To worry about my baby's flat / misshapen head?

[SimplyRedHead]

Hi all

My son (4 months old) has developed quite a noticeable misshapen head with a large flat spot over the last month or so.

I know this is really common and a quick google search has suggested that most babies's heads will return to normal when they are sitting/crawling.

I'm worried that it's starting to cause other areas of his head to protrude, especially one side of his forehead.

He's a very sicky baby so spends most of his time in baby bouncers or a pushchair or car seat because every time I lie him flat he is sick (not a full on puke, just a sideways stealth spit out). I was finding him in his cot covered in sick most mornings so he's been mostly sleeping in his bouncer too.

I would guess he spends around 22 hours a day in a bouncer or similar.

The thing is:

1. Should I take him to the Dr? Is there anything they can do?
2. I've seen special pillows online- are they any good?
3. How can I change his position more often? He can't lie flat, hates the bumbo, is too small for the Jumperoo.

I do have a sling but with two other children and lots of necessary car journies I find it hard to use it as much as I'd like to.

He's my third so I don't think I'm being PFB about it. All my friends keep telling me itll go away by itself but I think they are just too scared to acknowledge the obvious odd shape of his head. My husband has finally agreed with me that something needs to be done.

All advice, tips and shared experiences welcome.

I meant to say- repositioning worked with one of mine who had a more minor flat spot, it was looking dodgy at 4 months, but by 7 months, it was all but gone, she rolled a lot, tummy sleeping from about 6 months (when they can roll themselves back/forward you can't stop them moving even if you put them back to sleep).

The other didn't work, it got too severe too early coupled with a neck problem and so we went for the helmet option.

Wow - loads of brilliant tips and advice.

I will try to increase the time he is upright (bumbo, door bouncer, sling etc) although I can't seem to get him to tolerate anything for more than 5 minutes.

I will definitely look into everything that's been suggested and use the forums and online to look at his neck movement and repositioning tips.

I will also take him to the Dr next week.

Thanks so much for taking the time to share.

I would go and see a plagio specialist, doctors will only tell you it will get better on its own. My daughter is 3.5 and hers is still mishapen and won't get any better, if it's actually distorting her head shape and its not just flat I think you need professional advice.

My 2 year old daughters head was going the same way so I got her a helmet and she has a perfect head, it wasn't cheap but there is help out there. PM me if you need to chat.

Oh, my oldest had plagio but it rounded on its own as it was only a flat patch and not distorting the shape of his head. If its getting that far, from experience, you may need some help.

Doctors won't help though, I took my dd1 ans was referred her for a skull scan, she was on the Very Severe scale but doctors won't help. First consultation at a clinic is free.

www.technologyinmotion.com/app/index.html

This is an app on the website, don't know how good it is as it wasn't there when we needed help but maybe it can give you some idea of how bad it is.

My friend's twins had this and it turned out to be caused by a vitamin D deficiency. I don't know how common that is, but might be something to think about.

I've just found an old photo of dd's head and used the app above and it was quite accurate so it may help.

Definitely get medical help. My DS had a major flat spot on the back right side of his head and I mentioned it many times to my health visitor who told me not to worry. I was told it would even out eventually however it didn't. I used goigoi pillows from 10 months old and it helped a bit but DS is 6yrs now and still has a noticeably slanted head with one ear higher than the other. Good job he doesn't need glasses as sunglasses don't sit right at all. I hope he never goes bald as he won't forgive me for his odd shaped head. I feel guilty I didn't push for more help when it could have helped him.
Good luck wih your little one

You say he's a "sicky" baby and it's actually a well-known side effect of reflux. Reflux babies lie a particular way and unfortunately this leads to the flat head.

There isn't really much you can do although we were asked if we'd like to be referred to a physio who would teach us how to place him in a sleeping position he couldn't escape from so that he wouldn't lie that way. Sounded a bit barbaric to us and we figured if he was in pain he could lie any way he liked, and of course at 17 weeks he was so very close to moving around of his own accord.

As it goes, the bones all moved back around and now at 18 months (which is approximately the "too late" stage) nobody but me and his dad notice his head isn't quite perfect. Let's hope he keeps his hair!

My DN had this problem. DSis bought one of these

Sorry postedd too soon! On my phone! www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_125985_10001

www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_125985_10001

Oh bloody hell! Do a google on a slepcurve mattress. DSis got one and DNs head went back to normal in a matter of weeks. She got a crib one and a cotbed one. DCousin is now using one for his liitle boy. Excellent.

So your ds is only held 2 hours of the day? Does he feed with a propped up bottle?

I've never met an ebf baby/toddler with a misshapen head. Just saying...

I also second the sleepcurve mattress, I got that second time around after the flat spot was noticed- plus the little pillow thing for when sitting in a bouncer/car seat (plus a rolled towel round the back of the neck), you don't realise how much time some babies spend against flat hard surfaces because cots often have quite hard mattresses/car seat the same.

There is a window of opportunity between about 3/4 months (when you really notice it unless it's from birth) and late in the first year (10 months onwards) in which if you take action it's really effective. By about 12 months, there is some skull growth but not so much or so fast and it's harder to correct. Good if they sit up early as well, or can be propped up with cushions/Bumbo.

HugandRoll had this happen with her baby. He needed a helmet on for 23 hours a day. Not saying yours will need this, but I will send her a message and get her to come along with more info. He is gorgeous now, with a perfect head though.

DS had a really flat and misshapen head. GP said (in a very offhand way) that I was being ridiculous and that 'no one will notice once he has hair'. I felt really fobbed off but actually he was right. As soon as DS's hair grew I stopped worrying about it. He's now 5 (with a glorious mop of golden curls) and even if I try to look, I can't see whether his head is flat or not.

Having said that, it's definitely worth checking it out. Your GP might be much better than mine!

thebirdsandbeas he is breastfed with about 2 bottles of formula to top him up a day (not sure how this is relevant).

The only time he is really out of a seat is when he's feeding and for short hugs during the day.

I've had the major realisation that I need to hold him more, although it's so hard when dashing around after 2 other small children. I would love to cuddle/hold him more so I'll start to try to do that.

thelostwinchesterwife Thanks I'll check that mattress out.

YANBU to worry at all. I used to see a little boy at a playgroup, approx 18m old, with such a flat head it was basically triangular if you looked at his skull from above. Poor kid.

What sling do you have? Maybe we can help with one which is more comfortable for both of you if he doesn't like the current one.

If you have a sling meet near you it can be worth going to try a few out. Don't be put off by the tales of judginess and weirdness that you get on here, my sling meet was lovely and not judgy in the slightest - just an opportunity to try different slings without having to fork out £15-70 on each different kind and having the hassle of trying to sell them back etc.

It's true OP, 22 hours a day in a bouncer is the problem here, and you need to cut that right down. That's a long time to go without cuddles as well.

Do you think a sling could work? You'd be able to deal with your other children and keep him upright at the same time.

Thanks Yoni.

I have a 'baby bjorn' which my husband likes but isn't great for my back. A 'Close' wrap which I used a few times when he was tiny and really liked and an 'Ergo' which was too big for him initially but I haven't tried it recently.

TBH I think the main problem is that it's so much easier for me to put him down and get on with stuff. I find I'm in the habit of feeding him and then putting him immediately in his bouncer whilst I make the tea/clean up/take DD2 to the toilet etc etc. He's a very content baby so will happily sit there all day without complaining.

I tried him in the baby bjorn yesterday and he fell straight asleep. I found it really hard to reach round him to make the tea though so ended up transferring him into the bouncer.

What age can I wear him on my back from?

nocarsgo You're absolutely right.

It's only today that I've realised him little physical contact I have with him and how much we are both missing out. I will definitely try to sling him more and get better at spending evenings cuddling on the settee instead of watching TV with him in the bouncer next to me.

I think part of the problem is that he's so wriggly (reflux?) which makes him hard to hold / cuddle. The only time he seems to really settle is in his bouncer.

Thebirdsandthebees -how is that helpful?