Baby helmets and misinformation

Update BMJ May 2014: a further randomised controlled trial showing baby helmets’ aren’t necessary and make no difference 

 

Inside Health tonight had a piece about about baby helmets for so-called ‘flattened head’ syndrome. I think the evidence of benefit for these helmets – costing 2K upwards – simply isn’t there, and I think parents are being misled. My complaint – with all components upheld – with the ASA is here. The ASA point out that the aggressive marketing tactics may put off parents going to their GP, and that there isn’t RCT evidence of benefit. This is crucial because most children will develop a less flattened skull as they get older anyway – so without comparing children using helmets with ones who don’t, we don’t know they are any good.

Some of the references I used are here

RCT that the head shape improved with time and that devices to improve head shape aren’t needed

Review saying helmets aren’t needed

Natural history of head shape study

It’s worth pointing out that synostosis can also cause a misshapen baby’s head – but this is very rare, and should be diagnosed and treated through medical specialists, not via commercial baby helmets.

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