Flat heads. Any one tried a special mattress/pillow?

[ecomum]

Hello. Has anyone tried using a special mattress, pillow or other method to prevent/reshape flat heads? My 3 yr old DS has a really flat head and so want to avoid this problem with my baby DD. Although at 6 months it may already be too late! Despite carrying her in a sling nearly all day and buying a baby hammock its still gone flat (probably from the time she spent napping on our bed or in the car seat!) Both my kids sleep flat out on their backs and there is no sign of my DS's head 'filling out'. Any advice much appreciated.

[TheMNPeacekeepingForce]

Does it really matter - isn't it just cosmetic? Apologies if that sounds ignorant of me but I thought it was a cosmetic thing?

[ConnorTraceptive]

It is largely a cosmetic isuue, however there are links to other problems such as hearing, headaches, jaw problems (unfortunately it is a largely un research isuue so there is no clear info.

Ds had a severly flat head that we had treatment for and although his head is much better I can tell that his jaw isn't straight and neither are his ears so i'm praying he won't need glasses.

[ecomum]

Thanks everyone

I've just bought a goi goi pillow for DD's cotbed so I'm going to give that a try with repositioning. I don't think its bad enough really to warrant a helmet (although may be should have done that with DS!).

I know that flat heads are mainly a cosmetic thing, but it just annoys me that with the right advice at birth this can be preventable but midwives and health visitors just don't seem to be fully aware and tell you it will correct itself when it doesn't!!! (angry) I also think its somehow worse for a girl, which in this post-feminist age it shouldn't be but it is.

[NAB3wishesfor2008]

Here we go again.

It is not a cosmetic problem if your child has plagiocephaly.