Flat Head ! - Allen Park,MI

I think it's pretty normal for the flat head when they are first born because they are on their backs so much. I didn't have that problem though. My daughter loved her tummy. I would but my daughter on a boppy pillow. She seemed to like it more than just being on her tummy on the floor. Maybe it was softer and it lifted her head up more... I wouldn't think putting her in a swing would contribute to the flat head, unless it's a swing where she lays flat. Good luck.

S.

My son had a flat spot on his head very early and our pediatrician said it would probably round out on its own over time. We varied his sleep position as much as possible, but the flat spot didn't go away. At six months the ped agreed my son should see a physical therapist to determine if he needed a helmet. The pt said that if a child needs a helmet it's important to get it by the 6-7 month range at the latest. The helmet can only help as long as the child's soft spot (top of skull) has not closed and that usually happens around one year. After evaluating my son and taking measurements, the pt determined that one of his eye sockets was actually slightly more forward than the other -- which could eventually cause problems with his sight and depth perception. He was fitted with a helmet, which he wore for only four months, and had a few sessions of cranial sacral therapy. Now he's 17 months old and his head is pretty much perfect. The helmet didn't bother him at all (even though he wore it in the summer) and I'm so glad we went forward with it. I really forget he wore one until I see a post like this or come across a picture of him with it on. The helmet was blue with trucks, planes, and cars on it -- it was really cute! So don't worry too much if your daughter has to wear one. I think you have time before that determination is made -- and if she does need a helmet, it's really not as traumatic as it seems to you right now. Good luck! :)

There are a couple of ways to make tummy time more enjoyable for your daughter. you can put her on an incline with her head higher than her feet, so so much pressure isn't on her stomach, you can put her on a bed or couch and sit on the floor beside her so she can see you face and the last way is to lay her on your stomach while you are lying in bed or on the couch. this way, when she looks up, she is seeing you and she can hear your heartbeat when she puts her head down. I hope that this helps some.
When she sleeps in her crib, you can also switch the side of the crib her head is at. By doing this, she will most likely turn her head toward the door. This will get her to turn her head to both sides instead of just turning it one way if she sleeps with her head at one end of the crib all the time. Let me know if you have any other questions.

This happenned to my baby girl because she was such a sound sleeper, and no matter how I moved her, she ended up on her back with her hands over her head in 5 minutes. I actually went to the Dr.& we were referred to another for the helmet, which I did not want to do because I thought she would be so hot and uncomfortable all summer. I had a few weeks to think about it and and my mother in law decided to try the "old fashioned" way of fixing it one night when she was watching her for us. Apparently in the "old day" they massaged the childs head. I swear she maybe did it a total of 4 hours and her head rounded right out. She still has a slight flat spot, but nothingr like it was, you can only feel, not even see it when her hair is wet.
Good luck. You may want to try it.

Try to vary her sleeping position, and give her tummy time whenever possible, but other than that, I wouldn't worry overmuch about it. My son couldn't have long periods of tummy time and -had- to sleep on his back due to severe reflux and ended up with a bit of a flat spot. My doctor told me, like one of the other moms mentioned, some children are just more prone to it. By the time he was 1 (3 now) it'd rounded itself off without the use of a helmet. Do what you can, and deal with the rest of it when it comes time.

I have a set of triplets who are 6 1/2. When they were babies I noticed that Brody's head was misshaped. It is kind of the shape of an eye, not to points but he has a lump on the left side of his forehead and on the right back side of his head. I was taking the kids to my general doctor and she said it was fine and he would grow out of it. At 18 months old I switched doctors because I felt the kids were not getting the attention that I felt they needed as preemies and multiples. I brought up Brody's head to the new doctor and he said it was a problem that should have been fixed when I had first mentioned it to the other dr and that it was to late to do anything about it. He should have been given a helmet to help shape his head correctly. Now at 6 1/2 it is still noticeable (more to me since I am his mother).

If you think there is a problem I would definately suggest that you get a second opinion. Better safe than sorry. Good luck!

Why no helmet? I have 2 twin nieces who wore them as babies, and they are now 10 years old and have beautifully shaped heads. Do it now while the child has no vanity. It will seem like such a short time in the grand scheme of things, and you will have forgotten it (and she will not remember it!) Believe me, it is worth it.

First off, don't think it's anything you did or didn't do. I think some kids are just more prone to this, then others. I know with my son that his started with being born through very small hips. Sometimes it can be corrected by more tummy time and putting her on her side. See here, http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/positional_pla....

If it doesn't correct, as scary as a helmet sounds, it's not as horrible as it sounds. My son wore one for four months. He didn't know the difference. I know it was harder on me and my husband then it was on him.

Take a recieving blanket and roll it-put it behind her head when she is in her seat or swing! It takes the preasure off the back of the head. It will take care of the problem! I promise!

You can find some one reputable who does Cranial Sacral massage it's "the least aggressive of manual therapy techniques traditionally used in physical therapy. It involves extremely light touch applied to different areas of the head and spinal tract including the “ tail bone” or the sacrum. Cranial sacral techniques are frequently time consuming so are some times limited in the clinical setting, but are very effective with many conditions including headaches, whiplash, and TMJ dysfunction."
It's supposed to help guide the brains plates back into place after birth. I had it done in high school, it felt cool. Supposedly it can help make the kids smarter, by way of making sure thinking centers don't have the bone pushing on them to block blood flow or something like that. I believe in it, not everyone will. But it might help fix the shape problem.
Good luck, A. H

Hi A., not to worry, you are keeping a good eye out for your children, at least you are aware and can keep watch on the area. I had to point out that my grandson had a flat head, much more common today, so many things can cause this, car seat, swing, bouncer, crib, no one really knows, every child is different. He wore the helmet for about 4-5 months, they get used to it, today his head is fine. If nessary at all, should be worn before turning 1yr. while the head is still soft. Good Luck

Hi A.,
My first son's head is misshapen and he has been diagnosed with the I forget what is is called. His head is misshapen in the back, his front facial features are fine and he is fine. He is 4 1/2 and very smart for his age. The ped's kept asking us if we wanted the helmet for him. We did some research and we felt that the best thing was for the body to do what it was doing. Yes, when he get's a haircut they have to cut less on one side than the other but I've seen kids with hardly any noticeable problem who have helmets and you wonder why. Talk to your dr., see a dr who specializes in this sort of thing and make the best determination for your daughter, not for yourself.

Hi A.,

My firstborn daughter had a flat spot on the right side of the back of her head making it lopsided. We saw an orthotist and she wore a helmet for 4 months which corrected the problem and I am so glad we did it. She is now 8 years old and you can't even tell. I have also seen several other children with helmets, it is really not a big deal. Long term what is more important to you, your daughter having a flat head permanently, or feeling self concsious for a few months? Don't feel guilty, this is not a reflection on your parenting, things like this happen. It sounds like you are doing everything you can to get her in other positions.

God Bless,
A.

Good morning A.,

Isn't it crazy all the little details we have to think about when we have children???? Feed them, change them, make sure they're the right temperature, clean them and postion them so their heads don't become mis-shapen!! They say a womans work is never done........

What I did to position my children was to think of them like Lincoln Logs (crazy I know... but just keep reading!) You know how Lincoln Logs have a flat part on the bottom and then they are rounded on the sides?? When I would put my kids down for naps I would make a conscience decision to alternate between their left rounded side, the flat bottom, and the right rounded side. But don't just think of the head... you really have to position the whole body. For example, if it is the left sides turn to be slept on.. you need to use a small rolled up blanket, pillow, a small bag of rice in a sock.. anything that is going to raise and keep your daughters right hip and shoulder 2-3 inches off the sleeping surface so that the majority of her weight is on her left side. Then you do the same thing when it is the right sides turn. Put something under her left shoulder and hip that will keep them 2-3 inches off her mattress so that a majority of her weight is on her right side.

Since she is showing signs of getting more than enough time/weight on the back of her head... you might want to try just alternating between sleeping between her right and left sides to balance things out.

It might be worth a try! This is the technique that I have used for all 4 of my kids.. and I am REALLY not one to brag, but I have actually had nurses compliment my babies on their nice round heads. My personal belief is that the trick is in solidly positioning the whole body... not just the head. I hope this helps!

Good Luck!
Peace,
B.