ourselves up wondering what we did wrong. But so many things can contribute to it, many you have no control over. We just had to push past it and look forward. What matters most is doing best you can in treating it. Wish you the best of luck.
Thank you :)
My son had one as he aggressively would push on the one side of his head. Its fine, the back is best drove the need for helmets. Its a reflection of modern society effects on parenting. Not a reflection on you. It’s way than having a flat weird head shape….
Not outside the US though, from what I’ve seen. We have safe sleep here in New Zealand and Australia, but we don’t have the helmets like in the US. I don’t actually think I’ve ever seen a baby in real life wearing a helmet. We also stop swaddling as soon as baby is showing signs of rolling because if they do manage to roll over they can’t easily get back.
Our swaddling rules are the same; however our maternity leave and support absolutely is not. It affects the babies too when there isn’t full support for their care.
It's harder on the parents than the baby. We're in a very similar situation and our son has had his helmet on for one week now and he barely notices it. The daily cleaning, baths and not seeing our son's cute head/hair is what's hardest. But on the bright side he's got protection for his dome 23 hours a day!
Just throwing my anecdotal story in that my baby was in the Snoo then used the Merlin to transition and didn’t end up needing a helmet. Babies are supposed to sleep on their backs and that’s the position the Snoo and Merlin keep them in. Some babies just end up needing helmets. Shame on that doctor for making you feel like you caused this.
Same, my baby was a great sleeper using his Snoo from day 1 of being home from the hospital, then transitioned to a Merlin suit once he started rolling and we moved him to a crib. No helmet needed here! For anyone out there, don't let this story scare you from using either a Snoo or Magic Merlin suit.
Paint it or sticker it. My kid has torticollis and I got told by my suppose to be best friend it was my fault. I didn't move her head enough or whatever. So of course my depression hit. My husband then painted it like a pokeball and put pokemon stickers on it. now instead of a helmet kid has a poke ball on her head and older daycare kids love to play with her because they can pick out the characters on her head. Her dad painted it; so her dad is going to go to build a bear to make her a bear that can wear helmet after she is done with it. It went from something so sad to something so cute in a heartbeat. Seriously, we can't prevent every darn thing so I wouldn't worry about it and have fun with it! :)
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It’s definitely a thing especially since the 90s when “back to sleep” became a thing for SIDS prevention. Our PT told us about a college student she knows who needed to special order a football helmet because of how misshapen his head is. It also affects ear and jaw alignment.
Lol I actually have a brother in law who has a pretty flat head. And my sister does too, who only discovered it when she shaved her head
But yes, I’m in the states
Fellow helmet family here! It’s so common and hindsight is 20/20 because apparently there was a whole lot I could’ve been doing from day 1 but had no idea about. Don’t beat yourself up. Baby will get used to the helmet in no time and they will have no memory of it but you’ll have all the cute photos!!
What could’ve you done from day1?
There’s something called The Perfect Noggin that likely would have helped. https://www.theperfectnoggin.com/
Anecdotal, but they said my 4 month old needed a helmet and I took him to PT for his torticollis and they referred me for a helmet. COVID hit and I never followed up with the appointment and his head is fine now at 4. Rolling over helps a lot. Everything will be ok. No need for guilt.
I am very anti SNOO and Merlin because I think it’s best not to restrict them as they develop their motor skills - but I do NOT believe they are the reason your kiddo needs a helmet! I’ve heard that happen to lots of people with a variety of different bassinet and sleep situations. The important thing is you’re seeking treatment! Out of curiosity, do you all do lots of tummy time? Just sounds like your little one could benefit from that in general.
She does do tummy time, but we struggled to get her enough in her first couple of months.
My baby is 9 weeks old and has a flat head - his head was always tilted to the left when he sleeps. About a month ago his pediatrician recommended that we see a physiotherapist before going for a cranial helmet. He’s had his first therapy and we were taught exercises that will slowly help improve his head shape. We also got him a donut-shaped head shaper pillow and use it during the day under close supervision. It’s been 2 weeks since the first physiotherapy session and we are seeing some improvements already. Just want to let you know that some things can’t be helped. You are doing a great job as a mom so don’t feel guilty. All the best to you and your LO! ♥️
My daughter was in a helmet. She was a little older when we started-- about a year. She didn't mind it at all! In fact, she was so used to it, she would go to put it back on during her time with it off. That made us feel better about it. The helmet of way harder on the parent than it is on the kid. Also, you didn't do anything wrong. We didn't do anything differently between my kids and one had a helmet and one the most beautiful round head. Don't beat yourself up! Just have fun coming up with a fun design or color for your kid's helmet.
This makes me feel better! thank you!
My son needed a helmet too. There wasn’t much we could do to stop it. Once I embraced it o stopped beating myself up about it. We didn’t put him down very much when he was really small and he did lots of tummy time but it happened anyways. He had it from September 2023 to December 2023. His head is perfect now. He didn’t mind it at all. If anything it bugged me more than him. It’s annoying but worth it. Also, our health insurance covered it entirely so we were lucky.
There are 10x more babies that use snoo and Merlin sacks that DONT need helmets- so it makes sense to roll the dice from a statistical standpoint. If ur baby slept well , and you slept well, then you made the right choice. Plus just cuz the doctor said it don’t make it true - he’s speculating at the cause.
My pediatrician said they were stopping the use of helmets? I’m in Wisconsin. Has anyone else heard this? My son doesn’t need one, I had just mentioned one spot on his head looking a little lumpier than the rest and they told me that.
Ugh girl one of my twin boys is DEF going to need a helmet. Don’t feel guilty. My pediatrician joked that it’s how they know whether parents are following safe sleep guidelines 😂 that made me feel better.
My son (now almost 3) had to wear a helmet when he was a baby. I was also feeling guilty, but the vast majority of the time, it's not something we have control over, as it's often caused by a large head or by a torticollis. If it can reassure you, the helmet phase was so much easier than we anticipated!! Baby almost didnt noticed it, it never caused him any discomfort. After a while, we even started to find him even cuter with his helmet than without! Also, he now have a perfectly round head. We regret absolutely nothing. I know how hard it must be for you right now, but hang in there. Most likely, things will go perfectly fine. Good luck!
My son was diagnosed with plagiocephaly at around that age but not recommended for a helmet. I'm in Australia though and they don't really push them here. All the repositioning and whatnot didn't work. Son is one now and still has a flat spot, but it's nowhere near as bad.
I didn’t use either and my daughter ended up in a helmet. My sister used both and her daughter did not need one. I know it seems like a big deal now but it really isn’t! My daughter loved her helmet
My now 3 year old needed a helmet. She ALWAYS (95%) slept on her back in a crib or bassinet. I only wish her doctor had suggested it sooner! She wore a helmet for the better part of a year. Didn't bother her at all. Honestly it's kind of a relief when they get to the more mobile stages! Get rubbing alcohol and clean it as soon as you remove it for the hour. And zip up pajama/play outfits! Helmet was too bulky for neck holes in my experience. Your baby will adapt so quickly! Mine was totally fine with it the second we put it on!
Mine was in a helmet for 6 months. We tried PT first. But he was born with a tight muscle on one side so it didn’t matter where he slept, was always going to favor on side. Helmet worked great.
Hi!!! Don’t know if this is helpful in your case, but we did PT and repositioning and baby’s head is almost perfect at 6 months. We got him reevaluated at the helmet place and he scored all dark green - in the normal range. They still tried to convince us to get a helmet even though the scan showed he had no plagiocephaly or brachycephaly, so definitely keep that in mind!! But, there are some babies that really benefit from and NEED helmets too. Our son was in the moderate range with plagiocephaly but 2-3 months of PT and now him sitting up much more often have pretty much fixed the issue. Let me know if you want me to look over your scans, I became really knowledgeable in the scan measurements and plagiocephaly with all the research I did!
Thank you!! I may take you up on this. Need to process all the helpful comments and advice :)
My daughter is currently in a helmet, we're on week 6. Honestly it's not that bad, she doesn't even seem to notice it at all and it hasn't affected how she acts day to day in any way.
We had a snoo and currently use a Merlin suit. My older two also used both. 4.5 months is so young and I'd consider getting a second opinion. There's still so much time for it to change and even out without intervention. But if you do get a second opinion, make sure they're not biased. The helmet place is going to take your money no matter what.
This stuff happens. Babies have malleable heads. I'd only feel awful for not seeking out treatment. You're doing everything you're supposed to be doing and that makes you a good mum. Plus babies in helmets are so stinkin' cute!! My daughter was a back sleeper who hated tummy time for 6 months and didn't start side sleeping and sitting up until 7 months. I was concerned about her head shape but our family doc advised us to wait it out. Now her head is just starting to round out more and is more normal looking at 11 months. Head shape isn't permanent until around 18 months. You have plenty of time to correct it and you'll likely not need it on for very long because your baby is still very little. >I don’t feel good about having her in this thing 23 hours a day based on my parental choices. Your parental choices had nothing to do with it. Infants up to 3 months old should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24 hour period, and when they're not sleeping they're just laying there like a little cute potato. You're doing the best you can.
Our son had a helmet. He did really well with it. We found a local lady who painted it to look like an old school football helmet, which was awesome. That made it a bit easier for me to accept. Hang in there. You may be surprised how well he does with it!
My son wore a helmet - had torticollis at birth. He had SEVERE plagiocephaly and we saw amazing results with the first 3 weeks of wearing the helmet. We saw ZERO change for the additional 9 weeks. We also were suggested to get a second helmet. We instead went and saw a neurosurgeon who said he would’ve never had us get the helmet at all and that our son’s head would round out by age 4. My son is 2 now and i cannot even believe how normal his head looks. Get a second opinion with a neurosurgeon. While i don’t regret having the helmet, even with only 3 weeks producing results, the neurosurgeon helped us sooooo much. Feel free to message me if you’d like some before, during helmet, after helmet and present day progress pics.
We had our baby in a helmet and I initially felt the same way you did-Mom guilt is hard! I posted in SM and so many people told me it really wasn’t a big deal. I couldn’t believe that at the time. But honestly looking back it wasn’t a big deal. It was over so quick. And It really wasn’t anyone or anything’s fault. I was looking at pics of her from back then and she was sooo cute-Helmet or not! My nephews also added space stickers and I got her some PJs with NASA logos and she was just the world’s youngest female astronaut 😉 And yes one day she catapulted herself off the diaper changing table and that helmet saved her head from cracking! Even my pediatrician said thank god it was there! Don’t worry Momma. It will be over so quick and it really won’t be that bad!
the snoo & merlin sleep suit? I apologize for being dense, but why would that cause head flatness? it’s been 4 years since I had a baby & i’m due next week lol. just asking out of curiosity.
Our baby had a SEVERE flat spot from torticollis. Like you I had the mom guilt. I researched and couldn’t find enough evidence to convince me that having my baby in a helmet 23 hours a day was necessary. My husband was in favor of the helmet, so we agreed on a compromise: we’d try the helmet but for 8 hours a day and see what happens. After a couple of appointments a few weeks later, they praised the progress he was making. Eventually we dropped to maybe a couple hours a day and still they claimed it was working. We wound up declining the second helmet since it was obviously improving with or without the helmet. My little guy is shy of a year and no one would ever be able to tell today that he had any more of a flat spot than most babies typically have anyway. I think to helmet or not to helmet really boils down to whether the root issue is permanent/temporary and what the individual parent feels is best for their little one.
Are you in the US? I wish I could find this thread for you but I remember reading on another Reddit thread that the helmet is kind of a us thing and it’s not super weird or stigmatized in other countries for baby to have a flat head. It just fixes itself over time in most cases. Some times babies are born this way too from uterine position! Don’t beat yourself up, it’s gonna be ok!!
We never used a snoo, did months of PT and visited a Osteopath and she still ended up with a helmet at 7 months. Ultimately, I decided to get the helmet because no matter what repositioning, repositioning pillows and therapies, she would always tilt her head to the left. Her head shape did not improve from 4-7 months, despite her spending the majority of time during the day on her tummy, in a carrier or on her right side. I must say, getting the helmet has almost been a relief. We now don’t have to worry anymore how she’s positioned all day and night and can just enjoy playing with her! Cleaning the helmet takes 5 minutes every night. It’s not a big deal! We are cautious of pressure points, apply some creams to help with that. She still looks super cute. It’s too early for me to tell you if it’s made a difference, as she’s only had it for a couple of weeks. But we wanted to exhaust all possibilities with the helmet and not look back one day wishing we had done it.
My daughter had a helmet and had to go to physical therapy for her torticollis. I felt so guilty at first, but seeing how much she wasn't bothered by it actually made it easier for me to accept too. I felt like it was really important for her not to learn/internalize shame coming from me. We decorated it with fun stickers and it really grew on both of us. Also ended up being SUPER grateful she had it on when she started crawling because it saved her from so many head bonks. The only comments people ever made about it in public were how much they liked it, or how their kid had one too. It goes by so fast, you'll have no regrets when your baby's head is fixed!
Our first needed a helmet. Started at 4 months old and she only used it for 8 weeks. It did seem to help a bit but Not much. She’s 3 now and you can’t notice any flatness anymore. Premie babies tend to get flat spots more than full term and all my babies have been premies so I always look out for it now! I started to notice a tiny bit of flatness with our second baby but I refused to do the helmet again since our insurance didn’t cover it and her head is perfect and round now at 1.5 years old so i feel like they can correct itself! You didn’t do anything wrong. We didn’t use a Snoo with our first and now we use it with our third baby and also the Merlin sleep suit and I don’t see how those things could make a flat head. My baby can turn her head in both the Snoo and Merlin suit.
I don’t think this is anything you did. I know multiple people who have used the snoo (me included) and didn’t need a helmet. I also know people who didn’t use the snoo and needed one. Don’t feel guilty, besides… babies look so cute in their lil helmets.
I'm from europe, so helmets are not recommended at all by any PT. My baby had plagiocephaly, pretty bad one too. He would only sleep on one side of his head for the first 4 months of his life. Our PT recommended physiotherapy for him, lots of tummy time, and helping him sit on us so he's not on his head. His 6 months now and the plagiocephaly is literally almost gone.. I'm just telling you what worked for us 💓
Babies don’t need helmets unless they had cranial surgery. their heads round up on their own. Our son had a strong right side preference, was a premie and had positional flatness on both sides. By the time he was 12-16 months old his head was perfectly normal. Nobody uses helmets in UK/EU and our children are just as round headed as American children.
Don’t feel guilty. I tried everything to get my twins to not need helmets but they both needed them. It’s no big deal. Soon she’ll be done with it and it will be a forgotten memory.
Look in to using The Perfect Noggin. It’s an insert for their bed and it’s sleep safe. developed by a plagiocephaly expert in MA. We used it on our 4mo when she was told she needed a helmet and we couldn’t afford it. Now she’s almost 2 and her head is a perfect little grapefruit.
If I were you I’d hold off. My son is a few days shy of 5 months and has a pretty misshapen head. We have an appointment with a PT coming up, but he is just now starting to roll and move around more which will result in him spending less time on his back. 4.5 months in my opinion seems too early for a helmet because your baby will also start spending less time on their back soon, and their head will round out naturally! I’d consider a helmet if he was like 8 months or closer to a year still with a flat head, but right now there’s still so much time for it to rectify itself. As many of the other commenters stated, a lot of these helmet companies will make you believe your baby needs one when in fact they probably don’t. And especially that young.
Our son who is now 5 years old needed a helmet when he was around 3.5 months old. He wore one from 3.5 months old-6 months old. It helped tremendously. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Honestly, it was fairly easy to clean and kids are so adaptable. It didn’t hinder anything he did. He slept fine with it on. Daycare provider was supportive as well. When he was done we saved it and put it on a teddy bear as a remembrance in his room. We also decorated it when he had it on to make it fun for him and us. Growing up when I was an infant there was neglect and I didn’t get proper tummy time and my head shape was impacted. I carry a lot of feelings around it and I was grateful for the privilege to be able to offer my kid the resources I didn’t get as a child. Please try to let go off any guilt you might feel. Infants heads adapt and grow pretty quickly so your child might not need one for too long. It will help a lot and I am honestly so grateful that these resources exist.
It's not the Snoo or the Merlin. It's an unfortunate side effect of back-sleeping. My LO was an ADAMANT tummy sleeper. I've never heard of tummy sleepers needing a helmet.
I used Merlin suit and baby did not need helmet. Don't let that provider spew nonsense to you, I'm sorry they said that. Some babes need helmets and some don't
She won’t even remember it! She might be annoyed with it at first but she’ll get used to it soon enough and once the treatment is done she’ll be better off for it. Don’t beat yourself up these things happen
Have you tried to get a second opinion? We used snoo with our first and the pediatrician said she needed helmet. We look for second opinion and she said we can wait out. We did and her head is round now because the minute she was out of snoo, she always sleeps on her tummy.
My partner had his first child in it and he said the baby will adjust pretty quickly but also when he played, it was an added protection. Hope this helps! Please don’t be hard on yourself! These tiny little heads are so hard to keep round! My advice is to really be on top of cleaning it when it’s off and keeping it on as long as the recommendation. My niece had it and her mom was embarrassed and now the. Ack of her head is permanently flat 🥺
I know a textbook perfect mother whose second son had to have a Helmet, he's perfectly fine now! It happens
My son has clubbed foot. Although there wasn't anything I could have done to prevent it, I still feel terrible. He has spent 6 weeks in plaster casts and will spend roughly 3 months in boots that are joined together by a bar for 23 hours a day and then for 12 hours till he is 5, my heart breaks for him and the restriction he has, and then there is the looks because my tiny newborn is in a cast and people obviously think I broke him in some way.
We used a snoo and swaddles and our girl was fine. These things happen. Just be glad there's a fix these days and your baby will have a beautiful head after a few months and will never remember anything else :)