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Education & Prevention
Which Babies Are More Likely to Need a Cranial Remolding Helmet and Why?
Why might one baby develop a flat spot but not another? Although not definitive, there are some known risk factors associated with cranial deformities.
Your Baby Needs a Helmet? Here are the styles we offer
We are proud to offer a variety of options for helmet brands and styles for correcting plagiocephaly and other cranial deformities at Baby Bear. There is no “wrong” choice; we allow families to decide which helmet they feel would work best with their child and their goals. From plastic to 3D, we cover all needs and preferences.
The Helmet Journey From the Words of Parents Who’ve Been There
The decision to utilize a helmet is a tough one! While we are here to empower, educate, and support you throughout the journey, we love to ask those who’ve been there - the parents and caregivers - all about their experience with a helmet. Here are a few things they have said about their helmet journey.
This is How Long Babies Typically Need a Helmet for Flat Head Syndrome
It’s probably the most common question we get: “How long do you think my baby will need to wear the helmet?” And - like the answer is to most things - it depends. We can usually offer an educated ballpark estimate but it really does depend on a few important factors: age of the baby, the severity of the flatness, the type of head shape, and the goals of the parents.
A Lactation Consultant’s Perspective on Oral Ties and Feeding
Continuing our series, It Takes a Village, we are honored to highlight the value of lactation support. We asked Abby McLaughlin, owner of Mal’s Milky Way, to offer her insight on oral ties and how they could impact a parent’s feeding journey. Here at Baby Bear, we see a high amount of patients who have both torticollis and oral ties, so we appreciate her approach to this sometimes-confusing topic!
What to Expect During the First Two Weeks of Helmet Treatment
Cranial remolding helmets can appear intimidating to parents - especially in the first few weeks of wear. After supporting hundreds of families through their helmet journey, we are here to assure you that it’s not as challenging as one might think; and we are confident that parents would agree. Here are a few things we think you should know about in the early weeks of helmet treatment.
It Takes a Village: Pediatric Chiropractic Care
Did you know that you can bring your newborn to the chiropractor? Chiropractors trained in pediatric care use gentle techniques to adjust misalignments in the body caused by birth, muscle tension, and/or torticollis to restore the normal alignment and range of motion of the spine and or other joints.
Baby Gear and Flat Spots: How Containers Influence Head Shape
Most people understand how the position that a baby sleeps in can influence flat spots… but not as many recognize the impact that “containers” (ie., car seats, swings, bouncers, etc.) can have on head shape. If you’re concerned about your baby’s head shape, this article can help you make little changes throughout your day to prevent a flat spot from getting worse.
GUEST ARTICLE - Navigating Postpartum Anxiety and Mom Guilt: Embracing Self-Care with Love
Postpartum anxiety is a common but often misunderstood condition that can affect new mothers, sometimes even more than postpartum depression. In this article, we'll delve into what postpartum anxiety is, why it occurs, and most importantly, offer 10 strategies of self-care that can be a beacon of comfort during this challenging journey.
Let’s Talk Tummy Time: How to keep your baby happy on their belly
Tummy time is a super important part of a baby’s routine - not only for strengthening and progressing developmental milestones but also for preventing the development or worsening of flat spots like plagiocephaly and brachycephaly. Here are our favorite tips for making tummy time enjoyable for everyone involved.
Flat Head Syndrome: How a Flat Spot Can Get Better or Worse
Flat spots can seem intimidating, however, the physics of how they develop and resolve is relatively simple. This article will share the ins and outs of how flat spots form and what can be done to help correct them from birth to toddlerhood.
GUEST ARTICLE: Your Newborn is Creating Billions of Neural Connections Daily …wait what?
Your baby is creating billions of neural connections in their brain every single day. In fact, from birth to 3 years old, your child’s brain will have grown to 80% of its adult size. By age five, that number jumps to 90%. Wow…that is a lot of growth! So what can you do to ensure that your child is creating higher quality and quantity of neural connections? The answer is simple….PLAY with them!
Head Shape 101: Different Kinds of Head Shapes and Cranial Deformity Lingo
Head shape lingo can be tricky… plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, scaphocephaly. This article breaks the types and language down with graphics and real images of patients from our clinic.
GUEST ARTICLE: Is it a Sleep Regression? Sleep disturbances during your baby’s first year
We are honored to invite sleep coach and expert, Susan Frazier, to share her wisdom about sleep regressions: what are they, what is happening in our baby’s little brain, and how do we survive them? Susan is a wealth of knowledge about one of the most important aspects of a healthy and happy home: sleep!
Head Shape 101: How To Assess Your Baby’s Head For a Flat Spot at Home
If you are worried about your baby’s head shape, start here! This article will walk you through how to take excellent photos to assess for flat spots and monitor them over time. We teach you how to look for cranial asymmetries with the use of your phone.
GUEST ARTICLE: Gross Motor Milestones and Why They Matter
We took some time to have Heather Switz, PT, owner of Switz Pediatric PT, help us understand why Gross Motor Milestones are such an essential part of development. This has been a hot topic in pediatric healthcare as the CDC has recently removed crawling from their guidelines.
Head Shape Deformities: Many Parents Ask, “Is it MY Fault?”
We discuss four factors that increase the risk of a baby developing a cranial deformity such as flat head syndrome, plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, or scaphocephaly that could lead to the need of a cranial helmet.
Is It Possible To Correct a Flat Head Without a Helmet?
Yes, it is! But there are some requirements and it is best to have some professional guidance. Introducing… the Baby Bear Head Shape Program: an effective solution for parents who are worried about their baby’s head shape and hope to prevent the need for a helmet.
Why Are Helmets More Common Lately?
Have you heard about more babies needing cranial remolding helmets? Or maybe have seen more when you’re out and about? We are often asked, “why are helmets more common these days?” There are a few factors that are contributing to the overall increase in cranial remolding treatments and, like just about anything else in the world, awareness of head shape is becoming much more heightened than it used to be. Here are some of the reasons why we are seeing more helmet-hunnies and helmet-hunks out there:
Testimonials
Coming from the medical field into entrepreneurship, marketing is something that has been a challenge for me. I don't ever want to sound “salesy” and I work really hard to make sure I fully educate families on the pros and cons of helmet treatment. I don’t want families ever to feel pressure to do a cranial remolding helmet, but I also don’t want them to regret not doing it years down the road - when it is no longer an option for treatment. Toggling this line while still trying to promote my services and business has been tricky, but testimonials have been so helpful, because it’s not me telling you about Baby Bear Cranial Clinic, it’s our patients. And they know better than anyone what that experience can be like. Watch below for some very insightful words of wisdom from our past clients.
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Whether you have already received a prescription from your doctor, are just a bit worried about you baby's head shape, or you are looking for education on how to prevent positional deformities we can help you.