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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask about flat head syndrome

48 replies

Daftodil · 09/06/2020 20:53

Hi all,

Sorry, not really an AIBU, just hoping someone else has encountered this and can offer some advice/reassurance.

My 6 week old baby has quite a lopsided head. I spoke to the doc at his 6 week check who said it is plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome and should even itself out over time but to keep an eye on it in case it doesn't improve. Has anyone had a baby with flat head syndrome? Did it even itself out over time or is it still lopsided? Has anyone used a plagiocephaly pillow/helmet/other intervention and did it work? Any recommendations?

Would be grateful to hear anyone's experience with this.

Thank you.

OP posts:

teabaseddiet · 09/06/2020 22:19

I know a couple of babies who had this. Both opted for helmets and it made a huge difference

pandarific · 09/06/2020 22:20

Definitely get a sleep curve mattress and avoid the pillows, they're not sleep safe. My baby had flat back of the head quite badly at 3 months (good sleeper) and it improved a lot after the mattress and keeping him off his back as much as possible.

If it's a side of the head thing I think that can be less likely to rectify on its own? In your shoes I'd go for a consultation for a helmet if you're really concerned and think it's really noticeable.

PowerslidePanda · 09/06/2020 22:23

Definitely get a sleep curve mattress and avoid the pillows, they're not sleep safe.

A sleep curve mattress doesn't follow the safe sleeping guidelines either - what makes you think it's any safer than a breathable pillow?

EmpressoftheMundane · 09/06/2020 22:34

This happens because babies spend too much time lying flat on their backs when they are too young to wiggle around much. Fight it with lots of tummy time, and even having them sleep on their stomach if you are a rule breaker.

kingdomcapers · 09/06/2020 22:37

My youngest was referred for hip dysplasia (one side)and the physiotherapist that was shadowing the paediatrician queried how flat her head was as well on that side. She must have been tucked right up against my pelvis. Anyway I remember her being scored on 5 different areas by the physio, on things like were her ears level, how flat, if she reached a certain score then she would've been fitted for a helmet. She didn't need one but I had to make sure she had a certain amount of tummy time and because it was on one side and her neck was also stiff I had stretches to do with her every nappy change. I'd suggest speaking to your HV or GP. Even if you can't get a face to face appointment see if they'll look at photos or broach it when you take her for her jags.

MsChatterbox · 09/06/2020 22:45

My son had a very flat head and the pillow fixed it very quickly. I tried just using sling for naps etc before this but it was still very flat!

MrsPerfect12 · 09/06/2020 22:46

My DS1 had a flat head, well it was more to one side. I bought a special pillow and put a rolled up Muslim cloth at the side of his head if on a swing or chair. I also took him to a chiropractor that specialised in babies that did some work on him. He's totally fine now. Better to act now before one and whilst the head is still flexible apparently. Good luck

OkOkWhatsNext · 09/06/2020 23:06

My ds1 has a flat head on one side. It was picked up on by a paediatrician when he went for a check on his clicky hip at 8 weeks. Because it was on one side she said it was very important to make sure he wasn’t always facing the same way in his basket. Basket was beside our bed and she said he would naturally turn towards us for comfort, food, just sensing us there. So to make sure that we rotated him each night so he would turn different way. Also I noticed Moses basket mattress was a bit sunken in one place so his head probably turned slightly into it, and was better on a larger, flatter cot mattress.

OkOkWhatsNext · 09/06/2020 23:08

Beware certain pillows too, My niece had one with a hole in the centre that was supposed to prevent flat head. She ended up developing a protruding bump on the back of her head where the pillow hole was!

elliejjtiny · 09/06/2020 23:20

My 7 year old had plagiocephaly. His was quite mild though and I hadn't noticed until he was 7 weeks old and the paediatrician said it was improving . I didn't do anything special to try and correct it.

pandarific · 10/06/2020 05:48

@PowerslidePanda because the mattress is used in Alder children's hospital, and also pillows can move if you have a wriggly baby, that's why no pillows or soft toys in their cot because they can wriggle so their faces are covered and not be able to move again. The mattress is just a mattress, there isn't anything they can get their faces covered by accidentally.

Pickles89 · 10/06/2020 06:03

I would be tempted to use a helmet. I nannied for a little boy who had a pretty flat head that nobody did anything about, and it'll always be flat now. It's not so noticable with longer hair at least.

TeddyBeans · 10/06/2020 06:20

My son's head was completely flat and cone-like. I started to worry about it at about 5 months so took him to a chiropractor. I took progression shots throughout but (if they've attached) I've added the comparison pictures from before, after 3 and after 5 sessions from the side and also a before and after shot from the top. (You can see the side of his head bulges out on the left compared to the right in the left hand image)

It's made such a massive difference and I will always advocate seeing a chiropractor for a flat spot!

TeddyBeans · 10/06/2020 06:23

Should add that DS is 2 now and aside from a tiny flat patch central back (which will be corrected once lockdown is lifted) you would never know he had a flat spot 😊

PowerslidePanda · 10/06/2020 08:42

Because the mattress is used in Alder children's hospital, and also pillows can move if you have a wriggly baby, that's why no pillows or soft toys in their cot because they can wriggle so their faces are covered and not be able to move again. The mattress is just a mattress, there isn't anything they can get their faces covered by accidentally.

But I specifically said a breathable pillow (like Mimos), and the safe sleeping advice is for a flat, firm mattress - not one with a massive groove built in. If the baby rolls and get stuck on the wrong part of the curve, they could suffocate. Babies have died that way just through parents putting extra padding on the mattresses of travel cots.

Pleasedontdrawonyoursister · 10/06/2020 08:59

I would keep baby off it’s back as much as possible, most people will tell you the baby will outgrow the flat spot but I can tell you this isn’t true in all cases - it’s especially noticeable if you have a boy with short hair. Some of the boys in DD7 class have noticeably flat backs to their heads. My DD had a very flat head and we toyed with the idea of getting a helmet but her hair does cover it and it has improved slightly over the years (she’s 7). If I could afford it I would get a helmet to be honest if it doesn’t improve within the next few months.

pandarific · 10/06/2020 09:02

@PowerslidePanda okay, I'm not going to argue with you about it, neither are lullabye trust certified so it's down to parents own risk assessments really.

I did buy a pillow (not mimos) but in the end wasn't happy about the safety of it for sleep so only used it when he was awake on his mat etc (HATED tummy time and the sling alas).

I was happy with the safety of the sleep curve because it's used in a children's hospital and didn't use when my baby was rolling (my baby wasn't a roller at all, and didn't until he was well past the age they're 'supposed' to!). Also he is very long and was in a sleeping bag, so as he wasn't a wriggler there was imo absolutely no chance he could have somehow crammed himself into the dip.

But like I say - entirely parents own risk assessment.

Original poster

Daftodil · 10/06/2020 11:20

Thank you all for your responses. I'm genuinely grateful to everyone for taking time to respond to this. I've ordered a sling and will try the rolled up muslin when he's in the bounce chair to keep him off the flat side. He's currently asleep on my tummy at the mo although as DS1 is bouncing around the room I'm not sure how long that sleep will last! I'll read up some more on pillows and mattresses too. Thank you everyone.

OP posts:

PowerslidePanda · 10/06/2020 22:13

@pandarific - Fair enough - not trying to start an argument Just pointing out that the mattress isn't necessarily a safer option. I agree about everyone making their own risk assessment. For me, one of the advantages of a pillow was that it could be used for daytime naps when I was closely supervising and removed for night time sleep - but prior to having babies with plagiocephaly, I wouldn't have thought there would be any circumstances in which I'd have been comfortable with the risks of a pillow.

jgjgjgjgjg · 10/06/2020 22:18

Keep the pressure off your baby's head until they can roll or sit by themselves. So either hold them or use a sling.

sunlightflower · 10/06/2020 22:32

I was just pondering this today and wondered if a sleepyhead or something similar makes any difference? As it's a softer surface than a crib mattress? I know they're not recommended for overnight sleep, but for naps.

I don't know either way but thought someone else might!

Babyroobs · 10/06/2020 22:34

My ds1 had a flat head. He is 21 almost and it is still slightly noticeable. He didn't have any treatment for it.

Pregnantabroad · 10/06/2020 22:39

This happened with one of my twins. I only did something about it at around 3 months and wish I had earlier. He's 3 now and you don't notice it but it got a lot worse between 3 and 4 months. I bought one of those pillows with a hole in the middle. I also had a memory foam pillow but the one with the hole was better although my son's head was flat right at the back - no curve down from the top to his neck. I put him on his tummy as much as possible, used the hole pillow in the day, would put him in the bouncy chair with it or sort of wedge it in the side of his head to make him turn it. I also slept him slightly on his side by putting a rolled up towel under his back. You could try that.

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