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Original poster

Flattened head - anyone else's baby got one?

9 replies

steppemum · 20/07/2003 15:31

My ds's head is very, very flat at the back, looks like the back of his head has been chopped off. In fact when his rear fontanella closed he had an indented curve for a while, but noe it has flattened out. I am always fending off comments about it. I have always thought that it was an old wives tale that it is related to sleeping on their back, but then I saw the thing on the latest mumsnet news, and now I'm wondering if i should do something. Does anyone else have a flattie? Does anyone know if they grow out of it? Is it really connected to how they lie? (so how come everyone doesn't end up with a flat head?)
I hope this isn't a repeat thread, I did do a search, but I'm not very good at them

OP posts:
donnie · 20/07/2003 16:24

hi steppemum, my dd had a very flat head for months. She was born with venthouse suction which flattened it and sleeping on her back seemed to add to the problem. Once she got to about 5/6 months we started putting her to sleep on her front as she much preferred it and her head gradually started to curve in the normal way. Her hair also started to grow on the bald pathc she'd had for ages. I was worried about it but varioub health visitors etc said it was common and not an issue so I wouldnt worry. How old is your ds ? if he is old enough maybe you could experiment with putting him to sleep on his side or front.

hmb · 20/07/2003 16:40

Both Dd and Ds had this when they were under 1. Dd also hade a bump of one side of her head. Now, at 6 and 3 their heads are normal. Try not worry about it.

wickedstepmother · 20/07/2003 17:32

My DD had one for a couple of months when she was tiny. Now, at 11.5 months, everything is normal in the head department ! I would guess at it being related to the fact that babies have such soft skulls that the pressure from sleeping on one side of the skull for hours on end just flattens the curve out a bit.

codswallop · 20/07/2003 18:43

you dont notice their heads once they are older I think... Unless they wear a bike helmet all the blinking time - altho I must say not for 2 days!!

runragged · 20/07/2003 21:59

In my family every one's head looks like they have been hit on the back of the head with a frying pan, it's a family trait! You can't tell once there is a lot of hair but all new babies get subjected to the once over and lots of "mmmn he's got the family head" all very proud relatives. In fact if you don't have a flat head and can't touch your nose with your tongue you are a positive outcast

kayleigh · 21/07/2003 19:03

steppemum, my ds1 had this. He was also venteuse delivery. It was exceedingly noticeable, and I was so upset about it , especially as everyone seemed to mention it as soon as they met him that at around 10 months we took him to see a paediatrician privately. He promised me that by 2-3 it would have disappeared altogether - and lo and behold it did. My second son had a normal delivery and has a perfectly formed head which leads me to believe in our case it was definitely the venteuse and it isn't genetic.

Neen99 · 21/07/2003 21:12

Steppemum, my ds1 has had a flat back-of-the-head since a few weeks after he was born. I have read that it is hereditary, the back of my dh's head is also quite flat. To be honest, now he's 16 months and got more hair, it's not really an issue. Not many people have ever commented on it, and we've stopped noticing.
We'll have to see in a few weeks whether ds2 has it when he is born! Either way he'll be beautiful to us!

pie · 21/07/2003 21:21

I have a totally flat back of the head!!!! But then it is because I'm half asian, I was also born with a flat blue bottom, the blue is gone, but I'm can stad with my back completely flat against the wall.

Not very helpful, but just wanted to stand up and stay I AM FLAT AND ITS OK

Original poster
steppemum · 23/07/2003 16:22

Thanks everyone, LOL pie!
He is only 7 months, and it doesn't really bother me, it is just that everyone comments on it, and LOADS of people have told me off that he sleeps on his back too much. He does have a very round head apart from the back, which doesn't help. He wasn't ventouse delivery, in fact the back of his head was really swollen for a few days after birth, and he still slept on his back! I have tried to encourage him on to his side, but he just wriggles back on to his back with both hands above his head. Well, as long as it rounds out a bit (nothing against flat heads, he just looks a bit unbalanced) then I won't worry.
Thanks for all your encouraging comments

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