Phaciophely

N., these questions you're asking are all ones that the pediatrician should already have answered! Please go back to the doctor, or phone, and be sure you have these questions written down and a place to write down the answers you get. Be sure you don't just call unprepared and then realize later that you forgot something you wanted to ask.

The doctor who provides the helmet also should provide written directions on how to use and those directions should include things like how to clean the helmet, how to put it on, when to use it, and so on. If your son already has the helmet and you were never given written instructions, call today and demand them.

Please be sure you are being assertive enough with the doctors and asking these questions of them, not just online.

8 months seems like a long time, but the longer you wait to get them in a helmet, the longer it takes for it to work.

Take the helmet off when he's swimming. Most helmets have a 23 hours on, 1 hour off routine so the hour off he can be in the pool and you can clean it.

As for cleaning, a rubbing alcohol/water mix will clean it; however, the only thing I could find that took away the smell was Wal-Mart brand, Parent's Choice Fresh Scent Wipes.

We went through Hanger Orthotics and they gave me a schedule that will help your child adjust. It may take longer because your child is older, but my son adjusted quite quickly at 7 months. If I remember correctly the schedule was:

Day One: 1 hour on 1 hour off (no overnight)
Day Two: 2 hours on 1 hour off (no overnight)
Day Three: 4 hours on 1 hour off (no overnight)
Day Four: 8 hours on 1 hour off (no overnight)
Day Five: 8 hours on 1 hour off (overnight)
Day Six: 23 hours on 1 hour off (overnight)

Since my son was already sleeping 12 hours a night, I didn't have him wear it overnight until he was at 23 hours a day. This is just a guideline, some kids need more time to work up to the 23 hours.

Talk to them about a schedule, my friend in Ohio was just given her son's helmet with no instructions and she struggled because she thought he had to start wearing it all the time from the beginning.

I know the helmet places near me in Virginia give free screenings and will provide you will all the information you need. I felt very confident using the helmet with my son after talking to the specialists.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.

P.S.: If you do get the helmet, check out Blingyourband.com. They have so many decorations you can put on the band. The are not reusable, but they do come off quite easily if you want to change them out.

From what I've been reading about this, the best time to use a helmet for correction is between birth and the first birthday.
Once the fontanelles (soft spots - there are 2) have grown closed at about 1 yr old, the head shape is less changeable.

"There is only a small window of opportunity to correct the infant’s skull. As the rate of skull growth is faster in the early ages, helmet therapy is most effective between the ages of 3 to 7 months. However, helmets are still effective until the infant is 12 months old."

At 14 months (or is it 13 months?) I'm not sure a helmet will be able to do much.
If you mean he's 14 WEEKS old (I'm guessing English is not your first language) - then sure, a helmet is a great idea and the timing is right.
If he's wearing a helmet he'll have to wear it 23 hrs per day for 6 to 8 months.
Talk to your Dr about care and maintenance, cleaning, etc.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21788840

http://www.uofmhealth.org/medical-services/plagiocephaly-...

You can Google for more information.

8 months because it takes alot longer after 1 year... better if he has a growth spurt or two while wearing it.. mine had to wear it for 3 months.. he was born with it but by 5 months you could see one cheek was fuller than the other.. asymmetrical. so he had two growth spurts in it and looked a lot better..