Baby helmet therapy is a treatment to help mold a baby's skull into a round shape. It uses a prescription helmet that's made just for your baby. Sometimes a baby's head can become flat in the back or on one side. This can happen from lying down for long amounts of time.

Some conditions may be treated with baby helmet therapy. They include:

• Positional skull deformities. This happens when pressure causes a baby's skull shape to change. It often happens when babies are in the same position for a long time. These conditions include deformational plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, and dolichocephaly.
• Craniosynostosis. This occurs when bony plates in the skull are abnormally connected. Helmet therapy may be used after surgery.

When babies are younger, parts of their skulls are still growing. Because of this, starting helmet therapy at a younger age can give better results and can mean less time wearing the helmet. The main age range for wearing a helmet is 4 to 7 months old.

Babies older than 8 months can still benefit from helmet therapy. It may take longer for them to see changes in head shape.

A custom-fitted helmet helps protect your baby's head while their brain grows. This growth happens slowly over time. Most brain growth happens before a baby turns 2. The helmet works to help reduce flat spots and reshape the head.

A baby's skull is made of bony plates. The plates are held together by pieces called sutures. Sutures give some flexibility and space for the brain to grow when babies are young. Sutures also help protect the brain.

Your baby will wear the helmet for 23 hours each day. It's taken off during your baby's bath time. That's also when the helmet can be cleaned.

Your baby may wear the helmet for several months or longer. Every baby is different. How long they wear the helmet may depend on several things, including how old your baby is and how severe their condition is. In general, younger babies see more change in less time. Some babies are prescribed a second helmet.

Your baby's doctor may prescribe a helmet. The doctor can make a referral to have a helmet made for your baby.

To have a helmet made, your baby's head will be measured and a custom-fitted helmet will be designed.

It can be helpful to work with a specialist to make sure the helmet fits right. The specialist can help make adjustments to the fit of the helmet. The helmet may need adjusting if you see redness or marks on the skin near the helmet, if your baby is sweating under the helmet, or if the helmet has a bad smell.