Baby has flat head!

3205 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by hadleys_mom, Jun 25, 2004

Phoebe

Discussion Starter · Jun 24, 2004

My 11 week old is getting a flat head on one side. Now that that part is flat, he favors sleeping on it like that. I try to put him on his side and he tries to roll over and cant and he gets really mad and cries. So, I really don't like flat heads! Will it even out as once he can move around some more? Is this something I should worry about?

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geekgolightly

· #2 · Jun 24, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoebe
My 11 week old is getting a flat head on one side. Now that that part is flat, he favors sleeping on it like that. I try to put him on his side and he tries to roll over and cant and he gets really mad and cries. So, I really don't like flat heads! Will it even out as once he can move around some more? Is this something I should worry about?

It has happened with my son as well, Phoebe and yes, if the flattening is not 4extreme it will grow out by itself as he becomes more mobile. My ped conservatively said "by two you wont be able to tell this happened"

If it is so flat (and you can ask during your next ped's appt... no rush) that an intervention is necessary (rare) there is a special helmet that can be made for him.

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geekgolightly

· #3 · Jun 24, 2004

thought you might like to read about it

http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/babies/Flatheads.htm#baby's%20flat%20head%20be%20prevente d?

and here is something you can buy for his sleeping

http://www.dexproducts.com/Pages/Hea...dySupport.html

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JaneS

· #4 · Jun 24, 2004

It is called Plagiocephaly.
DS had this on one side. His head is perfectly round now, but I believe it was due to some intervention on our part. I would recommend you read as much as you can. It bothers me that most Peds dismiss this as a concern. I have seen older children with flattening and there *are* some kids that need banding to help shape their heads as they grow. That being said, I dont' want to scare you, your babe is so young, repositioning (which we did) will work fabulously.

There is a condition that can be associated with this called Torticollis. It is a shortening of the neck muscle which needs to be corrected in order to see improvement in the head position:
http://www.pedisurg.com/PtEduc/Torticollis.htm

My son had Tort probably due to being so big and 2 weeks late. He turned much farther to his right than his left. We did the stretching exercises and they helped immensely. We also did as much tummy time as possible and when he was in the carseat or bouncy seat, I made sure that his head was tilted to the rounded side with rolled up blankets to keep pressure off his flat spot. (Called repositioning). However, he still liked to sleep with his head turned to one side. At 4.5 months, we finally taught him to sleep on his opposite side. Then his head started looking better. Then he started sitting up and it rounded out very well from there.

My cousin's DD's head however did not fully correct itself. She had brachocephaly, and pretty severe. I can't believe their ped said not to worry. The head doesn't grow so much after age 1 and also the plates start to harden at that age. She is 18 months and still has a noticeable flatness, albeit improved. Hence I don't think this condition should be taken lightly.

This is the website of Cranial Tech, makers of the DOC Band, it is very informative.
http://www.cranialtech.com/MedicalIn...iocephaly.html

Also there are 2 Yahoo parents groups which are terrific:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Plagiocephaly/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Torticolliskids/

Excellent page with a parent's tips on repositioning:
http://www.geocities.com/alittleone2000/plagiopage.htm

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Eustacia

· #5 · Jun 24, 2004

As an infant my dd always rested her head to the same side and yes, although I was painfully aware this could happen, she developed a flat spot on that side (she has always been a crib sleeper). Only my dh and I could really tell (because we were hyper-aware about it) but it was noticeable if you took a good look at her bald infant head.

Now at a little over age 2 and with thick hair you would never know it was there in a million years. I honestly never even think about it. Her head looks exactly like every other normal head out there.

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geekgolightly

· #6 · Jun 25, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eustacia
As an infant my dd always rested her head to the same side and yes, although I was painfully aware this could happen, she developed a flat spot on that side (she has always been a crib sleeper). Only my dh and I could really tell (because we were hyper-aware about it) but it was noticeable if you took a good look at her bald infant head.

Now at a little over age 2 and with thick hair you would never know it was there in a million years. I honestly never even think about it. Her head looks exactly like every other normal head out there.

and unless the head is exceptionally flattened or if there are other problems (like not being able to turn a head one way or another, which i would immediately bring a babe into a doc to tend to that issue), this is the course of almost all of plagiocephalic babes.

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hadleys_mom

· #7 · Jun 25, 2004

My daughter was born 16 weeks premature and like most preemies started to develop a long, flat head. When she came home, she would only sleep facing one direction. I was so worried because I had heard about babies having to wear helmets 23 hours a day. I talk to our neonatolgist about it and these were the suggestions he gave:

1.) Massage, massage, massage!
2.) Carry the baby in the arm that forces him to lie on the other side of his head.
3.) Do some light stretching of the neck by gently turning the head in the direction he does not lay.
4.) Create a donut out of fabric (like a CD) and center his head in the donut. This provides support to both sides of the head without causing him to lay on one side or the other. (Only do this during nap/play times)

We have been doing these things for 4 months and her head is almost perfectly shaped now. People can't even tell she is a preemie!

I would definetly ask your ped about it too!

Hope that helps,
Michele

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