Once a baby is fitted with a helmet, they have regular checks and if there is any pressure areas they come for an adjustment.” “All the babies I have treated with helmets (over 120 now) have had significant improvements. To reassure parents further, Lucy offers a 100 per cent money back guarantee if there’s no significant improvement. Since you have to go private for helmet therapy, the treatment doesn’t come cheap at £2,500, but there are charities that can help with funding, such as headstart4babies. These helmets are for cosmetic reasons only – although this can also be psychological, for example if child/adult is unhappy with their head shape which can affect the ears and face in severe cases.” Cost of treatment “You can liken it to orthodontic teeth braces,” explains Lucy, “it is acceptable to have them for cosmetic reasons only. About 22 per cent of babies I assess don’t need a helmet and I give them repositioning advice only. Lucy adds, “I assess babies and if they are mild then I say no helmet needed because it won’t be noticeable on an adult head. Helmets are recommended for those with severe Plagiocephaly which will be noticeable when the child grows up. They say there is a lack of research but in my experience there is plenty to show that helmets are effective.” Why might a baby need helmet treatment? “It’s true the NHS don’t recommend helmets for treatment of Plagiocephaly, however they recognise that severe cases are likely to be noticeable when the baby grows up. Lucy Best from Hampshire Orthotics is mum to three young daughters, and an orthotist with 20 years experience, we spoke to her about the helmet treatments she offers and why the NHS don’t endorse it. However, these helmets and headbands generally aren't recommended by the NHS because of the cost involved, and the lack of clear evidence to suggest they work. Once a baby is 18 months the head is fused and the only way to correct a misshapen head is by surgery. Treatment is started when the child's skull is still soft, usually at around 5 or 6 months old, and the device is worn almost continuously (up to 23 hours a day) for several months. These devices apply pressure to ‘bulging’ parts of the skull and relieve pressure from other parts, potentially allowing growth in the flatter areas. Plagiocephaly usually fixes itself as your baby grows, but sometimes treatment is needed such as helmets and using special pillows. That’s why tummy time and alternating your baby’s head position is so essential to your baby’s development. Newborn babies often have some asymmetry of the head, since the bones in the skull have not yet fused together. While the condition is characterised by a flattening on one side or the back of the head, it may also involve bulging of the forehead, fullness of the cheek and ear misalignment on the same side as the flattening. Flat head syndrome, also known as Plagiocephaly (side of the head is flatter) or brachycephaly (if the flat spot is on the back of the head), occurs in about 50 per cent of children, however is not very well known in the UK.
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