Constantly worrying about plagiocephaly (flat head)

[Shannie77]

I am a pretty relaxed mom... especially this time around. I rarely worry about things and was never a worry-wort during my pregnancy. However with DD1 and now DD2 I am super paranoid about flat head.

DD1 slept in my arms 99% of the time (unless of course I was sleeping too). I only used the car seat for in the car and she only went in "baby holders" that could potentially flatten her head for maybe 20 mins a day. Her head was and is as round as a bowling ball. People would always comment on it.

Now with DD2 I am extra paranoid. Maisie is much more relaxed baby and will sleep on her own during the day, and will go in the bouncy chair for more then 2 mins at a time. Since I am chasing a 3 year old around and in the process of moving I will let Maisie sleep on my bed on her own. She sleeps on her side and sometimes her tummy for naps. We use the bouncy chair for maybe 15-20 mins a day right now.

I am constantly checking her head for signs on flattening. Am I being neurotic? Does anyone have any idea of how much time a baby has to spend in a position to get a bad flat spot? I make sure she never sleeps with her head in the same spot.

Does anyone else worry like this or have find that they are generally relaxed but have one or two things that they worry about?

[Starry-eyedMom]

If you are rotating her position, I think it should be fine! My DS2 ended up with some plagiocephaly because during birth I think he twisted his neck. So, he was always turning his head & favoring one side. I didn't really know about plagiocephaly at the time and by 4 months we could tell something wasn't right. I found a chiropracter who specialized in infants and she showed us some treatments--it looks better now.

It seems like you are doing the right thing.

[sweet_tart_vt]

I think you are doing a fine job,Mama and it is normal to worry about lots of things with a new LO, whether it is your first, or your 10th.
It sounds like she is not spending tons of time in the same position, which is what tends to make their head flat. The fact that you know about this, and worry about it, will tend to make you be vigilant about making sure it doesnt become an issue.

I had a close gf who had her 2nd DD end up with a flat head. This little girl was always in her car seat or a bouncer of some sort and not held all that often. (sad to say). She is now 10yrs old, the same age as my oldest DD and the back of her head is literally still as flat as a pan-cake. My DD in contrast has a perfectly normal head, and spent no time in the car seat unless we were travelling, and minimal time in a bouncer/swing. My gf's daughter, to my knowledge has never had any physical problems, it's just a cosmetic thing, but something that could have totally been avoided IMO.

It is true that the more kids you have the harder it can be to pay attention to the "little things". Bella is my 7th baby and i really miss the days when I could just sit and hold a LO all day and not have to worry about chasing after toddlers and cleaning up after various messes. But it sounds like you are doing fine.You are aware of the possibility of this happeneing, you dont want it to happen, and sounds like youre doing a great job!

[tempestjewel]

My DH worries about this a lot, because he has a bit of a flat-head from his own infancy. Both of my older DD's have perfectly round heads, and they definitely spent some time in bouncy seats and swings. Not a ton of time, but some.

I find co-sleeping is really anti-flat head, because baby's head is always turned to a side to nurse (or they lay completely on their side to nurse), so position is constantly changed through the night. I can't stand sleeping on one side all night, so I change positions at least once and move baby to the other side of me.

[emnic77]

I agree with above...I think since you're aware of it, you're fine. I think the co-sleeping/breastfeeding aspect helps too - like Naomi said, the babe is side-lying and switching sides, so that helps.

My neuroticism is with sids and pooing. she doesn't poo as much as my other two so suddenly I am one of those moms that is obsessed with baby poo. And much moreso than the other two I am paranoid of sids to the point that I get very little sleep at night since I'm watching her breathe constantly.

nak, sorry stunted