in Plagiocephaly/Brachycephaly/Scaphocephaly/Torticollis Awareness and Support

7.5months too late?? Helmet, Plagiocephaly

Went private to be assessed for helmet & photo attached. Baby has severe grading for plagiocephaly. Helmet will be ready when 7.5months old. Has anyone had improvement from this age??? I’m upset because I saw a paediatrician when baby was 3 months and 5.5months & both times he told me helmet isn’t necessary & it wasn’t even that bad (2 out of 10 he said). So I believed him & left it until 7 months when I realised it looked just so bad & decided to go private for helmet advice rather than beleive the paediatrician & ignore the shape in the hope it would improve naturally which it never did.

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We were sent to physiotherapy around 4 months old for plagiocephaly, followed everything, and did everything right, but there was still a very severe slant on one side and rounded on the other. The physiotherapist said LO was fine as she was developing normally and even ahead in some areas. At 6 months I had had enough, no improvement. So we went to a private specialist, and she's had a helmet since then; she's 10 months in 2 weeks. LO is on the 2nd phase of the helmet. The improvement has been incredible. It slowed down after 3 months, but most importantly it hasn't gotten worse. I'm so happy and it's so worth it. She's gone from severe to moderate to moderate/low. You must keep the helmet on though. Go for it! As long as baby has its soft spot on skull which goes after 18months you have time

@Harriet thanks so much! It’s really not fair the advice we’re given that it will “improve naturally” , I really believed the dr on this he was so convincing! But like you, I just had enough & actually noticed it getting worse! Then researching it it seems it doesn’t always get better. Would rather have been told correctly to get helmet sooner. We are collecting the helmet in a weeks time! Really hope it improves!

It makes me mad; for some reason, there isn't enough proof, or they cause rashes etc, etc. The main reason from my physiotherapist is that LO isn't behind, so it's just cosmetic; they did tell me about the helmets, but off the record, they couldn't tell me more; this is NHS UK. I said someone is likely to see LO again in the future either for surgery or mental health reasons. Good luck, just take it slow first and get your LO used to it; mine now gets confused when it comes off and enjoys having their head scratched; it's very cute.