CPAP hats

I personally think the toaster head comes from all the prone positioning. it makes them lay on the cheek/side of the head and so it flattens (or doesn't plump out as it grows).

I agree. But since we are using these hats and extubating earlier some of us have noticed kind of a "cone head" effect.

Oh yes, I know what you mean! I have seen the cone heads and we've always chalked it up to a slim-fitting hat that's also on the small side. The skull grows slightly more elongated than rounded and it seems to be because there's more elastic around the edges of the hat than the top. All I've seen to do for it is to make sure you change to the next size hat when the old one is getting small. I've never seen that shape last, though, not like the toaster head.

yes, I've seen a good bit of toaster head lately. Not sure if it's r/t the cpap hat or not. I think prone positioning is the main culprit.

The kids w/the worst heads also get the worst toaster heads. I think the more neuro-intact ones squirm around more. There are those gel pillows, that helps.

I really hate the single slice babies, tho.

That cracked me up! I know what you mean, though.

"toaster head"

very funny!! as soon as I saw it i knew exactly what you meant!I've just qualified and started work in a big NICU were they use bubble CPAP and the fittings are really good. Not actually looked after one on it as yet, they gave me the rather unstable 23weeker as apparently its best to jump right in! Anway, this bubble has a different hat with a foam cube that sits on the babies forhead and the prongs are quite long and supported by this foam cube so theres no strapping at all across the babies face. it's all very loose actually. Also the prongs come in different dimensions....width of prong and also width of gap (where the septum would be). I'm really impressed with them.

will just see if i can find a picture.

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http://www.fphcare.com/neonatal/respiratory_products2.asp

it's here, on the picture it shows strapping across the cheeks but i thought there wasn't any at all. i think they must just be very loose because i remember thinking how good it was there was no pressure on the babies face.

So far in my NICU experience, I think that the CPAP hats actually help to keep the kids head from going to one side or the other, you can kind of position them to keep them straight. but not all those babies will cooperate either!!