When babies need helmets?

Babies are the cutest creatures in existence, that we all can agree on. However, as they grow and start to crawl or walk, there may be a need for helmets. Yes! You read that right; babies need helmets. But don’t panic just yet; it’s not like they’re going to war.

In this article, we will demystify everything you need to know about babies and helmets – why they might need one and when is the best time for them to have it.

It’s Better Safe Than Sorry

As much as we want our little ones to explore their surroundings without any restrictions, safety should always come first. A baby’s skull is soft and malleable since all of their bones haven’t completely fused together as compared with adults [1]. Therefore accidents such as falls could cause traumatic brain injuries due to the lack of structural support from the bone itself giving rise for reasons why parents invest in buying baby helmets.

A good example worth noting is an incident where your bundle of joy attempts a somersault but unfortunately lands either on hardwood flooring or any other hard surface plus anything else which could make things worse e.g tables while crawling around you find yourself asking: “Do babies really need helmets?” Well yeah! They really do!

What Do Baby Helmets Look Like?

Baby helmets are headgears that come in varying sizes designed specifically for infants’ heads so as not cause discomfort around neck regions[2]. They usually comprise two main parts – headband shell made from thermoplastics which holds a specific shape formed by vacuumed molding along with foam cushioning lining inside ensuring maximum shock absorption when inevitable falls occur.[ 3]

The most common types include cranial orthotic bands(COB), plagiocephaly helmet -asymmetrical-, brachycephaly helmet-rectangular-, and scaphocephaly helmet-elongated-. These types also vary in customized accessories offered to comfort the baby as they go about their daily activities.

Why Do Some Babies Need Helmets?

Now, you may be wondering why a little human being who is just starting life would need extra protection.

Well – according to most doctors- babies wear helmets due to instances beyond our control or when there are no other alternatives. The one major reason that doctors prescribe a helmet for infants has been plagiocephaly – this is the condition where an infant’s head becomes misshapen or flattened on either side[ 4].

Possible causes of Plagiocephaly include:

  • Sleeping posture: often times if left unsupervised babies can have their heads resting at one spot hence causing positional plagiocephaly.

  • Multiple births pregnancies

Babies with conditions such as torticollis (tightened neck muscles), cerebral palsy, premature birth, multiple births pregnancy or even flattening caused by sleeping positions means some babies could develop skull deformities requiring further medical attention.[ 5] And most times wearing baby helmets seems like the best solution compared to costly treatment methods which could lead to surgical interventions over long-term periods.

Who Should Wear Baby Helmets?

Clearly not every infant requires them! It’s after all medical professionals who determine whether your child needs it depending on how severe positioning cased by plausible factors explained above. When necessary, children anywhere from 3 months up until pre-school age can don protective headgear benefiting hugely from potential future disparities relating to hearing loss issues amongst others.

Some indicators your doctor may check before recommending protective gear might include:

  1. Flat spots behind ears

  2. Uneven head shape

  3. Asymmetrical facial features

Additionally, these deformities shouldn’t be confused with natural forms specifically those occurring during birth i.e especially when they were pulled out via suction or some other medical instrument.

How Much Do Baby Helmets Cost?

There’s no denying that helmets for infants can be quite pricey compared to the average baby item. Most families could spend anywhere between $2,000-$4,000 on a single helmet which comes with added follow-up sessions and extra fees [6]

Can Insurance Cover It?

Great Question! Yes! not all insurance coverage policies cater for them though thus would highly recommend checking with your policy provider before making any decisions involving an infant in a state of requiring assistance regarding payment options. In some countries, such as Australia where plagiocephaly has become increasingly prevalent especially due to the infamous ‘back-to-sleep’ campaigns undertaken during their infancy one may argue whether public health schemes should cover equipment such as orthotic cranial bands hence lessening financial burdens associated mostly faced by low-income earning individuals wanting nothing but utmost care for little ones.[ 7]

When Is The Best Time To Get A Helmet For Your Child?

While there is no fixed timeline per se since every situation varies from case-by-case scenarios when detecting symptoms of positional plagiocephaly it is best acted upon immediately so as does not require lengthy medical procedures later down if left unnoticed i.e surgical interventions. Starting early guarantees wearing these helmets over shorter periods generating maximum results[ 8].

Most pediatricians recommend starting at around 4 months since baby skulls are still soft enough to achieve visible improvements even most changes happen within the first six months because of how quickly alignment occurs among infants’ heads[ 9.] Nonetheless specialists always have last say taking into factor everything concerning specific cases uplifting from ailments amongst others ensuring putting babies’ welfare first.

Conclusion

As much as we hate dwelling on scenarios that involve our precious ones getting hurt baby helmets offer alternate solutions towards ensuring cervical motion restrictions don’t inadvertently affect general development.

So there’s that! So, when next you see a baby sporting a helmet, don’t assume they are part of some new cool gang; It could mean more than you think. Enough said we all know why babies need helmets? Say no to delayed medical issues caused by lacking fixed defects commonly normalized as birth abnormalities thanks to the neuroplasticity properties infants tend to showcase ensuring progressive improvements happening over shorter time periods which ultimately leads healthier lives from day one of life!10

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