helmets and head shape - any experience?

[roadybar]

Hi, I have a four month old baby who has plagiocephaly (ie a head shape that is flat on one side and pointy on other with asymmetrical ears due to position in womb and subsequent sleep position). Similar to flat head syndrome but bit different. I have tried re positioning but he sleeps on the flat bit no matter what and its getting to the point where I think it may not get better on its own. I have read about helmets that can be worn to equalise pressure and therefore correct shape - v pricey - does any one have any experience of these? Do they work??

I am not being a fussy mum who wants an aesthetically pleasing baby - I am genuinely concerned that this will have implications for jaw alignment, glasses wearing etc when he is older. GP and HV not amazingly helpful.

Please - any advice very welcome!!

Hi Roadybar. My son had a helmet when he was 6 months old-he too had plagiocephaly.

I'd suggest you look at some websites which have forums to discuss the pro's and con's of helmets-its not only an expensive option but hard in other ways too. My son was never really keen on wearing it and he was a focus of a lot of curious (unwanted!) attention when out and about.

Having said this I think helmets do improve head shape although this depends on lots of factors such as the severity of the condition, how long the helmet is worn etc.

Look at the PlagioUk website as it has a great forum which you'll find really helpful and supportive.

Whatever you choose to do-good luck

Thanks for that staggerlee - I'm also looking into goi goi pillow to see if that makes any difference but not sure whether may be too late for that - wish I'd known about it before now!. Had a feeling the helmet option might be bit traumatic but of course worth it if it works!! Will investigate further...

Hi roadybar,

My son also had plagiocephaly. We noticed it when he was around 4 months. Like you we tried repositioning but he would only look/sleep on the right hand side of his head. His head was very flat on this side, ears in different places etc, and looking back at pictures it was very, very obvious.
We had a referral to a consultant paediatrician, but I think he was more concerned with checking that it that it wasn't something more serious. Our health visitor and GP told us that bit would get better on it's own and were very dismissive, not much help when you are worried.
Anyway we did lots of research and in the end decided not to go for a helmet. DS is now 6 and genuinely you would not know that there was a problem. He looked much better when his hair grew, when he started crawling, he was lying down much less and so not putting as much pressure on his head, and when he was around 2 I just sort of noticed that his head was much better. His head was very obviously an odd shape at 4 months, and we were very very worried for the same reasons that you are now.
I wish you luck whatever you decide x

Thank you, that's really encouraging, still pondering on it, think it might be getting better since using pillow but might just be getting more used to it!! Am going to give it bit more time and see what happens when he is sitting etc x