Theo and I decided to move forward with getting Stryder a helmet. We were initially told that getting the insurance approved, the prescription for it, and getting in for the initial measurements could be up to 4 weeks before he was in his helmet.
Well, things moved much more quickly than expected. And a few weeks back, Stryder had his appointment for helmet measurement. It indeed was just as the staff said; it was a few pictures of his head.
They put a little nylon stocking over your child’s whole face and head, then set him on this chair (with a person behind them holding him up). Then, they snap pictures with these cameras that surround your child from all angles. (Pretty neat technology, honestly).
Stryder didn’t mind the process at all. When we were done, the clinic said they would see us back the following week for his helmet and teach us everything we needed to know about caring for and wearing the helmet.
When we got the helmet, Stryder adapted so well. There were no skin irritations or heat rash at all. (When a child is in a helmet, apparently, everything feels 20 degrees warmer than it is. For example, if the thermometer says it’s 70 out, it feels like 90 to the child.) This is why Stryder typically wears no pants. It helps keep him cool.
Since getting the helmet, we have already seen so much progress. His head is starting to round out, his ears are coming into alignment, and his jaw issue is 100% fixed.
How the helmet works in simple non-medical terms: if the helmet is loose on the head (just enough so it can wiggle around), the friction of the helmet against the head will help push it into the proper shape because the child’s head is so playable at a young age.
We have yet to determine how long Stryder will be in the helmet officially, but I think he looks pretty stinkin’ cute in it.
P.S. I wrote this weeks ago, so I will probably have an update pretty soon.
Please enjoy a few photos of him in “Helmie”. We chose a dino theme, as he used to scream like a baby pterodactyl (instead of crying). The back says, “My flat is going extinct”.
