Free NHS approved tape measures

Thanks to a kind and generous grant from the Yateley and District Lions Club we have 10,000 disposable NHS approved paper tape measures.

We can give these away for FREE in bundles to Health Visitors, Midwives and GPs upon request as well as to families whose children have been diagnosed with, or who are being monitored for, hydrocephalus and so are required to measure their child’s head, record the measurement and then phone this through to their neurosurgical team.

Please email: info@harrys-hat.org if you need some.

Get-A-Head

Why measure…. how it helped Jethro

Just before 6 weeks of age he had a six week check with his health visitor to do the all of the usual baby checks, and this thankfully included a head circumference measurement. This measurement showed that Jethro’s head had increased rapidly from 25% at birth to 75% six weeks later.

20th June 2022

Research suggests that early diagnosis can help improve the outcome for a baby born with hydrocephalus and, whilst there is no cure for the condition, there is treatment.

A baby’s head should be measured:

Around 24-48 hours after birth
At the 6-8 week check
And at anytime there are concerns over the baby’s growth, development or general health.

This campaign is so important. A recent survey undertaken in 2023 by Harry’s HAT discovered that of the 750 new parents who responded, only 20% were aware that measuring a baby’s head can help identify hydrocephalus. Almost half (45%), of parents surveyed did not know that their baby’s head should be measured at around 24-hours after birth. This needs to change!

Downloads

Signs of hydrocephalus include:

A rapidly growing head circumference (increased by 2 or more centile lines on a growth chart)
An unusually large head
A tense or bulging fontanelle
Drowsiness
Vomiting
Prominent scalp veins
Extreme irritability
Difficulty holding their head up
Eyes that are fixed looking downwards, sometimes called “sunsetting eyes”
Also consider: a baby not fitting through the head space for a Babygro of their age (or adjusted age), or hats for their age not fitting, but clothes for the rest of their body fitting well.