Flat Head Syndrome - Helmet advice needed

[Mumsprobs2]

Hi

My 21 week old has a flattened head on one side and at the back which is quite noticeable, it almost looks wonky. Does anyone have any advice on if the helmets work? Any funding you can receive? Companies in Manchester/ Chester/ north west that offer helmet treatment? How long they are required to wear a helmet?

I am currently paying private for a cranial osteopath, this has slightly improved but is still really noticeable!

Thanks

[Tribblewithoutacause]

My two both had a flat head and by the time they were two, it had pretty much resolved. I'm really of the opinion to leave as is.

However, unless it was very extreme and affecting their development I don't think you'd get any funding for it. You'd have to self fund.

[Tribblewithoutacause]

Also, I do think they have to be in the helmets for a while. Not sure how long, but I remember in my reading feeling surprised at how long the treatment lasted.

[dementedpixie]

Is it not too early for helmet use? I used a pillow designed to help prevent flat head. Was originally called a goi goi pillow but now I think it is a lilla kudis one

[ButtfaceMiscreant]

One of my twins has a flat head on one side, noticeable but less so as he gets older (27 weeks). I was told by the GP that they don't offer helmet treatments at their age now, preferring to allow them to self resolve as they grow. I guess if he still has a flattened side i will take him back at about 18months, as I assume once he sits unaided there will be less pressure on the skull from lying/reclining.

Try and make him lie on the rounded side as much as you can (difficult I know!). I wouldn't worry just yet but maybe pop him along to the GP to get it seen, just to be sure.

[Carriemac]

Really the medical advice is to leave it and it resolves itself.

[BarbarianMum]

Don't bother. Although the flattened bit of the skull remains flattened, it makes up such a tiny proportion of the adult head that it just becomes totally unnoticable as the child grows (hair helps too).

It is also potentially dangerous to use a helmet unless your child has been checked (and cleared) for craniosynostosis - risk of brain damage.

[PresidentCJCregg]

My son had this when he was under six months; after he could sit up, roll, sleep on his side etc, it resolved. Not 100% but you'd only know now when his hair is wet and you really want to see it!

[TwoWeeksInCyprus]

DS had a flat head, at the back and slighty to the side. He was on his back a lot as he didn't really sit up until he was 1. He's school age now and it's not that noticeable. I wish I'd looked into options and taken advice at the time though.

[TrixieBernadette]

8 years ago we paid privately for DS. It was worth every penny of the £2k with LOC. his head was an awful shape, and the band worked in four months. Highly recommend going for a no obligation scan and chat. They were not pushy at all, and wouldn't do the treatment until we had tried every other option.

[TrixieBernadette]

We started our treatment at 17 weeks from memory. And it took 4 months.

[MerlinsBeard87]

My DS had a very flat head. I did a lot of worrying and googling about how to help it. In the end I'm glad we left it alone as it has improved loads. He is 11 months now, and his head is still not as rounded as a lot of his friends, but it's perfectly fine.

[Iammrsbeckham]

We took our DS to a Xenia osteopath at 16 weeks and they lent us a special mattress which prevented him turning his head at night to the affected side. Within a week there was a noticeable difference and it was barely there at all by 8 months. Now it's totally gone. I know that we were lucky and fight it at the right time so didn't need the helmet, but would have definitely pursued it if it was necessary.