March 26, 2014

The Helpful Helmet, or Why Babies Look Better With Painted Helmets

Plagiocephaly sounds scary and dangerous. It isn’t, really. Plagiocephaly is flat-head syndrome, and it’s become ever more common since physicians started directing parents to put babies to sleep on their backs – and the backs of their heads – to reduce SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Soft baby skulls and constant pressing on one spot = flat baby heads. Luckily, plagiocephaly is treatable by use of corrective helmets that reshape a baby’s skull while it is still moldable. However, the orthopedic-looking white helmets can be slightly off-putting for all those cute-baby casual social interactions.

That’s where artist Paula Strawn comes in. Strawn created Lazardo Art to custom paint the white corrective helmets with colorful, whimsical designs (to see more of them at the Huffington Post click here). Strawn’s creative graphics melt away any awkwardness, putting the focus back on gitchy-gitchy goo.    Strawn’s originals remind us that color and unique graphics raise helmet-wearing from ho hum to fun.

Bonus helmet hijinks (only for the truly adventure loving): If you haven’t yet seen the incredible helmet-cam video of James Brady jumping off 1 World Trade Center on a dark, clear night, here’s your chance.