Help me! Flat head!

[Mammie81]

DS is 3 months and is developing a flat head on one side. I know the reason, its because he sleeps on one side, favours chewing the hand on that side, and I feed him on that side. Ive tried to move him during sleep but he always moves back, we play on his tummy so theres not so much time in the day on his back/side and Ive tried (admittedly its not really working) to feed on the other side (not possible with right boob at all)

Im thinking now, do I put him in the bumbo for a while each day? He can hold his head up pretty well? Are the bumbo's safe for 3mo?

Failing that, any other tips? Im hoping we've not missed the boat and his head will stay like this. DP's best friend has a very bad flat head and was bullied all his life

We had exactly the same issue and pursuaded the HV to refer us to a paediatric physiotherapist. Not sure she really suggested much I didn't already know e.g. lots of time on front, keep turning head when asleep etc but it was reassuring to some extent. By the time DD was approx 5 mths she was happier on her front and once sitting up the constant head to one side thing virtually stopped. Her head has become more symmetrical over time but is not yet 100% (at 10mths) although her hair now covers it well.

I'd definitely recommend physio just in case there's specific things they can suggest.

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+Heart-Baby-Pillow+A4981

we got one of these heart shaped pillows but i'm not convinced it made a huge difference to dd's rather oddly shaped head.

she sees a cranial osteopath who has done some gentle physio which i think has helped a bit - we were mainly concerned about it from a developmental perspective rather than aesthetic (and now that she has some hair you'd never know she has a funny shaped noddle underneath it) but she seems to be fine.

My daughter (now 4) started to develop a flat head on one side at about four months. Our answer was to switch the way she was sleeping completely. So basically if he sleeps with his head at the window end swap his head to the other end. They will still suck the same thumb etc or bend the same way but crucially it's the other side on the bed! Swap over every two weeks and it corrected itself for us. No outlay, no hassle, no flat head :o)

Thanks for all your help! I just made a brilliant discovery, if I put him in his bouncer and point him away from the kitchen, he cranes the other way to watch me. I think I'll move his cot around too.

So I think this might resolve itself (if it does that, I dont know) but I will still ask the HV on tuesday!

Both my boys tended to flat head. With the second boy. Who's head is a much better shape. We used one of those pillows with the hole in it for sleeping. We were referred to the physiotherapist. We did tummy time and we visited the cranial osteopath. My first boy's head is pretty ok now. He has a great head of hair and he's lovely. The second is much better. You need to build the exercises into your routine and get kind professionals to help. Because you want the best for your child of course. I think too young for bumbo and bouncer. Mine didn't hold their heads til five months. Or am I misremembering. I did look into the helmet for the older one. £1,000 yikes. There is a clinic in Kingston. I don't know what you think of that? Best of luck. PS My DH is bald so we need fairly good roundys!

My DS (7 months) is just about to get a helmet because of plagiocephaly. Turns out there is plenty I could have done sooner if I'd known...

As mentioned above, change the way he lies in the crib each night, move any crib toys frequently, obviously plenty of tummy time & as you say, move his bouncy chair around so that he has to vary where here looks.

The paediatrician told me that a bumbo can be used from as early as 2 months for short periods with supervision (who knew - I always had my judgey pants on when I saw really young babies slouched over in them).

You should check with a physio for torticollis (stiff neck muscles in one side) as this can cause flat head & is often missed by GP's & HV's.

My DD also had quite a flat head when young (but not as severe as DS)& it came right once she started rolling over & sitting up. I have to say though, my experience with her made me a bit too laid back with DS. My son's plagiocephaly is severe and we have missed the window for the apparently multiple repositioning strategies that an OT or physio could have taught us. I wish I had pushed my GP harder when I first raised the issue at 4 months.

My message would be don't panic but don't be afraid to push your GP or HV for a referral to a physio or occupational therapist if you don't see any improvement.

My son had a flat head and always looked to one side as a young baby (he still has a mishapen head at 8yrs). I was only recently told that this can cause a problem with the development of core stability and potentially movement and coordination. I came across a chiropractor who specializes in neuro-muscular stabilization. This therapy trains the brain to regain full control of the musculo-skeletal system thus alleviating any problems later down the line. I could dig out the number if you would like to know more?

I would follow up if you are concerned. My son developed coordination problems but through sensory integration therapy and neuromuscular stabilization he has made excellent progress and can ride a bike, scooter and play football amongst other things! Let me know if you want any more details

This website www.plagiocephalycare.org/reserch.php has lots of useful information. My DS had a really bad flat head, we used a sleepcurve mattress in his cot and a goi goi pillow for in his pram/bouncy chair/time on the floor all while he was supervised. He didn't like the bumbo much but he did like sitting in the play nest. Basically try and avoid as much as possible having his head on a hard flat surface and do as much as possible to encourage him to look the other way.

DS, nearly 4, does still have an odd shaped head tbh but you'd have to be looking for it to notice it now. He was a bit older than yours when we started to do something about it though and we did manage to make it vastly better than it was.

We used one of these from birth sleep positioner

I bought the heart shaped cushion for lying in the pram and bouncer.

I would check out reflex-health.com and Hopscotch children's therapy centre too!

My dd has a bit of a flat head, she's 7 months. I have been taking her to a paediatric osteopath for the last 3 weeks. I have been going to this place in london, but if you ring them they could recommend someone if they are not near you. Basically he said my dd had areas of tension in her skull that was hindering the head growing round. He is treating that, with looking to see what improvement there is over the next 6-8 weeks. Dd's is not too severe, but we have the option of a helmet if there is no improvement .
At 3 months you have the chance to try repositioning as well as the osteopath. The NHS rarely recognises flat head as something to treat, they see it as cosmetic, so you are likely to have to pay. I would reccommend looking into it as much as you can and finding an osteopath, rather than waiting for a referral, repositioning works best before 6 months, but flat head can be treated up to 14 months with the osteopath/ helmet option.I hope that helps you, I wish I had been more aware of it when I first noticed, instead of listening to the hv who said she'd grow out of it.