Baby helmets are controversial because of the potential side effects that the baby helmet can cause.
Some of the side effects of a baby helmet are pain, sweating, unpleasant smell, irritation and because the baby helmet can hinder the cuddling of the baby with the parents.
A cranial helmet is worth it for most babies although cranial helmets are not always needed.
A baby's head shape will naturally get better with or without the use of a cranial helmet.
Although helmet therapy is a good thing and is a choice that some parents will make along with their baby's doctor to cosmetically improve the shape of the baby's head.
Babies wear cranial helmets for up to 3 months although sometimes babies may need to wear the cranial helmet a bit longer depending on their treatment duration and age.
Also careful and frequent monitoring is required to be sure that the babies skull is reshaping correctly.
Cranial Helmets costs between $1,000.00 to as much as $3,000.00
Health insurance will most often pay for a cranial helmet if it's medically necessary.
The insurance company typically wants to make sure that a helmet is medically necessary before they will cover the device.
This use to mean your child only needed a prescription from the pediatrician and then their device would be covered.
Depending on the provider and your child's specific case, a baby helmet can cost between $1,800.00 and $3,300.00
On average, helmet therapy will cost about $2,500.00 including the custom-made device and your appointments with the specialist.
If your child is diagnosed with deformational plagiocephaly, brachycephaly or scaphocephaly and is less than 12 months old, cranial remolding may be prescribed to correct the shape of the baby's head.
Helmets must be prescribed by a licensed physician.
In most cases, your baby's head shape will resolve on its own.
Given enough time and a little effort, your baby's head will grow and return to normal as they begin moving and doing more. Wearing a helmet is also a good way to correct large malformation or flat spots on your baby's head.
On average, a child will wear a helmet for three to five months, and babies typically wear their helmet for about 23 hours a day.
However, your baby will follow a special schedule for the first five days he or she wears the helmet.
If your baby's helmet fits well, any sleep interruptions should be short-lived.
Some things that help when it comes to sleep with a helmet: Make sure the room is cool.
Baby's head can get a little hot in the helmet, so keeping the room cool can help avoid any discomfort from a sweaty head.