If your baby had a very flat head and you didn't helmet...

[Henetty245]

Do you regret it, or don't you notice it now?

My little girl is 9 months and still has a VERY flat head. I researched helmets around 4 months but decided against it, mainly because the flatness is pretty much all at the back and her features are completely symmetrical, ears not misaligned or anything. It seemed a bit extreme for what is only a cosmetic issue (she has been checked by the paediatrician who confirmed that there's nothing medical going on). She's got a special mattress and pillow (which is used only in the buggy and car seat). She spends barely any time on her back anymore but the flatness doesn't seem to improve at all. It is bad and other rude people have commented on it. I am kicking myself for not going for a helmet, but feel that it's probably not worth it now because any improvement would be limited at this stage.

Is it true that once she has a bit of hair it won't really be noticeable? Or is this likely to bother her for the rest of her life?

DD had a very flat head (and incredibly sticky our ears) and I looked into helmets and ear taping - I kept telling myself I needed to act fast, while she was still small to avoid further intervention when she was bigger.

My fears we're unfounded though. Now at the age of 4 her ears are nothing but normal, and her head is good and round.

The doctor suggested the flat head was due to a) she slept well, so spent 10 hours a night lying in her back and b) she walked late, so she spent longer lying and sitting in her bouncy chair than many other babies (she's a fine walker now, just waited until she gets as 18 months old to even try).

If I could do one thing differently, I'd encourage her to sit unaided and do more tummy time, and generally avoid being in a lying / leaning position.

But all in all, it turned out fine.

one of my dc had a very flat head.

has grown out of it beautifully without helmet (they were quite controversial at the time and after a lot of research and speaking to a couple of professionals decided against)

Thanks both, this gives me some hope!

My ds was born with a disproportionately large hard and it grew very quickly. This, along with being a good sleeper meant that his head was very, very flat at the back. Much like the pp he was seen by a paediatrician (and had an ultrasound through his soft spot)who said he was fine and hv who said it would most likely right itself with tummy time/using a slightly etc. It hasn't really and he still has a definite flat head at the back, but it is very much covered up by his hair, it is better than it was when he was little and I still think it's improving, if only slightly. I worried myself sick about it when he was tiny but I barely think about it now tbh.

Ds has a flat head at the back which is worse on the left side but like your dd his face and ears are beautifully symmetrical so it is only noticeable from certain angles. He has just turned one and it seems to be improving now he spends no time whatsoever on his back (sleeps on his front, crawls, cruises etc). I think improvements are slower as they get older but over the last few weeks it seems to be rounding out a little more and is beginning to look less weird/noticeable. It is definitely better than it was at 9 months so your dds could still vastly improve! It might also be due to the fact that he has a pretty good head of hair too (which is slightly wavy) but I don't really see it as much now. He's still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, wonky head or not 😊