What to Expect During the First Two Weeks of Helmet Treatment

Cranial remolding helmets can appear intimidating to parents - especially in the first few weeks of wear. After supporting hundreds of families through their helmet journey, we are here to assure you that it’s not as challenging as one might think; and we are confident that parents would agree. Here are a few things we think you should know about in the early weeks of helmet treatment (with a few bits of advice from parents who’ve been there).

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Follow the break-in schedule, even if your baby doesn’t seem to mind the helmet. 

Here at Baby Bear, we lay out a break-in schedule that we highly suggest families stick to in the first few days of introducing a helmet. This is for a few reasons: 

1. It allows for very consistent skin checks (we’ll address skin in a bit),

2. It helps the baby acclimate to the sensation of wearing something on their head,

3. It gives parents practice with taking the helmet on and off several times in the early days,

4. It eases family into helmet wear before tackling nighttime wear, which can be the most daunting time.

Sweat is expected, normal, and actually a good thing.

Some families are alarmed at how much their baby sweats in the first few weeks of wearing the helmet. We notice that it takes about two weeks for the body’s internal thermostat to adjust to the helmet. Sweating is good! It means the body is doing exactly what it needs to do to adjust to the new headgear.

Here are a few tips for managing the sweating:

1. Dress down. During the day, a short-sleeved onesie is often sufficient. For nighttime, families find that dressing baby in a diaper with a lightweight cotton sleepsack works well.

2. Order a stroller fan (or two). They’re great to attach to a stroller, highchair, crib railing, or anywhere else you might be spending time.

3. Be mindful of the car. A baby can get warm quickly when enclosed in a car seat, especially with blankets or car seat covers on. It’s better to err on the side of cool, so use light blankets and keep your stroller fan handy.

4. Stick to the shade for the first few weeks. Be extra mindful of time outside in the early weeks as the body is adjusting to the helmet. An adult sun hat often will fit over the helmet and offer shade. 

Be prepared for a stinky head.

One part of helmet treatment that most parents aren’t prepared for is the fact that their baby’s head is likely going to smell “like a dirty sock” (straight from the mouth of one of our patient’s parents). We give you all of the instructions to keep the helmet clean but unfortunately, the smell is just a part of the experience. But they’re just so cute, it’s hard to care.

Helmets expose any bumps or ridges, so redness might show up quickly.

Expect some redness to show up - especially in the first week and if your baby is six months old or younger. The super round inside of the helmet presses on the not-always-perfectly-round surface of the skull. Add to that a baby’s uber-delicate skin and it’s pretty tough to avoid some redness. Redness means there is contact, which is a good thing. Bright red irritation that doesn’t fade, open areas, blisters, or rashes are not. Skin concerns are why we schedule a follow-up appointment one week after the fitting - we want to address any issues straight away to ensure a smooth treatment process. 

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best with sleep.

Of the hundreds of babies we’ve worked with, the majority adjust to the helmet beautifully, including during sleep. There may be a learning curve, both for the baby and for the parents, during the first few nights: baby getting used to the sensory changes, parents learning how to best dress baby, baby figuring out their most comfortable position, etc. Babies are all along the spectrum when it comes to sleep even without a helmet, so it’s tough to know exactly how each will handle the new routine. 

Tip: it’s not uncommon for babies to be most comfortable on their bellies with the helmet on and this means they are often lying with their face and nose completely down. It can freak parents out but rest assured - as long as the baby is sleeping on a firm surface, the helmet creates a gap and allows for plenty of space to breathe.  

Allow yourself to feel all of the feelings.

Parents express a wide range of emotions in the first few weeks of the helmet journey. From feeling guilty and sad to relieved or indifferent, we hear it all. We witness tearful eyes, concerned faces, and big smiles in our office and it all is normal. A few of the more emotionally charged parts of the helmet process include:

1. Feeling guilty that their baby needs a helmet,

2. Feeling concerned about what others might think or say,

3. Feeling stressed about how to manage cleaning, skin, sleep, and dressing,

4. Feeling sad about not being able to snuggle like normal,

5. Feeling unsure about if the helmet was the “right” choice,

6. Feeling overwhelmed about how long the baby will need the helmet,

7. Feeling scared that their baby will be uncomfortable or distressed.

We see and hear it all. And we understand. The owner of our clinic was a helmet parent, so she has an intimate understanding of how difficult the process can be at first. It’s okay to not feel okay right away. We are here to help problem-solve, encourage, and guide you on your journey.

Hopefully, you’ll see changes quite quickly!

It never ceases to amaze us how quickly changes can be made even in the first week of helmet wear. It is not uncommon to see two, three, or even four millimeters of improvement within the first two weeks. This is often what motivates families to continue with their helmet treatment, despite the frustration with sweat, smell, cleaning, and difficult emotions.

If you need support with your helmet journey, we are here to help. We can’t promise there won’t be hiccups along the way of your helmet journey, but we do promise that we will do everything we can to make the process smooth and as stress-free as possible.