6 month DS with squint head and major flat spot - advice?

[Bonners]

My DS has a big flat spot on the right back side of his head and when you look down on him his right ear is noticeably forward of the left. His entire head is squint and I'm worried it will stay like that. I noticed it at 3 months and have tried moving his head to the other side (this is not popular as he sucks his right thumb and usually just moves it back), I have always tried for lots of tummy time and now that he is sitting I encourage him to sit up and not lean back on his head. It doesn't seem to be doing any good however and his head is still squint. Friends say they can't notice it but that's bollocks, they are just being polite.
My HV has said not to worry and lots of my friends say it will sort itself out but the internet has said that I need to sort it before he is 9 months or it will stay like that! The NHS don't recommend helmets because there isn't much good evidence that they work (and they're bloody expensive).
Has anyone had the same problem and what did you do or did it sort itself out like everyone says it will??

Dd had this. We saw a consultant and he just said sit her so her toys are facing the 'right' side try and sit her so when she is looking at her she is facing the 'right' way. It is looking so much better since sha has learnt to sit up. Some babies have to go to physio but if your HV says it is fine then it probably is. You could always get a second opinion for GP if it's worrying you? You can also buy special pillows - have a google HTH

Can only offer some anecdotal evidence, no personal experience or opinion either way. Friends nephew had this and parents went with the helmet option (think he had some other health issues as well but not sure what they were/are). Has been wearing it for a few months now and apparently there is a marked positive difference, not only in shape of his head but also in co-ordination skills. Think it cost about 3 grand though.

My friend'd DS had this really badly (plagiocephaly) and the doctors' opinion is always "nobody will notice/hair will cover it" it's a skull deformity FFS! She went private and had to take out a credit card to cover the costs of a helmet. He had to wear it 23 hours a day but bloody hell it was worth it. His head went from severely flattened to normal. Today he looks completely normal. It is the best thing she could have done for him and IMO it's disgusting that the NHS considers it a 'cosmetic' problem.

Again, anecdotal, but ds1's was awful. He is now a big 4 yr old and has a perfect head. We didn't use anything (took advice from paeds).

It really does get better on its own, as long as there isn't anything in their neck stopping them turning their head the other way. Also the consultant said it needed to be better by the time dd was 2, not nine months, or it wouldn't get better.

My DS had a completely flat head at the back, it corrected itself, I was as happy enough to wait and see as his ears or facial features were not affected.

My friend on the other hand both her children have had severe plagio, her first child with the ear at different height and head flat on one side, would have caused probs when older, wearing glasses, safety helmets etc
Her other child is currently wearing a helmet, her forehead was bulging due to the plagio and it was distorting her facial features.

My opinion is when it is more than just a flat spot and is affecting ears and facial features that helmet therapy should definately be considered.

In my experience there is a middle ground between doing nothing and buying a helmet privately. DD had a flat left side of head, slight ear position asymmetry and wouldn't turn neck fully to right so I pushed HV for a physio referral. She had 4 sessions from 5-7 mths and I believe it helped with neck movement. At the same time she started spending more time sitting up etc and now (12 mths) although not perfect is very much improved.

Thanks very much! Plenty to think about there. I will get an appointment with a GP and ask for a physio referral first off to see if that helps. DS's forehead is slightly off centre but not really "bulging" so hopefully doesn't warrant helmet therapy.

this is a great site with information. The nhs won't do anything it's considered 'cosmetic' so they won't pay for treatment. It would be worth going to a peadiatric osteopath - sometimes there are tensions and stresses in the skull that make it grow a certain shape. You can go for a free consultation to the places that do the helmets - I haven't done this myself yet, but I have read they are very good and will not recommend a helmet unless they think it is really needed.
I am taking dd2 to an osteopath at the moment. 6 weeks in and some tension areas she had are much better and I can feel a subtle improvement- she has a flat spot right at the centre. The osteopath recommended to me to look into the helmet and maybe go for the free consult with looking at it as a possiblilty at 10 months - she 8 now.
Going to a paediatric osteopath would be a good first step.
hth.