Is this severe flat head?

[MattMcG93]

Hi all,

I think I deleted my original thread by accident as I can’t see the replies that were posted so thought I’d ask again. Apologies if my similar thread is found again but it’s just not showing up to me anymore.

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.

Hi OP your baby's head looks completely normal to me.

So cute! Hard to tell from pictures, you should probably ask a gp.

It looks to me like he has a slight flattening but not severe. DD's was worse and we corrected it without a helmet through physical therapy but you do need to catch it early.

I can't see any flat patch.

If you have concerns ask the HV.

What does your HV say?

Your child looks lovely. Perfect. You can ask for an HV review if you are still worried.

I can't really see it tbh. Maybe there's a tiny flattening at the back but I wouldn't say it's unusual.

My son's head was like this but worse, he's 5 now with a lovely round head

It really did just sort itself out. Lots of tummy time, just a sling etc instead of.always a pram

My DS had a much more noticable flat part.

I was advised to try to move his head position if I saw him sleeping on that part in the pram etc (although he slept like that all night!) to see if that lead to any improvement, but effectively that the NHS won't consider treatment until it affects the face at the front so would have to be private, which we could not afford.

He is now 5 and yes, it is still a bit flat, but he now has hair and it is not at all noticable unless you are looking for it.

He's got a beautiful head. I don't see anything wrong with it at all.

Two of my relatives had very noticeable positional plagiocephaly - very flat heads on the back. Neither needed treatment. Both are now 18 and have perfectly normal heads.

Obviously they've had normally shaped heads for years but it was just that we were talking about the beauty of their round skulls at Christmas as everyone had forgotten about it. Teens were obviously disgusted. Drink may have been taken...

My sons was similar but much more pronounced flattening. Twin so he was squashed poor thing.
He’s 22 now and ridiculously handsome and I haven’t given his head shape a thought since he was about 3.

I remember worrying a lot about this when my youngest was a baby. He's four now and his head looks normal.

Your baby's head looks perfectly normal.

Thanks all, HV isn’t great if truth me told. We’re requesting a different one

His head is fine. My baby had the flattest head I've ever seen and without any intervention it rounded out just fine in the end. I wasted so much time worrying about it.. and it was so much flatter than your sons.

Here's a good leaflet from the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists: apcp.csp.org.uk/system/files/documents/2020-06/Plagiocephaly_V4_2020.pdf

Lovely baby and no flat head I can see of.

My DS's head was a lot flatter than that. I kept the pressure off his head as much as I could, tummy time, put him in the baby carrier instead of rocker/Moses basket etc. He's now 6 and no one would notice, and no ill effects that we have noticed so far, he's doing really well at school etc.

I remembered worrying about it when he was a baby, but really try not to worry, I think it's very common

There is a tiny bit of flattening but well within the realms of normal imo. If it were my baby I wouldn't worry at all. It is very likely to resolve completely as little one gets more upright / mobile. You can do your bit to help by trying to avoid positioning that rests the weight of the head on the slightly flatter bit. Please rest assured it is only cosmetic and does not affect brain development at all.

Go to the GP then, they will advise.

It's definitely not severely flat, maybe a little on one side but that is common, something he may grow out if and will not affect his brain or development.

Looks like very very mild plagiocephaly. I wouldn't be worried about it at all.

I had to look really hard to identify maybe a small area of flatter head. But I'm certain with plenty of tummy time and as baby spends more time moving and less time lying on his back, it will sort itself out.
My son was born with a very flat asymmetric head and GP/HV didn't care as it's considered cosmetic. We opted for a helmet to reshape it which worked. His twin had only very slight flattening to her head (but more than your son appears to have) and we didn't treat it and it's a nice shape now. My kids are 11 now, and no-one would ever think I'd once been worried about head shape!
Anyway, all this to say if my kids heads had been similar to your child's I'd have been perfectly happy!

Can't see any flat. Never mind severe flat.

If it’s there, its very slight and I wouldn’t have noticed. If you’re worried, see your GP. I’d be really surprised if they think this is an issue.

It sounds like you’re obsessing over this is the issue, not the shape of your child’s head. Are you getting help with your anxiety? If not, I think you should. 💐

Your son is super cute btw and I really do think this is your anxiety getting the better of you.