# Our grandson's helmet (link to photo) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 25, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621 "2009-05-25T23:17:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/1 "2009-05-25T23:17:19Z")
There was some discussion (almost amiable for a Pit thread) about our grandson’s helmet that he must wear to correct his misshapen head. And I thought some of you might be interested in seeing it. It’s pretty cute. 🙂 [Our grandson in his helmet](http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/liberalpb/Helmet.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/2 "2009-05-25T23:22:07Z")
I used to babysit a little girl with a similar helmet (hers didn’t say “ANDREW” though). Babies in helmets are pretty darn cute. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/3 "2009-05-25T23:25:30Z")
He’s sure a cute little sucker!!! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/4 "2009-05-25T23:38:22Z")
She’s (our daughter) involving his big sisters (ages 8 and 6) in decorating his helmet. They’re making stars and stuff, and she’s pasting them on. She’s helping them make thematic decals, like for holidays and all that, then gluing those on as well. He has to wear it for about five or six more months, 23 hours a day. (The other hour is spent cleaning and sterilizing it with alcohol each day, and in addition to that shampooing it about 3 times a week.) ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/5 "2009-05-25T23:53:44Z")
If you don’t mind me asking, what made his head misshapen? Was he born that way? Is it uncomfortable at all to him? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/6 "2009-05-26T00:52:40Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > She’s (our daughter) involving his big sisters (ages 8 and 6) in decorating his helmet. They’re making stars and stuff, and she’s pasting them on. She’s helping them make thematic decals, like for holidays and all that, then gluing those on as well. She could get some inspiration from some NHL goalies, make him look all [intimidating](http://i.cnn.net/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0711/nhl.goalie.masks/images/toskala.jpg)[and](http://www.marlenerossdesign.com/Images/cujo1.jpg) [whatnot](http://media.photobucket.com/image/ward%20mask/svenjayne/Masks/CamWardCarolinaHurricanes-1.jpg)! Your grandson is a cutie. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/7 "2009-05-26T01:28:21Z")
> [@nikonikosuru](#): > > If you don’t mind me asking, what made his head misshapen? Was he born that way? Is it uncomfortable at all to him? I don’t know what this particular baby’s situation is, but a lot of them nowadays are getting misshapen because you’re not supposed to put the baby to sleep on their stomachs, so most babies lay on their backs. They can’t turn themselves over until 4 or 5 months, so they spend most of the day lying on the back of their head. My youngest son’s pediatrician said years ago that in a few years, flat backs on heads will be very, very common. My son actually had surgery to correct his flat back of the headedness, but that’s because it was compressing on structures that weren’t supposed to be there. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/8 "2009-05-26T01:30:56Z")
> [@nikonikosuru](#): > > If you don’t mind me asking, what made his head misshapen? Was he born that way? Is it uncomfortable at all to him? It isn’t uncomfortable, but it is quite noticeable. If you look at this head from the top front, there is a flattened area in the left rearish part of his skull. Doctors at Children’s Mercy Hospital say that he had always slept a certain way due to a weaknes in his neck muscle. For that particular problem, he is how receiving physical therapy. Naturally, the parents (and we) were concerned about anything regarding Andrew’s head because his big brother is now deceased, his head having been terribly misformed by brain cancer. Despite the treatments Andrew is receiving, we’re counting our blessings. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/9 "2009-05-26T01:34:55Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > She could get some inspiration from some NHL goalies, make him look all [intimidating](http://i.cnn.net/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0711/nhl.goalie.masks/images/toskala.jpg)[and](http://www.marlenerossdesign.com/Images/cujo1.jpg) > [whatnot](http://media.photobucket.com/image/ward%20mask/svenjayne/Masks/CamWardCarolinaHurricanes-1.jpg)! > > Your grandson is a cutie. Wow! Those are real artistic masterpieces! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/10 "2009-05-26T01:48:23Z")
Between the helmet and the look on his face, he looks like he’s about to jump a motorcycle over a line of 15 cars, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/11 "2009-05-26T01:56:58Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Between the helmet and the look on his face, he looks like he’s about to jump a motorcycle over a line of 15 cars, or something. 😃 I’m going to tell his dad that. He’ll love it! ---
**Author:** ![Zhen\_ka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecccb3/32.png) [@Zhen\_ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zhen_ka)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/12 "2009-05-26T02:19:43Z")
Your grandson is named Andrew? [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5494319&postcount=35](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5494319&postcount=35) ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/13 "2009-05-26T02:42:55Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > I don’t know what this particular baby’s situation is, but a lot of them nowadays are getting misshapen because you’re not supposed to put the baby to sleep on their stomachs, so most babies lay on their backs. They can’t turn themselves over until 4 or 5 months, so they spend most of the day lying on the back of their head. My youngest son’s pediatrician said years ago that in a few years, flat backs on heads will be very, very common. People used to lay their baby on its face to sleep? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/14 "2009-05-26T02:58:51Z")
> [@Zhen\_ka](#): > > Your grandson is named Andrew? > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5494319&postcount=35](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5494319&postcount=35) Yes, his name is Andrew. What does that have to do with your link? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/15 "2009-05-26T03:13:07Z")
A flattened rear of the head is very common among preemies – one of the obscure facts I’ve learned at my hospital job that I just as soon wouldn’t know. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/16 "2009-05-26T03:23:01Z")
How much does the helmet weigh? Does he try to take it off? I guess bathtime is when the helmet is getting sterilized? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/17 "2009-05-26T03:27:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Yes, his name is Andrew. What does that have to do with your link? I think **Zhen’ka** is remarking on the incongruity of a grandson of yours sharing a name with President Jackson, given your well-known and strongly held opinions of said president. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/18 "2009-05-26T03:37:32Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > A flattened rear of the head is very common among preemies – one of the obscure facts I’ve learned at my hospital job that I just as soon wouldn’t know. Yeah, but his is kind of weird. It’s offset a bit to the right (his right). What you might call the corner. It’s like the flat rear, but on an odd part of the head. > [@notfrommensa](#): > > How much does the helmet weigh? > > Does he try to take it off? > > I guess bathtime is when the helmet is getting sterilized? The helmet isn’t heavy. It’s about the weight of a big hat. And he loves wearing caps, so he has no problem with it at all. I never really asked when she cleaned it, but bathtime sounds like a good time. > [@Chronos](#): > > I think **Zhen’ka** is remarking on the incongruity of a grandson of yours sharing a name with President Jackson, given your well-known and strongly held opinions of said president. Oh, okay. I’ve been a lot tougher on the Indian Hater than that. 😃 The tirade in that link was mostly against Amerigo Vespucci, slave trader and murderer. Anyway, I suppose there is some irony, although we weren’t really consulted about the name. Plus, they plan to call him “Drew”. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/19 "2009-05-26T03:57:40Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > She’s (our daughter) involving his big sisters (ages 8 and 6) in decorating his helmet. They’re making stars and stuff, and she’s pasting them on. She’s helping them make thematic decals, like for holidays and all that, then gluing those on as well. Here I was going 'jeeze, are there so many infants in hockey helmets in their lives that they need to tag their kid to make sure they go home with the right one??"😃 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621/20 "2009-05-26T04:12:24Z")
I just want to link to a thread I started 6 months ago about my nephew’s head: [Any experiences with positional plagiocephaly (or babies with misshapen heads)?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=493601) Luckily, he never had to wear a helmet, and once he started to roll over on his own, his head straightened itself out. He’s 11 months now, and his head looks fine. Good luck to your grandson! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-grandsons-helmet-link-to-photo/497621.md?page=2)