flat head-any experience? does it affect your child as they get older?

[kelloo1]

My DS developed a flat head at 7 weeks old, he's now 2 and a half. By 6 months it was quite severe and my GP referred him to a specialist where he had to go for x rays and check ups every 2 months. When he turned 2 the specialist said there was nothing that could be done as his skull was now 'set' and the bones wouldn't move anymore. It has improved a LOT since he was 6 months but to me it is still noticable, he has loads of hair (big & curly) so nobody else can really tell. And it affects simple things like his clothing, we have to get bigger sizes cos his usual size won't fit over his head, or when he wears sunglasses they hang on one side cos his ears aren't level. We recently got him a bike and it was a nightmare finding a helmet to fit so he has ended up with one a size too big that we can just get on his head. I was just wondering what experiences other parents have had, especially as the child has got older. I am dreading my DS growing up and hating his head and thinking i didn't do enough for him when he was a baby.

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

It sounds like you did quite a lot for him - GP and specialist follow-up. What more could you have done? I'd ask the GP for a new referral if you're very concerned, I suspect the answer will be the same but it will give you further peace of mind.

I think you'll get round things, as you are already doing.

[easylife73]

DS2 had a flat head at the back and his head was HUGE! He's now 8 and it's barely noticeable - he has very flat hair so you'd be able to tell! We also had to buy bigger clothes, or tops with buttons to get them over his head, and when he got a cycle helmet we had to buy an adult size. Luckily he's the kind of kid who doesn't mind a bit of gentle ribbing, so his "big head" has become a bit of a standing joke, but honestly, he's just grown into it as he's got bigger. I wouldn't worry too much, he will be fine.

[kelloo1]

Thanks easylife, it's good to know your DS wasn't traumatised by his head shape! And the same with mine with a cycle helmet, we had to get an adult one. It's nice to hear other people's experience of it as the HV wasn't very supportive. She said all kids have funny shaped heads nowadays so he won't be the only one, and keep his hair long. I thought it was very rude of her!

[kelloo1]

bump

[easylife73]

Not the best health visitor in the world then never asked ours about it, didn't realise at the time that there was anything we could do about it, so DS had no monitoring or treatment. We have a lovely photo of him though, lying on the floor on his front, no clothes on, supporting himself on his arms like they do, but with this enormous comedy head that looks like it's about to weigh him down! Not trying to make light of it, but now he is honestly completely normal looking, so we get the photos out every now and then to have a good laugh remind ourselves.

[hayleysd]

My 19 month olds head had been misshapen since birth, he also had positional talipes do I think he was just laid funny

I've been to the paediatrician a few times but they just say it's fine as long as he's mentally developing normally which he is.

Am worried about him wearing sunglasses when he's older as one ear sticks out much more than the other. He also has to have bigger hats cos of the shape of his head.

We're not back at the specialist til may 2012 so that they can check his head is still growing so they don't seem too worried

[kelloo1]

i don't think there is a lot they can do anyway hayleysd but it's good that they keep checking him. They didn't do much for my boy really, they just kept measuring his head and it improved on it's own. The specialist didn't approve of the helmets and said there was no evidence that they make a difference anyway. And to be honest i didn't like the idea of a helmet. I think it started from him sleeping on one side. It is much better than it use to be, I am just worried how he will feel about it when he's older. we've got photos of him with his head at it's worst so if he does moan about it i can say well this is what you used to look like!

[castlesintheair]

My DS is 9 and I don't think he's noticed his head yet and noone else says anything to him, as far as I'm aware. It's only very flat at the back though, his face/ears aren't affected. I do worry about it and like you, I have carted him around to every specialist going. Sadly, in his case, his head partially fused in utero so intervention made no difference. You might want to try taking him to a cranial osteopath as I've heard they can do things. Don't forget as well that they do "grow into" their heads. My DS is going to quite tall as well I think, well over 6ft, and hopefully he will be looking down on most people!

[sittinginthesun]

I have a 7 year old with this - I just keep his hair a bit longer, and no one has mentioned it for years. He does have to wear larger hats etc, but it really doesn't cause any problem at all.

[kelloo1]

Thanks for all your comments. It's nice to hear it doesn't make much difference as they get older. My boy's is flat on one side which has made his ears uneven and his forehead comes forward on the opposite side. these aren't really noticable and I didn't realise about his ears until the specialist said! Luckily DS hates having his hair cut so with all his hair you can't tell much anyway. Everyone keeps saying it will change as he gets older too so maybe I am worrying about nothing!