THE HELMET!

3-8 months!!  That would have been nice to know!!!

Ahh the stress of my life right now.  So months ago the pediatrician mentioned to us that Collin's head was a little flat. So we continuously rotated his head away from the flat side and turned his bed so he could look outward from the other side.  I almost never put him down on his back or swing.  But to no avail, it didn't get much rounder.  So we went in to a specialist down in St. George who proceeded to tell us that it was little flat (not terribly bad) but that because he was almost 9 months old, if we did decided to get one he would have to have it on for 6-9 months instead of 6 weeks because his head growth has dramatically slowed down.  Well Mr. Pediatrician, that would have been nice to know!  Who knew we were on a time sensitive matter here?  Anyways, I could tell by the weird doctors response that it was a little flat but clearly not the worst he has seen and I think if he wasnt trying to make money off me and this helmet that he probably would have just said its not too bad and his head will probably round out on its own.  Thats kind of the uncertainty I got for him.  (Note to doctors, if you going to suggest a treatment, SOUND CONFIDENT).  Blah.  Anyways so we went home only to find out weeks later that our insurance will not cover it because it is considered cosmetic.  What the?  So it was going to be $1800 out of our own pocket for a helmet that he maybe didnt need?  Would it grow out on its own?  Probably.  Will his hair probably cover it up?  Probably  So we basically decided no.....for a few weeks.  Then one day I am online and I suddenly decided to google search if there are grown ups that wish they would have had something done to their skulls when they were young.  This was  bad idea.  Of course I find all these people cursing their parents for not fixing their misshapen heads and that they cant wear hats or certain hair-do's because of their head shape.  Well this starts giving me anxiety.  Time was running out, he was getting older, and the time to act while his head was still growing fast has really already past but will peak at around a year.  And now I dont want him to have some life long insecurity about his head that I could've prevented somehow.  Anyways, so I change my mind again and want the helmet for him.  Cordelle thinks I am nuts but caves and just says, "Lets just do it or we will always wonder "what if."  And I know he was right.  So we go down to St. George for a fitting, but now I start second guessing myself.  I am looking at the pictures of the other babies and then looking at Collin and his head really wasn't that bad.  Was I jumping the gun because of my paranoia?  UGGHHH!  Why am I so indecisive and why does this time it have to be over something that is $1800???  So long story a little less long :), we ended up getting the helmet and I cried all the way home regretting it!  Am I bipolar or what?  Weird.  I was so emotional about it.  He was screaming and sweating in it.  And I was kicking myself and really having buyers remorse about the whole thing, but I was committed to it and like or not, he had to wear it. And in all reality, he actually adjusted to it really well, and ironically slept better than he did without it.  It did get stinky and sweaty and so we had to get in the habit of washing it 1-2 times a day but he really didn't mind.  Matter of fact I think he liked the fact that he could fall, run into walls, corners, whatever and almost not be phased.  When he would get his one hour off for the day, he would get so many bumps and bruises cause he was used to be invincible.  :)  Turns out though he only had it on for nearly 2.5 months!  Although I still think he probably should have left it on longer, the weird doctor said it looked pretty good and would continue to round out by the time he was 3.  Secretly, I think he was blowing smoke out of his ears most of the time, but it did round out a little and I honestly had to get to the point that I believed it is what it is and if he's insecure about it one day, I can at least say, "hey son, we tried." I do get a little nostalgic when I see other babies with them now.

This is the only picture I could find to really show the shape of the back of the head.  You can see the top back part is pretty flat, so I guess it was a good thing we got the dreaded helmet!