In Washington, artist Paula Strawn is transforming the way we see corrective helmets for babies with flat head syndrome.
For her, just because a baby needs a helmet, it doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish and fun.
Paula, a grandmother of six, has been painting for most of her life. Her canvas has included everything from posters to furniture.
But for the last 15 years, she’s focused on something unique: turning plain, medical-looking helmets into colorful, personalized pieces of art.
Flat head syndrome, or cranial plagiocephaly, has become more common since the 1990s when pediatricians began recommending that infants sleep on their backs to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
This position, however, can lead to flat spots on babies’ soft skulls.
This is treatable with a special helmet, but these are typically plain and unattractive.
Parents often feel uncomfortable with these “white ugly helmets,” as Strawn puts it.
People stare or ask awkward questions, making parents feel self-conscious.
“They don’t want people to look at their baby with pity or sadness,” she explained to InsideEdition.com.
Strawn wanted to change that perception.
Artist Paula Strawn started painting baby helmets more than a decade ago when her friend asked her if she could make her granddaughter’s helmet a little bit more fun.
“I had never seen a baby with a helmet before this time and they quickly explained what it was for,” Strawn, 62, tells PEOPLE. “I was a little intimidated as I hadn’t painted on anything like this before but it went well and they were very happy.”
At that time, Strawn was living in Southern California. She decided to give it a try, and the results were a hit.
“If one must wear a strange-looking thing on one’s head, why not have fun with it?” she thought.
Word spread quickly, and soon Strawn was receiving requests from all over the country.
Today, she runs her business, Lazardo Art, with her husband, working six days a week and often painting late into the night.
“Within the year it was my main painting work for folks all over Southern California and within a couple years I started hearing from folks around the states,” she shared.
“The last few years it’s been my full-time business. I get helmets shipped me to daily from all over the country.”
Parents can choose from a variety of designs, from cartoon characters to military insignias.
The artist even painted an Army Air Corps badge for one baby whose grandfather served during World War II.
Each helmet is personalized through discussions with the parents about colors, fonts, and themes.
Babies with Strawn’s helmets receive smiles and positive comments instead of pity.
“The baby gets smiles from everyone,” Strawn said.
“People say, ‘Oh, how cute.’ It’s something fun and friendly, and it’s a great way to start a conversation.”
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Each helmet takes between three and twelve hours to paint, and Strawn uses water-based, non-toxic paint.
She completes each helmet the day she receives it and mails it back the next day, ensuring a proper fit for the baby’s growing head.
Prices range from $220 to $300, with discounts for military families and twins.
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Strawn, who now lives in Washington, has painted over 3,200 helmets in the last 15 years.
She even designed protective gear for pediatric brain surgery patients.
For her, it’s more than a job. “I love what I do,” she said. “It’s the best job ever.”
Reflecting on her journey, Strawn feels a deep sense of fulfillment. “I feel blessed beyond all belief to be doing this work, helping others and bringing tons of smiles to babies. Looking back on my life, I feel that I was led to do this. It feels more like a calling than a job.”
She often shares her helmet paintings on Instagram, showing designs with bright flowers, cartoon characters, sports team logos, and other colorful images.