The Journey of Miles Helmet

We had known since Miles was born that he favored looking over his right ear more so than his left. We talked to the pediatrician about it and she said it was due to muscle tightening in his neck because of the way he was in my belly. She said that he would grow out of it has he got older and stronger and she gave us exercises to do with him each time we changed his diaper. The exercises were pretty much the equivalent of turning is head and holding all the way to each side and holding it for 15 seconds as he screamed. So needless to say bad mom and dad didn't do it as often as we should have because it broke our hearts :( As the months went on the flat spot on the back right of his head became more and more evident. We talked to the pedi about it at the 6 month check up and she wasn't concerned at all. Well....I was an over protective mom and wanted to get an opinion from a doctor who specialized in 'flat head syndrome.' The ONLY place that the service is offered is Dallas and Austin in Texas! Jeff had to work so Heather came with me and we drove 2 hours to Austin with both babies for the consultation. The company is called 'Cranial Technologies' and they are staffed of physcial therapist who only do these infant helmets. After the consultation it was very clear that a helmet was recommended for Miles. His case was classified as moderate to severe. They said it is almost always seen in at least one of the kids in twins because of lack of room in the womb. They assured us that the child is not bothered by in the helmet in any way and if we were going to try it now was the time while his skull was still soft and growing so fast. We decided we wanted to try the helmet for him and was told we would have to come in every 2 weeks for adjustments and he would have it for a minimal of 3 months. This is what our schedule was like

1/16- Evaluation
1/27- Picked up helmet and fitting
2/3- Follow up appt
2/17- Follow up appt
3/4- Follow up appt
3/10- Follow up appt
3/24- Follow up appt
4/7- Follow up appt
4/24- Follow up appt- last adjustment
5/5- Helmet graduation!!!

Holding my sweet boys hand on the way home from getting his helmet

Sleeping like a champ on the way home from getting his helmet

Nothing going to keep him from smiling

Cutest helmet dude ever! 

LOVE BUG! 

How we got it off and on

Daddy decorated it

At our second appt

Happy boy at our 3rd appt

Those dimples!!

Outside the doctors office smiling as passerbys

The cement mold of his original head that we compared the progress to each time

Playing in the waiting room at the doc office

They made him wear this before they took images at his final visit

It is OFF for GOOD!

Playing while waiting for doctor

He graduated!!!!!

Felt like our home away from home

Cutie!!!!

Overall are we glad we did it- yes! The before and after images of his head shape are quite remarkable. Was it a huge commitment with the driving-yes but we would walk to the moon and back for this little guy. The whole time he wore it he NEVER acted like he knew it was there or that it bothered him. There were two problems that we did come across with it 1) He would overheat quickly and a heat rash would form underneath and 2) It stunk!!! Poor little guy just sweat and sweat in it :( We were only allowed to take it off for 1 hour a day and that was while he was bathing. We could then only clean it with rubbing alcohol which didn't do anything for the stench. We were glad to see the helmet go as the weather kept getting warmer and warmer. Cranial technologies was great and we would recommend them to anyone :) I am the happiest it is off because it is so much easier to kiss him now and see he precious little face! The little guy is going to be a lady killer!!!!