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Key Information About the Talee® Cranial Remolding Orthosis
- Following the initial break-in period, your baby should wear the cranial remolding orthosis (baby helmet) for 23 hours per day.
- All redness from pressure should disappear or fade to a light pink within 1 hour after removing the Talee helmet.
- Follow-up appointments are essential for successful treatment, be sure to attend them as advised by your care team.
- If your baby has a fever of 100° F or higher, do not use the Talee helmet until the fever has resolved.
Your dedication to using the cranial remolding baby helmet as directed is key to the successful treatment of your baby’s deformational plagiocephaly. To achieve the best results in the shortest time, your baby should wear the Talee helmet full-time, which is 23 hours per day.
Based on our experience, babies who follow a full-time wearing schedule tend to have fewer skin issues, a better-fitting helmet throughout treatment, and a more symmetrical and proportional head shape by the end of their treatment compared to those who wear it less consistently. Here are some guidelines for using and caring for the Talee Cranial Remolding Orthosis.
Talee® Helmet Design
The Talee cranial remolding baby helmet is custom-fabricated using a 3D-printed polyamide/nylon outer shell and is lined with Plastazote® foam for a comfortable, secure fit on your baby’s head. The Talee helmet features a unique two-stage posterior relief and a fully integrated closure system.
Applying the Talee® Helmet
Your Talee cranial remolding baby helmet may have either one closure buckle and one hinge or two buckles, one on each side. If your helmet has a hinge, close the hinge so that there is only a small gap between each half of the helmet before placing it on your baby’s head. Frame your baby’s eyes with the Talee helmet. It is okay if the ears are not centered in the ear holes. Slowly and gently close the buckle(s) to prevent startling your baby.
Follow-Up Care
Once a Talee cranial remolding baby helmet has been fitted, your baby will be seen by an orthotist about every two to three weeks. Follow-up care with an orthotist is very important to ensure the helmet always fits properly as your baby grows. The follow-up care is included in the cost of the Talee helmet.
Cleaning the Talee® Cranial Remolding Orthosis
Clean and disinfect the baby helmet once a day during a break in wear. Spray and wipe the padding of the helmet with a mixture of half 70% isopropyl alcohol and half water. Ensure that the padding is dry before placing the helmet on your baby’s head.
Talee® Helmet Wearing Schedule
Once your baby has completed the Break-In Wearing Schedule (see below), he/she should wear the Talee helmet for 23 hours each day. Two 30-minute breaks from wearing the baby helmet each day are recommended.
Start by having your baby wear the cranial remolding baby helmet for 1 hour, followed by a 1-hour break. Repeat this cycle throughout the day. Check your baby’s skin for redness during each break. Any redness should fade by the end of the break. Do not have your baby wear the Talee helmet during naps or overnight on this first day.
Increase wearing time to 2 hours followed by a 1-hour break. Continue this cycle through the day, checking for redness during each break. As with Day 1, the baby helmet should not be worn during naps or at night.
Increase wearing time to 4 hours at a time with 1-hour breaks. Repeat throughout the day. The baby helmet should still not be worn during naps or overnight.
Increase wearing time to 8 hours at a time with 1-hour breaks. Continue checking for skin irritation at each break. Starting Day 4, your baby can begin wearing the helmet during naps and overnight.
Begin a full-time wearing schedule: 23 hours per day with breaks totaling 60 minutes. Your baby should now wear the Talee helmet during naps and at night (no break is needed during the night). Always check for redness during each break.
Redness Following Wearing the Talee® Baby Helmet
Always check your baby’s skin for redness after each wearing period. Some redness is normal as your baby’s head grows and changes shape.
If you notice redness that does not fade within 1 hour after removing the Talee helmet, it may be contact dermatitis or a result of excess pressure.
To treat redness that does not fade in 1 hour, apply zinc oxide cream to the area, wait for the cream to absorb, continue wearing the baby helmet and check for redness again in 2 to 3 hours. If the area looks smoother or shows signs of improvement, it is likely contact dermatitis. Continue treating the area with zinc oxide several times a day as needed. Some babies have more sensitive skin and may require more frequent treatment.
If there is no improvement with the use of the cream, the redness is likely due to excess pressure. The baby helmet may need adjustment by an orthotist. In that case, schedule an adjustment appointment at Gillette Children’s as soon as possible. In the meantime, continue applying zinc oxide cream to protect the skin.
Sweating While Wearing the Talee® Cranial Remolding Orthosis
Your baby may experience more sweating than usual during treatment. In most cases, the sweating improves after 1–2 weeks of wear.
Fever and Wearing the Talee® Baby Helmet
If your baby ever has a temperature of 100° F or higher, stop using the baby helmet until the fever goes away. As much as possible, try to limit the time out of the orthosis to 48 hours or less.
Cradle Cap and Wearing the Talee® Cranial Remolding Orthosis
If your baby has cradle cap (soft, yellow, crusted spots on the scalp), gently scrub your baby’s scalp with a brush every time you shampoo. Be sure to watch for any signs of infection in this area, such as redness, tenderness, and/or drainage. If any of these occur, notify your baby’s pediatrician.
Questions or concerns
For questions or concerns regarding the Talee® Cranial Remolding Orthosis, call 651-290-8707 to make an appointment or ask to speak with an orthotist.
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of your health care providers. If you have any questions, talk with your doctor or others on your health care team.
If you are a Gillette patient with urgent questions or concerns, please contact Telehealth Nursing at 651-229-3890.
