What Is Head-Shaping Helmet? Chrissy Teigen Shares Son's Photo With Corrective Gear

Model Chrissy Teigen took to social media Monday to share photos of her six-month-old son wearing a corrective helmet to treat plagiocephaly, also known as “flat head syndrome.”

“Baby miles getting fitted for a little helmet today for his adorable slightly misshapen head. So if you see pictures, don't feel bad for him because he's just fixing his flat and honestly he's probably gonna be even cuter with it somehow,” she tweeted Monday.

She then posted a photo of her cuddling her son and captioned it “My baby bug got his head shaping helmet today."

Following this, several parents flood the 33-year-old’s Twitter account with photos of their own children wearing head-shaping helmets.

According to National Health Service, plagiocephaly is a condition where the head is flattened on one side, causing it to look asymmetrical. The condition is common and affects around 1 in every 5 babies at some point.

A baby’s skull is soft and can change shape due to constant pressure on one side of the head. Hence, sleeping on the back can result in the baby’s back or side of the head becoming flattened. Premature babies are at high risk of developing the condition as they are softer and they tend to rest their head on one side.

In order to help prevent the condition, parents should their children between a sloping chair, a flat surface and a sling to ensure that there isn’t constant pressure on one side of the head. They should also alternate the holding side while carrying or feeding the baby.

The helmet therapy is to help correct the baby's skull shape. The helmets apply pressure to bulging parts of the skull and relieve pressure from other parts. It helps hold the round areas of the skull steady which allows the flat spot to increase in size and naturally assume the shape of the headgear.

They are required to be worn during the time when the skull is actively growing which is around five or six months old and for 23 hours a day for several months, Healthy Children reported. The helmet is usually recommended after an evaluation of the baby’s head shape by a doctor. A certified orthotist then makes custom helmet with foam lining inside after taking a laser light scan.

There can be side effects of wearing the helmet including skin irritation, discomfort, and bad odor.

Helmet therapy is recommended as soon as a child is diagnosed with plagiocephaly. Babies who start wearing helmets a little later may have to wear them for a longer period of time. These helmets are however not effective after the age of two.