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Children's health

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Original poster

Flat head!

14 replies

yarrow5 · 05/01/2009 13:36

Ds is 20wks & has a really flat head on his right side! its really obvious & u can c it from the front. my GP ses it will just right itself eventually. does any1 have any experience of this? will it right itself or should i push 4 some sort of treatment?

OP posts:

NAB3lovelychildren · 05/01/2009 13:53

Loads of posts on this.

You need to get your GP to measure the assymetry and then depending on what the measurement is will tell you if it is plagiocephaly or not. Make sure he doesn't do the circumference.

Original poster

yarrow5 · 05/01/2009 14:05

thanks, i'm at the gp 2morrow, will ask him then & also look up the other posts!

OP posts:

NAB3lovelychildren · 05/01/2009 14:06

The instrument used to measure the assymetry looks like forceps/salad servers fyi.

DBXmum · 05/01/2009 17:15

Turn him, turn him, turn him! Make sure that you put him to sleep on the opposite side to the flat part to try and reshape. If you look at his head from above, are his ears in line? We had this issue with our DD, now 3, and didn't resort to any treatment (you can have caps fitted, google it) and it did get better but was still very noticable until she got a good head of hair at about 2 years. One thing that was really good was a Bumbo seat. This avoids the pressure that still exists when you sit them in a bouncy type chair. I noticed a real improvement then. Try not to worry too much, but be aware that you can help the situation. Incidentally, our DD had a tight muscle in her neck which meant that she favoured one side when asleep. Might be worth checking that too.

honeybunmum · 05/01/2009 19:41

My DS also has flat head syndrome, we noticed it was very flat across the back, he was about the same age as yours. We bought a 'goi goi' pillow from the swedish company that makes it. It takes the pressure off the head and you can use it in cot, changing mat, gym etc. Bumbos are good too, basically anything that means they are not laying down all the time. My DS is now nearly 8mths and although it is still slightly noticeable, it's much better and I don't think you'd notice at all if you did'nt know. Blooming Marvelous do a heart shaped pillow which does the same thing.

Seona1973 · 05/01/2009 19:50

I also used a goi goi pillow for ds and it did make a difference.

honeybunmum · 05/01/2009 19:53

Oh well done Seona, I didn't know how to do that... not very computer savvy

Original poster

yarrow5 · 05/01/2009 22:14

thanks 4 the advice, i've tried turning him, even propping his head with teddies but it always goes back!!!!! also got a bumbo so will try 2 use that more
i've looked at the link 4 the goi goi pillows. it says 2 stop using when the baby can turn over. did you do that or continue using it??

OP posts:

Seona1973 · 05/01/2009 22:25

I continued using it although ds more often than not ended up at the other end of the cot on his tummy.

NAB3lovelychildren · 06/01/2009 09:59

He will contionue to go back to that side as it is comfy. You have to reposition all the time but the crucial thing is to get the assymetry measured.

honeybunmum · 07/01/2009 12:09

My DS doesn't flip over so I don't have to worry about that, he did start ooching up the cot ending up with the pillow under his bottom (no flat bum syndrome at least) so we moved the pillow to the top and he seems to stay on it now.

angel1976 · 07/01/2009 13:59

Yarrow5, get a referral to a physio ASAP. If your DS is getting flat head on one side, could he have tortcollis? My DS has this and we were fobbed off for ages. I finally took him to a private doctor who diagnosed this with one look and referred him to a physio and we were given a set of exercises to do and that helped a great deal! The doctor told us we should have gone to him earlier (DS was 4 months then) as their neck muscles are starting to strengthen then. DS is now 10.5 months and his flat head is almost gone but he still has a bit of torticollis (his head is slightly tilted) but he's mostly okay now. He still sees a physio on the NHS so they can keep an eye on him but the exercises for us made all the difference! Good luck!

Original poster

yarrow5 · 07/01/2009 21:16

thanks 4 all the advice. went 2 the dr yesterday & have an appt with the peadiatrician on 5th feb.

OP posts:

Kiansmummy · 08/01/2009 10:03

Dont worry it almost always goes on its own as soon as the baby can manover itself around in its sleep- A lot of mothers panic over this but usually the treatment is only done for aesthetic reasons and has no real benefit to the child. My son had a very flat head which was concerning at the time but now he is completely fine. All the advice I have written above comes from the gp I saw as well as other child professionals. Please dont worry x x x x

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