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Original poster

Have you ever seen an older child or adult with a really flat head?

65 replies

AugustSeptemberOctober · 08/08/2021 15:58

My DD is 18 months old and she has severe brachycephaly - the back of her head is very flat. She was extremely refluxy when she was smaller and tummy time got quite distressing for both of us, so unfortunately I didn't do it much. The health visitor just said not to worry and that her head would round out once she started sitting up.

Unfortunately it just hasn't. She's been to the GP and anything medically wrong has been ruled out, but the GP did admit that it's very noticeable. I try to remind myself that it's just cosmetic and that we are lucky, but sometimes I feel sick with guilt over it because she'll probably get bullied. It's too late for a helmet now so nothing can be done. I went to a toddler group with her yesterday and was so conscious of all the round heads, I'm sure people stare at her and judge us.

My friend keeps telling me to stop stressing about it, and asked me if I've ever looked at someone else's head and thought it was a funny shape (which I haven't!). So is it likely to be noticeable when she's older or am I really stressing over nothing?

OP posts:
LizJamIsFab · 08/08/2021 21:33

Not the same but my DD has what can only be described as a “lightbulb” shaped head, measuring way off the upper end of charts when she was a baby onwards. She was discharged from paediatrics aged 2, as developmentally normal.
Her hair is fair and much thinner than my other children and didn’t grow much for the first 2-3 years. So really a big blonde dome of a head/huge forehead.

Anyway now she is 6 and hair is thicker and with a fringe head is nil remarkable, only in the swimming pool/bath when her hair is wet does the “shape” reveal itself Smile she’s kind of growing into it.

GameofPhones · 08/08/2021 21:57

I've noticed flat back of head on Eastern European men. Noticeable, but not weird, just a feature.

BrozTito · 08/08/2021 23:18

Oh yeah kosovan albanians did binding/swaddling babies pre nato war which had this effect. It was very noticeable in the young ones but you cant really tell by about adolescence ime

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BertieBotts · 08/08/2021 23:25

Our old landlord had a very flat head at the back but he was also bald so it was really obvious. Under hair wouldn't be as clear.

PickAChew · 08/08/2021 23:30

Ds2's head has remained pretty wonky. It's less noticeable now he's man size and I'm not looking down at it, though.

Blueskyemily · 08/08/2021 23:32

My eldest DD preferred to sleep on her back (my youngest slept on her front/side as soon as she could roll, no matter what we did!) When I look back at photos of my eldest as a baby I do sometimes think her head looks a bit flat at the back.

At the time I never noticed anything and nobody ever commented. And she now has a full head of hair so I really have no idea what shape is underneath!

Other than that I can honestly say I've never noticed this condition on anyone, or if I have it clearly didn't make a lasting impression.

Elouera · 08/08/2021 23:47

Yes, I know 1 adult and a child with very flat back of the heads. The adult I know makes a joke at any chance to balance pints on his flat, back of head! Yes, its funny for 30seconds, then you just think, ok, seen that, lets move on! How odd! Its a running joke with colleagues.

The other is a 9yrs old. Apparently she had a traumatic birth and was 'born with a wonky head' according to a Dr!!! Now aged 9, she has a noticeable, hump on one side of her head and its flat at the back.

Hopefully your DD has thick hair so it won't be noticeable at all.

olidora63 · 08/08/2021 23:51

My friends daughter had a very noticeable flat head ….that was 25 years ago and she is now a poster girl for one of the formula one teams …please don’t worry 💕

YumBroadBeans · 09/08/2021 00:03

The back of DH's head is pretty flat, but evenly so. He was premature, and reading the NHS article online, that seems to be a risk factor.

TinaYouFatLard · 09/08/2021 00:15

My DS had a very flat head which made his head also wide from the front. He’s now 13 and looks completely normal.

Remember her head is still growing and has plenty of time to round out. She’ll be spending lots more time upright as a toddler so the pressure is taken off the flat area.

Just remembered I did use a special pillow for DS and tried cranial osteopathy but I think time was the solution.

thismotherhoodthing · 07/11/2022 18:14

@AugustSeptemberOctober I realise this is an old post but I was wondering if you did notice an improvement? I'm going through this now with DD who is 12mo (also had awful reflux) and the guilt/anxiety is awful. I know once she's taller and I'm not looking down on her head it will be less noticeable but I was really expecting more of an improvement by the 12 month mark

LittleBeluga · 07/11/2022 22:13

thismotherhoodthing · 07/11/2022 18:14

@AugustSeptemberOctober I realise this is an old post but I was wondering if you did notice an improvement? I'm going through this now with DD who is 12mo (also had awful reflux) and the guilt/anxiety is awful. I know once she's taller and I'm not looking down on her head it will be less noticeable but I was really expecting more of an improvement by the 12 month mark

Hi @thismotherhoodthing I am the OP but have since name changed!

DD is nearly three now, and it was still very noticeable up to around her second birthday. There has been a dramatic improvement over the last few months, and not just because her hair is longer. I used to feel so guilty when I washed her hair, but now it's not even very noticeable when her hair is wet or in pigtails. It honestly never crosses my mind now, and I used to get myself so worked up about it I could have been sick! Please try not to worry xx

Pipsqueakpopsqueak · 07/11/2022 23:36

My DD1 developed a very flat head in babyhood. People used to comment on it. I worried about it a lot, we saw a consultant, but eventually accepted it was most likely genetics after mentioning it to my mum. She said “haven’t you ever noticed me and your uncle have the family flat head??”. My second DD didn’t develop it at all - did nothing different with her in terms of bouncer time or tummy time etc. DD1 is 7 now and this is probably the first time I’ve thought about it in 4 or so years. I don’t even know if she still has it quite honestly; her hair is quite curly. Basically, don’t sweat it.

thismotherhoodthing · 08/11/2022 16:41

@LittleBeluga thanks so much. This has really helped. I was told for the first year it would "correct itself" then now she's a year old I'm being told the only thing that will correct it is a helmet! I have been feeling sick about it too and feeling so guilty as her face /head is wider because of it. Good to know you've noticed an improvement naturally

@Pipsqueakpopsqueak thanks. It's so hard not to think about it as I notice it all the time and people comment on it like you've said. I'll try to stop thinking about it as I don't want to put her in a helmet

Floydthebarber · 08/11/2022 16:47

Dd1 had a head that was flatter in one side where she lay on her back but always turned her head to one side. It was noticeable until she got a lot of hair at around 18 months. I have only just remembered it and can say at nearly 8 it is a fine shape! I think I felt upset partly as dispute being ventose born she had an amazingly large spherical head and I felt I had squashed it all by myself!

I was also very worried about it and googled everything for a while. But their heads continue to grow for years and do even out.

LittleBeluga · 08/11/2022 18:33

thismotherhoodthing · 08/11/2022 16:41

@LittleBeluga thanks so much. This has really helped. I was told for the first year it would "correct itself" then now she's a year old I'm being told the only thing that will correct it is a helmet! I have been feeling sick about it too and feeling so guilty as her face /head is wider because of it. Good to know you've noticed an improvement naturally

@Pipsqueakpopsqueak thanks. It's so hard not to think about it as I notice it all the time and people comment on it like you've said. I'll try to stop thinking about it as I don't want to put her in a helmet

@thismotherhoodthing glad to have made you feel a bit better! Feel free to PM me your email address, I am happy to send you a pic of 1 year and now if you need more reassurance 🙂

Amoreena · 08/11/2022 18:55

I didn't do tummy time. My eldest hated it. I knew a baby with a very flat head but I don't think it lasted. I never notice any teenagers or adults around with flat heads.

Whoneedsleep · 08/11/2022 19:08

DS1 has a very flat head. Also born early and was a very lazy baby (still is lazy to be fair)

The hair covers it, it’s only noticeable when it’s wet. Nobody has ever commented on it.

I too was very annoyed that they didn’t treat it though. I was referred to a consultant when DS was about 6 months and even they wouldn’t do anything!

thismotherhoodthing · 11/11/2022 07:01

@LittleBeluga I've just tried to PM you but it just says username invalid? Not sure why. I've never PM'd someone on here before but don't think I did anything wrong

LittleBeluga · 11/11/2022 09:12

Just PM'd you - I think!! 😆 x

spiderlight · 11/11/2022 09:26

I've got a flat bit on the top/back of my head. No idea why. Nobody has ever noticed or mentioned it.

absmildred · 21/01/2023 09:46

Hi all. My 2year 7month old still has flat head and it is a bit wider because of the flatness. I feel guilty every time I see it. It doesn't seem to be improving. I wasn't offered any support except it will sort itself out... He was sitting by 5months and rolled quite early..he sleeps on his tummy and has done since he could roll. We did tummy time, I moved his head when he was sleeping and carried him in sling. But it's just not corrected. I am hoping that he will grow out of it but scared it wont.. we struggle to get hats to fit him and helmets he has to wear age 5. I wish I had got more advice earlier on.

MissWings · 21/01/2023 09:48

I have yes. I’ve worked in special schools so I am thinking their development possibly contributed to a really flat head (they were perhaps delayed in their motor skills).

MissWings · 21/01/2023 09:50

Oh my boys heads were quite flat for ages. All fine now. My nephew had a helmet but it was probably unnecessary. Being a girl too helps with hair.

absmildred · 21/01/2023 09:52

@misswings did your boys have a wider head too?

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