Alina

Sabrina and Tarkan share their experience with helmet therapy

We first met Alina when she was around five months old, after her parents noticed that one side of her head was becoming quite flat. Following advice from their Maternal and Child Health Nurse, Sabrina and Tarkan brought Alina to Orthokids for a head shape assessment.

Alina was fitted with a Serkel helmet at around six months of age, and wore it for approximately four months, including a short weaning period. Her parents were delighted with the results.

Sabrina kindly shared their experience with other families who may be starting a similar journey.

What prompted you to seek an assessment for Alina’s head shape?

Before seeing our Maternal and Child Health Nurse, I had already noticed that one side of Alina’s head looked quite flat when I was feeding her. I wanted to get it checked and see if there was something we could do to improve it.

How did you feel when helmet therapy was first suggested?

Our Maternal and Child Health Nurse referred us, and we were very open to it straight away. We just wanted to do whatever would give Alina the best outcome.

What was it like in the early days of Alina wearing the helmet?

We got used to it surprisingly quickly. The helmet was only taken off for bathing and cleaning, and otherwise it just became part of our routine.

Knowing we could send photos and ask questions if we were unsure gave us a lot of confidence. It meant we didn’t feel like we were dealing with things on our own.

When did you start to notice improvements in Alina’s head shape?

We started to see improvements after about three weeks, which was really encouraging. It was reassuring to see that the treatment was working.

How did the Orthokids team support you during the process?

The team were wonderful. The communication by email was really helpful and the customer service felt very personal.

Lara in particular made us feel really special and supported throughout the whole process.

Did you feel informed and reassured during the appointments?

Yes, definitely. The Orthokids team covered everything clearly and made sure we understood the process from assessment through to the final reviews. We always felt comfortable asking questions.

What would you say to another parent who is unsure about helmet therapy?

Get in early — the sooner the better. From our experience, the therapy really does work.

In one sentence, how would you describe your experience with Orthokids?

There was such a lovely atmosphere — everyone was so kind and supportive that we actually looked forward to our appointments, and it was a little sad when they came to an end.