Flat head =(

[Muminneedofadvicelol]

Hi everyone

I'm so anxious with regards to my little ones flat head. He is 4 months old and has had a very flat head at the back from early on. He absolutely hates tummy time and even now I feel he doesn't like lying on me anymore which upsets me. I spend so much time bonding with him so don't understand why he suddenly won't lie on me anymore. Every night, through the night I try to turn his head, but he is so wakeful and he just moves it back into position. I really don't know what to do. Let's just say the genes in the family of both sides the men are all bald so I would hate for him to go around with this for the rest of his life. I also think his little ears look like they are sticking out a lot more because of this.

I've bought one of those love heart pillows but he doesn't like it either

Would it be recommended to have him sleep on his sede at night time? If I were to prop him with towels or something? During the day he naps on his side with me watching him like a hawk. He sits up in his chair through the day too.

I feel so anxious and upset about it. I wish I did more to stop this happening.

My daughter had a really flat head at that stage. We did tummy time but it didn’t help.

It was only when she starting sitting up unaided at about 5/6 months that her head has become normal

I would take him to a cranial osteopath and have them check his neck. It’s very common for babies to be born with a stiff neck (it’s called torticollis). They should have a wide enough range of motion that they can and do sleep with their head to either side and the back. If they don’t, they lie on one spot and it gets flat. My youngest had it. 2-3 appointments and it was sorted. He may already had some flatness but certainly removing the pressure on that spot will help and at least it won’t get worse. He’ll also be more comfortable. If his neck is bothering him, it could explain why he isn’t keen on tummy time too.

Minor flatness generally resolves itself when baby starts sitting up and crawling, but if it does look on the more severe end it's worth speaking to HV or GP in case some more intervention is needed.

And definitely don't prop him on his side. That would be unsafe. He should continue to be put down on his back.

My DS had torticollis and developed a very noticeable flat head. I took him to a cranial osteopath and he also was referred to a physiotherapist for his torticollis, but of which helped. He's now 2 and the flat spot is much less noticeable now that his head has grown and it's evened out.

Dd started to get a flat head on one side at about 3 months and I bought a special pillow, not the heart ones, a squareish one with lots of air holes in it and managed to prevent the flat spot getting any worse. I'm not sure it will ever go but now she's getting hair it's less noticeable.

Link to pillow

www.johnlewis.com/theraline-the-baby-pillow/p231220357

If I have any more dc I will put them to sleep on the pillow from the start but I wouldn't put any babies to bed on their side or front.

OK thanks. I won't put him on his side.i have a Dr app soon and I will fight to have him referred to an osteopath. I'll be armed with some of your comments too so the Dr can't fob me off

Much appreciated

Wear him in a soft sling.

I believe the cranial osteopath is a private thing you book and pay for yourself, not something via GP. I was scared to do it because I didn't like the idea of her skull bones being manipulated. Friends who have been told me it was very gentle and great through.

You'll not get referred to a cranial osteopath on the NHS, you'll need to pay for it yourself, I think our's was around £40 a session. I didn't know anyone who'd used one before so I just looked online and got one who had a lot of experience with babies and had good reviews.

Our daughter has the same issue and the GP was useless! They don't care. The paediatrician told us not to worry because he has a flat head and is fine.... anyway , we got it looked at and she has 98% severe flat head so we got her a helmet fitted on Tuesday.
So expensive, but our son had similar issue with the right side of his head and it never improved and we can tell it's asymmetrical when his head is wet. One of his ears is also more forward than the other :(

As previous comments say you won't get a cranial osteopath on the nhs. I'm afraid your gp won't be able to refer you.

Your health visitor however may know of a good one to try that is reasonably priced. But you will have to pay privately

My son had an extremely flat head. I got one of those cushions that have a hole in it to take pressure off. Obviously sids recommend nothing in the cot so you need to make this decision for yourself. My sons head changed dramatically as soon as I started using it. The cushion is so flat and stiff I felt comfortable.

Our DS had flat head and twisted neck meaning he had restricted movement when turning his head in one direction. We spoke to health visitor who referred us for physiotherapy. They gave us some exercises and recommended the heart pillow. He's now 11 months and his flat head is much much better. Good luck x