What It’s Like to Wear a Cranial Helmet

So, your baby has a flat spot (also known as plagiocephaly) and a cranial helmet was recommended to help correct it. You might not really know what to expect, but don’t worry -you’re in the right place! I was in the same boat with my son. He was 5 months old when he first got his helmet, and I wasn’t so sure what it was going to be like. So, let me tell you about our experience and give you some facts along the way. Hopefully, by the end, it won’t seem so foreign to you either! 

The helmet is not heavy.

Let’s clear that up off the bat. It’s natural to think about the weight of the helmet and some people will ask you “Isn’t that heavy? Won’t he not be able to move his head? Will it cause gross motor delays?” Nope. It’s actually very light- specifically 4 ounces. For reference, an adult-sized cotton baseball hat is on average 3 ounces in weight. So, think of it as wearing an oversized hat!

The helmet does not hurt or “squeeze” the head. 

There is no squeezing! When people think about reshaping, I think the first thing that comes to mind is a visual of hands molding clay or Play-doh. The helmet isn’t changing the CURRENT shape of your baby’s head, but it’s helping change the FUTURE shape. Think of an ocean flowing into a river. The land on the sides helps guide the water to move into different areas. It’s just like that, the helmet is leaving room for your baby’s head to grow, and guiding that new growth towards the flat spot to help even out the head.

The helmet design is very cool, and it’s specifically made for your baby’s head shape. That’s why there isn’t a link to buy one- it’s a custom cranial orthotic meant specifically for your child.

Yes, it is recommended to wear it for 23 hours a day.

I know that number can feel very shocking, but given that the head is rapidly growing in the first year of life, spending that much time in a cranial orthotic is needed. My son wore the helmet from about 7 PM to 6 PM every 24-hour period.

Eat, sleep, play, helmet.

It became part of our life for several months. I looked forward to bath time because we got to take it off, clean it, air it out, and of course got to see Paul’s little noggin for an hour before bed. I so cherished those 1-hour increments every day. It was nice to see the progress being made, but it was also so nice to rub his little head, smell him, and snuggle without the helmet between us. 

Your baby might not even notice it.

Paul adapted really well to the helmet. His sleep was not greatly impacted as far as I could tell. He slept the same when he had it on as he did before he started wearing it. He sometimes woke up for a bottle and snuggles and sometimes slept through the night! We lowered the temperature in the house just a little to accommodate for the helmet, since anything on a baby’s head can make them feel a little warmer. And we dressed him lightly in the house (cotton, just a onesie mostly) to keep him feeling cool, too.

I tried to remind myself that babies feed off of our emotions.

Paul was looking to me for a reaction for the helmet, and when I acted like everything was ok, he also acted like everything was ok. So, I tried to play it cool to give him the best chance of doing the same.  

Paul had a severe flat spot and I’m so glad the helmet could help correct it.

Almost 6 months in a cranial helmet, and we finally graduated. Seeing his nice and round head every day after that was the best feeling. I remember buying hats for him and being so excited he could wear them. Getting a helmet was the right move for us, and now as a preschooler, I feel so good that he can safely wear a bike helmet and other protective head gear as he grows because he has a round little noggin. 

If you’re concerned about a flat spot, you can receive a free head shape consultation at a Cranial Technologies near you! 

Remember, it’s always best to “check and see” instead of “wait and see.”

Check out our other blog called What is Flat Head Syndrome? to learn more about flat spots and how to help your little one.

This blog was sponsored in part by Cranial Technologies to help spread awareness about plagiocephaly and early intervention.