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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Plagiocephaly - flat head syndrome DS 4 months

62 replies

EssentialHippo · 12/04/2020 14:53

My baby is 4 months old and over the last few weeks his flat head has gotten a lot worse. It is to the right side of his head as that is his preference to sleep. I try and turn his head each night and when I wake in the night but he is stubborn and often turns it back. I can't bring myself to use a pillow due to the SIDs risk. I feel so guilty for not noticing before now and moving his head around or looking up details and how to help with this sooner. The info I've now read suggests that my DS is a prime candidate for this being born by forceps, refusal of dummy and thumb sucking instead and tight neck muscles. I feel horrendously guilty for letting it get this bad.

I have been in touch with a specialist and can afford the slightly horrific fees. However, during this pandemic I don't know whether I would be reasonable in going to see this specialist. I have an appointment booked but I'm getting nervous.

What have others done and would you take DS to the specialist in these awful times?

OP posts:

negomi90 · 12/04/2020 15:00

There's nothing wrong with plagiocephaly. As long as his sutures haven't fused - if they have that's not plagiocephaly, that's badness.
Leave it alone, don't waist your money. It will correct gradually on its own over the next few years and before that your ds may grow in some thick hair.
Ignore and enjoy your baby with the mishapen head (it won't do him any harm).

Floatyboat · 12/04/2020 15:02

What qualifications does this specialist have and why is the treatment not available on the NHS?

Original poster

EssentialHippo · 12/04/2020 15:05

@negomi90 how would I know if they have fused?

OP posts:

Original poster

EssentialHippo · 12/04/2020 15:07

As far as I'm aware it is a cosmetic issue so not an NHS treatment. But someone please correct if I'm wrong. I found them through a charity. I'm still ploughing through their paperwork I've been sent so can't give exact qualifications etc but will be checked out fully first.

OP posts:

edenhills · 12/04/2020 15:08

My sons was quite bad at 8 months. We found special pillow stopped it getting worse. We nearly paid thousands to private company but then NHS consultant said it would get better on it's own. Son is now 10 and fine. X

MyNameHasBeenTaken · 12/04/2020 15:09

It should start sorting itself out by about 6 months, as the child spends more time upright.
Dd didn't start getting a flat head until she was 6 months. And learned to sit herself up and lay herself down. And land on the back of her head..
It's not too obvious now, she has plenty of hair. (She did see hospital about this but was discharged as ok!!)
There are some little hats to buy for about a tenner... with a little bobble attached, which is fixed to one side. Making it less comfy to lay on that side
Might be a different idea to hospital?
And we had a little flat pillow. About an inch thick. Heart shape, foam. With the middle missing. To support the sides of the head . Cant remember the name and that is probably the worst explanation ever!

Thehop · 12/04/2020 15:09

He’ll outgrow it, leave him.

ScarfLadysBag · 12/04/2020 15:10

How bad actually is it? Unless it's very extreme, it will most likely resolve itself. DD had a bit of a flat head at that age but when she got to about six months she started sitting up and also sleeping on her front and it sorted itself. Once they are more mobile or able to sit unaided it tends to resolve.

Original poster

EssentialHippo · 12/04/2020 15:11

@mynamehasbeentaken I know the pillow but it still increases the risk of SIDS. I just feel horribly guilty. Every day it seems to be worse.

OP posts:

wowjustwowyes17262 · 12/04/2020 15:13

DD had this, we bought a pillow for her (breathable one designed for children like this). Hers was so severe that ears were not aligned when you looked from above. It’s so so much better now at 7 months than it was at 3 months. Realistically when she is older her hair will grow and cover it.
A few friends forked out the £ for helmets, about 3-4K, I personally wouldn’t. You need to weigh up the discomfort of wearing the helmet for months on end vs the cosmetic aspetc that will and does get better in time/

Original poster

EssentialHippo · 12/04/2020 15:13

It's not horrific but I sent pics to the specialist who said yes it is noticeable - because it is - but I don't want to a cause any unnecessary discomfort for my baby.

OP posts:

Original poster

EssentialHippo · 12/04/2020 15:14

@wowjustwowyes17262 please can you provide a link for the breathable pillow?

OP posts:

Elouera · 12/04/2020 15:14

Don't be so hard on yourself OP! Its hard to see things when you are so close and seeing your baby every hour of the day!

My friends child had a special helmet to wear, to make his head round. This was a few years ago, and I've heard (don't quote me) that its not that common now. Maybe its seen as 'cosmetic' hence not covered on NHS?

My cousins child was also forceps, and an extremely long, difficult labour. He was born with an odd shaped head, told it would correct itself and it never has. He is 7 now. TBH, its higher on one side and really looks strange. At least a flat head at the back is partially obscured by hair, and not so obvious from the front.

Is there any 'safe' type of pillow or bolsters either side of his head, that maybe straps to the cot what could be used to stop his head moving around so much?

ScarfLadysBag · 12/04/2020 15:15

I wouldn't use the helmet on a young baby like that, it would be horribly uncomfortable and unpleasant for them. It would have to be incredibly extreme to warrant that.

Rumblebear · 12/04/2020 15:18

DD1 had this. I was in Aus at the time. They advised lots of tummy time and some special excercises to loosen the neck muscles and encourage her to sleep other side. We did go to a physio but it was literally- using a little rolled up blanket to prop up her side so she’s slightly tilted to the side she doesn’t like, lots of activities the side she hates so she looks round etc...and Tummy time strictly 4 times a day. Slowly pull her up to sitting (while supporting). Alternate touching her little
Diagonal arms and legs. Who knows what it would have been like had I done nothing but by 6 months when she was sitting up herself her neck was a lot looser and she was absolutely fine. Prob still a little flat now but hair hides (she’s 3). I didn’t have forceps though- I think it was her position in me that made one side of her neck tighter.

wowjustwowyes17262 · 12/04/2020 15:19

www.theraline.co.uk/babypillow.htm we got this one from John Lewis, but i think amazon stock it too. You would need the 2nd stage one.
I was a bit dubious at first but when you hold it up to your mouth (for instance if baby rolled nd couldn’t move back) you can breath through the material as it’s full of holes... we used it for naps etc at first, now she just has it it night.
Once your son is more mobile, is on his tummy more rolling around this helps massively too

Qwerty543 · 12/04/2020 15:20

My DS had this and I was fobbed off with 'it will sort itself'. Well he's now 12 with a wonky shàped head on his right hand side. Bike helmets don't sit quite right. Luckily he has very thick hair that covers it but he'll never be able to have it very short as it's very noticeable.

wowjustwowyes17262 · 12/04/2020 15:20

@EssentialHippo the specialist will of course say it’s noticeable as if it is there is money to be made.

wowjustwowyes17262 · 12/04/2020 15:22

When you look at Plagiocephaly pictures my daughter’s looked exactly like the “severe” cases ...I’d say she’s moderate / mild now

MadauntofA · 12/04/2020 15:24

Please don't waste your money. This has no effect on health or brain development hence not recommended by the NHS. Spend your time encouraging tummy time and placing interesting toys on the side he is reluctant to turn. As he grows, this will improve. These companies will tell you it is a problem if they can make £3-4k

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 12/04/2020 15:25

Just leave it alone! It's purely cosmetic and will correct itself

MadauntofA · 12/04/2020 15:26

www.nhs.uk/conditions/plagiocephaly-brachycephaly/

See end of link

Snowflakes1122 · 12/04/2020 15:28

My third dc had it quite badly. It was very noticeable, but it corrected itself without treatment. I wouldn’t worry personally.

VeryShortNotice · 12/04/2020 15:41

@Qwerty543 DSD (6) has really quite noticeable plagiocephaly. It does make it hard to get bike helmets that fit etc, and her ponytail just won’t sit at the back of her head. She’ll just have to live with it - and it is only cosmetic.

But, I’m pretty sure she basically spent the first year of her life lying down and never got any tummy time etc. Apparently she was just such as easy baby who’d lie there all the time requiring no attention or effort. Why DP didn’t think this was unusual and look into it himself is a mystery to me. He didn’t even know that babies are supposed to spend their awake time not lying on their backs.

But your situation is different, @EssentialHippo. Loads of little ones have quite flat heads at some point. That’s a side effect of sleeping on their backs. Lots of tummy time really does help while they aren’t yet able to sit on their own etc. It also helps with the acquisition of a whole range of motor skills. It’s not something to worry about at this point.

CaryStoppins · 12/04/2020 15:48

People always come on these threads to say it sorts itself out and they outgrow it - if that were true, how is it that there are several children at my dc primary school who have noticeably flat or wonky heads?

I don't know about the helmets - I know a couple of people who have used that, one's child is about 12 now and still has a very flat head, another is 2 now and has a slightly misshapen head but definitely better. I would make sure your baby is only ever on their back to sleep though, tummy only during the day and don't leave him in baby seats or car seats (unless in the car!) that put any pressure on his head. Only sit him in a bumbo type chair and try to use a sling with his head free rather than a pram.

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