How severe is this plagiocephaly?

[MattMcG93]

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice/reassurance if possible please. Looking at these pictures, do you notice any flattening of the head? I sometimes feel that DS had a flat patch on the left hand side but not sure if I’m over analysing every aspect of his head (I’m a known hypochondriac and worrier.) Everybody’s head has unique lumps, bumps and shapes…right?

He’s 6 months old and has started to roll, sit up mostly independently and is the happiest little man ever. We do lots of tummy time to take pressure off the head as I didn’t want plagiocephaly to develop. Also, does plagiocephaly cause any damage/impact to the brain?

Please no snappy replies. Just looking for some advice/reassurance as a first time dad.

Thanks!

Personally, it looks absolutely fine to me. Plagiocephaly is only aesthetic so you don’t need to worry about brain issues. If there is a flattening in an area it normally evens out when the head grows anyway… but honestly I can’t really see anything to worry about.
You can ask your health visitor for more reassurance and if they are worried they can send you to physio but I really doubt they will, you seem to be doing everything right anyway.

DD lay with her head on the right side for the first few months of her life due to a knot of muscle in her neck meaning her head couldn't turn the other way. Obviously she did become flat on that side. With physio the muscle issue resolved by the time she was 18m and the flatness reduced. She's now 7 years old and isn't noticeably flat-headed on that side. She's also obnoxiously bright so definitely didn't affect the intelligence bit of the brain. Social skills are iffy though but I very much doubt that's down to this!

Btw I can't tell from the photos. You could mention it to the health visitor. They'll know what to look for and can also make referrals if there are concerns.

Can't see it. Your baby looks like a fine baby with a lovely head to me.

I'm not saying it's not there, but, I am saying that whatever you are seeing is not showing up for me.

When my DS was 11 months his plageocepaly was so noticeable I couldn’t focus on anything else, his eyes were even uneven and his ears were in a diagonal line (he’d been very poorly at birth so didn’t move as much as he should).

Now age 10 and he has a perfectly normal looking head.

At the time I spoke to Dr and googled and the whole helmet thing is a bit of a con, so I didn’t take any action.

All that aside your child looks to have a perfectly normal shaped head.

Oh yes just to add mine is working +1-5 years ahead at school so if it has affected his brain in anyway it’s not academically.

I can barely see that; my sons was much worse and he had some physio because we realised he struggled with turning his head one way which resulted in the flat spot. He’s now pre school age and you can’t see it at all. They have up to 18 months until the bones in their skull harden and they naturally spend much less time lying down once they roll and crawl

Thanks everyone. I know the pictures are a bit iffy but feel like I must be over analysing his little head. Thanks for your reassurance

I honestly can’t see it, but you can buy a type of pillow online that encourages a rounder shape… it is often brought for premature babies who might have flatter heads (I can’t remember the exact name sorry but it worked for us)

It's normal to focus on things that you wonder might be a problem for your baby. It's nature. You're looking out for him, that's just being a good mum.

Totally understand your worries / concerns ! My
son wore a specialist helmet for 8 months for severe flat head.

Looking at your child’s pictures I cannot see anything obvious , but if your still worried and want reassurance you can get a free assessment with Technology in motion they specialise in flat head / plagio etc. .

Hope this helps x

No, don’t go to a company who want to sell worried parents a device with scare tactics! Please see your GP if you’re worried.

I can’t see it from these pics OP. I’ve seen plagiocephaly from mild to heads that look completely flat in profile. Unless there’s some issue with the skull ie plates not formed or closing as they should , it’s an aesthetic issue only. He looks absolutely gorgeous, sounds to be happy, doing all he should and able to support and turn and move his head ok. It’s normal to wonder if everything is ok but if your GP, HV etc are happy with the shape of his head, I’d try not to worry. His brain will be ok.

My daughter had a very flat head, she's two now and it's barely noticeable now she's got hair. I was fixated on it, spent so many nights crying and googling head shapes!

I wish I hadn't spent months worrying and upset now I know what I know. Best wishes x

Seems like a round head to me

There’s a reason the NHS don’t provide the helmets for flat head- there’s no benefit and long term no ill effects from not having one.

there are private companies which will convince you your child needs one, for ££££££ obviously.

funny that.

Oh that last photo is so cute, what a sweetie. Can't see anything wrong with his head Op. he looks totally perfect.

But I would ask mumsnet to delete the last photo.

With Respect I would disagree with you .

Wasn't any scare tactics involved in our expierence and no forcing or pushing to purchase anything.

Looks fine to me. I've seen an awful lot of funny shaped/ flat head in my work. And that one is fine. I don't know why people bother with those awful helmets. As their hair covers it anyway.

My 15 year old had a flat head and is fine now. We bought a helmet like the middle class wankers we were back then but couldn’t bear the crying and overheated head so didn’t use it much.

No need to do anything - baby looks gorgeous. It’ll right itself. Xx

I think it looks fine and would notice it unless you really point it out! My DC had this, and I was really worried about it - it was through head position when sleeping and not much I could really do to prevent it. I thought it was really noticeable up until about 6 months...and since then I think it's just evened out and it's not noticeable at all now!

So why get one then when the clinical evidence shows they aren’t necessary?

I've seen far far worse. I saw one child who looked like they were fresh out of a Tom and jerry cartoon where they'd come into close sudden comedy contact with a frying pan to the back of the head. 😳
If there is a bit of flattening it's barely there, can't see it in the pictures.

Totally normal head.

I can only speak from personal expierence but I was told my son would have been eligible for NHS treatment had we not already went private. I was told this by a cranial specialist at our local hospital .

They do still offer this treatment on the NHS but it’s not widely offered due to cost .