Helmet is depressing me

[panda4ducky]

So we're on day 3 of helmet therapy and today is 4h on 1h off for my LO. Can I just say I have no idea how I'm going to make it through the next "x" months with this thing? It makes me so sad, I used to love to cuddle him on my lap and kiss his little forehead while we snuggled and now all I get is a hard cold helmet! Also I can't see his beautiful eyes unless i'm literally looking straight at him from level because of his big fat helmet. I realize it's a bit oversized with foam and that he will grow into it better where it won't appear so cumbersome but all I can do now it literally count the time until he gets an hour with it off so he's my little cuddle bug again. I honestly feel like it bothers me more than it bothers him!

Also, omg the amount he sweats on his head in it... there are no holes drilled in it, the fitter said he can drill some for the summer if we'd like, but tbh I'd prefer them drilled now. After just 2 hours his head is literally soaked, I can't imagine what 23 hrs a day will do to it. We were told as the body adjusts they won't sweat nearly as much but I can't imagine that's completely true, he literally looks like I took him out of the bath once I remove it.

- sigh... It's so hard to think that this is only the beginning :(

[ayersjulie]

:huggSo sorry. When I thought we were taking Alex to get a helmet (we got cranio instead) I cried the whole way to the doctor's office. I was so upset at the thought of not being able to kiss the top his head for...who knows how long, months. I definatley can relate to what your feeling. I also felt guilty believing that his positional plagio was all my fault. I should have "made" him do more tummy time even though he would lay with his face in the floor and scream. Just stay strong mommy and remember that in the big scope of things, these few months with a helmet will be gone before you know it.
About the sweating, I would definately get some holes drilled asap. Poor little guy. Good luck and hang in there!

[boxergirldee]

I agree with Julie. Get some holes drilled in it.
Stay strong...
We'll be here for you

[snhancock]

hang in there! it gets easier!!! we are just starting month 3. like you said, it is definitely harder on you than him. Emma will have to wear hers a year, no less. We play a game now where we touch foreheads. well, my forehead to her helmet. she smiles so big and laughs while i'm able to give her kisses. she also will cuddle by laying on my chest to take her naps. she didn't like this pre-helmet. he will adjust to get his cuddles in. i promise!!

as for the sweat, emma is right there with ya. she sweats like a crazy person (she got her daddy's thermostat). she still sweats a little bit, but it's nothing like it was at the beginning. we live in louisiana and it has been pretty warm here lately. ask them to drill holes in for you. it will help a lot!

feel free to pm me if you have more questions!!

[dannlark]

(((HUGS))) One day at a time, Mommy... It's a HUGE adjustment, but pretty soon you'll be on autopilot and not even remember what it was like without a helmet in your son's life. And wait until you really start seeing the results!!!!! That is the exciting part. Ian didn't do helmet therapy, but I've seen so many awesome results from using it. It's amazing the changes...

I agree, get some holes drilled in it now, why wait?

Hang in there, you'll be on the other side of the therapy before you know it. Oh, and we do the forehead "bonk" too with Ian and he LOVES it, totally sends him into fits of laughter...

[daniellelucille]

I don't know if it differs on the type of helmet, but with my DD, she sweat BAD for about 2 weeks, and then now, she still sweats but nowhere near as much. We're just starting our 2nd month.

[Colin's Mom]

We're on our second helmet and through five months (almost half-way!). I still hate the helmet. Colin does not mind it (although he does notice when it is off, and loves it). He did sweat a ton at first, but now only when he rides in the car or takes a nap on daddy. We have a transparent helmet, and I strongly recommend it because at least you can still see their cute little heads. I do miss the kisses, so I just give him extras when the helmet is off. I still remember that last night of nursing him without the helmet. I was so sad, and just kept petting his soft little head. Like so many hard things, it is worth it, but I will be glad when it is over. Good luck on your journey. You may never like it, but you will make some kind of peace with it.

[LovingLeina]

Hey! :hugg I promise it gets easier/better! I felt so badly for Leina last summer in our un-airconditioned house with beads of sweat rolling down her face from under her helmet. But, it did get better.

Using a cotton ball or makeup brush to liberally powder their head up with cornstarch helped too. I even put a thin layer of cotton (t-shirt material) right under the helmet. That helped but was kind of gross.

Leina's done with her helmet as of a few weeks ago...and I have to say, I kind of miss the thing. It's still sitting around our house and she'll bring it to me and hold it up on her head until I put it on for her. :) She obviously misses it too.

As for getting your cuddles in, give a bath and scrub up that little noggin at night before bed, and then cuddle, snuggle and kiss it for a while before putting the helmet back on.

It'll get better! :hugg Good luck!

[panda4ducky]

Thanks for the kind words everyone! It has gotten easier, Chase was in his helmet 22 hours today and didn't seem the least bit bothered by it, although when he had it off he was so content just to hang out and cuddle. The good news is that the neurosurgeon said at his 2 week checkup that his head has self corrected a lot more than expected without helmet therapy, so he'd be re-evaluated at 3 months to see if further use is needed.. so that's something to look forward to!

[AuburnLocks]

Great news about the follow up! I hope he gets away with a short stint in the helmet. We did 2 helmets for about 5 months total. I had days where I hated it and days where I barely noticed it. And while I was glad to be done it was actually an adjustment when he finished. I almost thought he looked funny without it! The time will fly and he'll be done in no time.

[Abby'sMom]

It does take a while to adjust. For us it took a few weeks to get into the groove. Abby had a problem in the beginning with contact dermatitis so I made a cotton cap to protect her skin. I inadvertantly discovered that the cap helped a lot with sweat and odor so she wore one the entire time she was in the helmet.

I agree with the others...insist they put holes in Chase's helmet now. Abby's helmet came with holes but we still had a problem with sweat. I can image how "muggy" it must be under there without any air circulation.

By the way...You did a Fantastic job decorating his helmet...very cute!
:hugg