Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

flat head prevention?

1 reply

whattoexpect · 09/03/2011 11:26

My 13 week DS sleeps on his back. I notice his head is getting a bit flat, concerned it doesn't get worse. Anything I can do? Do all babies get flat heads and does it resolve itself? I did a search and saw that there are helmets some babies wear! eek!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
CaptainNancy · 09/03/2011 14:35

First of all- please don't panic! Smile

It's very common, and most round out nicely without any special treatment.

Please do check with your GP that baby doesn't have a neck problem (called torticollis) that stops him from turning his head to each side evenly. If he does have this, your gp will give you a series of physio exercises to do each nappy change with him, and it will get better pretty quickly.

Otherwise- keep him off his head as much as possible- in a sling, your arms, in a bumbo when he's a bit older, tummy time when you can (though my 2 hated this with a passion). Try and get him to sleep on a slightly different part of his head each sleep by using a rolled up towel under his matress- alternate the shoulder it's under to make him move his head left one nap, right the next IYSWIM.

We also used a goigoi pillow for nappy changes and when he was under the baby gym (only 10 mins max really, never unattended) - but many people don't like them as NHS staff say not to use, but in Sweden all babies have pillows pretty much from birth.

See how it goes- my son's righted itself within 5 weeks of doing these things (no torticollis, a very calm, still sleeper)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread