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Original poster

concern for 7 month old baby skull

20 replies

Lilacbluewaters · 10/11/2021 21:39

Hi, hoping someone has had a similar experience and can offer me any advice/support.

My son is now 7 months old and ever since he was born I noticed he had a longer than normal looking head which also looked quite thin.
When I raised my concerns with the health visitor and gp I was told whilst his fontanel is soft his skull shape will change but there has been no change.
from the front it doesn't look too bad, he has a rather large protruding forehead with a V birthmark I believe that when he cries or gets frustrated becomes more obvious which is in the centre of his forehead.
his head circumference is 46cm now at 7 months and he's in the 92nd centile but only 25th centile for weight.
when feeling his skull from the back there is a body ridge which stop towards the middle of his skull.
I have raised my concerns multiple times with the gp and health visitor and keep getting fobbed off and told it is normal but my daughter never had this and I know it doesn't look normal.

he has met all his development milestones and only other concerns I have are with his weaning which he is not interested in. I am just worried that right now there are now concerns developmentally but how am I to know this won't affect him in the future? surely better to sort it sooner than later.

has anyone else gone through similar? I am thinking I could go down the private route but I don't know who I would go to see. I was thinking a cranial osteopath?

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AfterGlow87 · 10/11/2021 22:41

Could you go to see a private paediatrician? I’m in Ireland and my health insurance policy offers this under my babies policy. I think if you have concerns to get it looked at - it drives me mad when HV/GP’s fob people off.

Ragwort · 10/11/2021 22:46

My DS was born with an unusual shaped skull and we had great support from a charity called Headlines, I suggest you contact them for advice. My DS did need corrective surgery at GOSH but absolutely no developmental issues at all .. now aged 20 and a Uni student. I hope you get the support you need, PM me if you want any further info.

Mano2020 · 10/11/2021 22:55

Hi,

My situation was slightly different. My son was born with torticollis which means his neck muscles were tight we did physio but by 6 months could see his head was out from the back one side and flat the other. We spoke to many Doctors on the NHS who said it will round out but my instinct told me otherwise. I then went to a specialist private company who actually created a helmet for my son to wear 23 hours a day for over a year as he began treatment later but his head is now perfect. When we saw a paediatric they told us its too expensive on the nhs so they dont offer the treatment but i am so glad i did it. I think with your situation maybe get seen private just to make sure everything is ok fingers crossed it will round out. They say by the age of 2 it does round out for most babies

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peasoup8 · 10/11/2021 22:59

it drives me mad when HV/GP’s fob people off.

This! Why do they do it? I can only conclude they simply don’t care.

OP I would do what a PP suggested and see a private paediatrician in your situation, if I could afford it. I’m sure there’s nothing wrong but I think it would help you to put your mind at rest.

Original poster

Lilacbluewaters · 11/11/2021 03:00

Thank you so much for all your help and advice.
I am going to contact the charity and also see if I can find a local private paediatrician.
I do wish GP’s would do better … they are too quick to fob you off

OP posts:

seaborgium · 11/11/2021 12:12

Does his head shape look like this www.consultant360.com/articles/photoclinic-scaphocephaly.
?

Original poster

Lilacbluewaters · 11/11/2021 13:51

@seaborgium

Does his head shape look like this www.consultant360.com/articles/photoclinic-scaphocephaly. ?

Yes, very similar. The front of his head is wider but the back is narrow and side profile looks like that

OP posts:

peasoup8 · 11/11/2021 14:18

He's gorgeous OP. I'm not an expert but his head looks perfectly normal to me!

AfterGlow87 · 11/11/2021 15:11

He’s a dote! My baby also has a large head -96th centile!- and looks very like this from the side. I’ve never had any worries but if I did I would get another opinion if only just to put your mind at ease

Ragwort · 11/11/2021 16:28

He looks lovely, his head is nothing like my DS's was when he needed surgery, I came across an old photo of him the other day and was really quite shocked. But do get in touch with the charity just for some advice.

ChateauMargaux · 11/11/2021 16:35

Seeing a pediatric osteopath is a good idea. If you are in London, you could look at.. www.occ.uk.com/where-to-find-us/

If not.. the general qualification in osteopathy is D.O and the subsequent training in pediatrics is D.P.O. but ask around locally... they are not all the same and some are more amazing than others!!

seaborgium · 11/11/2021 16:48

Mild scaphocephaly has a good prognosis and does not usually need surgery, but there is a risk of elevated intracranial pressure so try to get an appointment with a paediatrician as soon as possible.

Mano2020 · 11/11/2021 20:32

He is beautiful! His head looks normal to me nothing like how my sons was. As other posters have said best to just get it checked just to reassure yourself

Mummyto4boys1122 · 11/11/2021 20:54

Does little one have any other symptoms?
Scalp veins prominent?
Unsettled a lot?
Poor neck control?
Asking this as my son now 5 months old had these symptoms ( his head was measuring 46cm at 3 and a half months old) and he has hydrocephalus, doctor kept fobbing me off saying he just had a large head until I took him to a&e and he was seen by pediactrics, please don’t let them fob u off

poppet131 · 18/07/2023 14:02

@Mummyto4boys1122 - our GP is concerned about hydrocephalus. Was your DS treated with surgery and how is he getting on now? X

AlligatorPsychopath · 18/07/2023 14:04

Honestly, that does look entirely normal to me.

Mummyto4boys1122 · 18/07/2023 14:09

yes he had a shunt put in a week later after been diagnosed, he was 13 weeks old, he’s now 2 and doing amazing! It’s a scary journey and still is but he’s just amazing and takes it all in his stride, give shine a message on facebook they have been a massive help to me since diagnosis x

poppet131 · 18/07/2023 14:11

@Mummyto4boys1122 - that’s so reassuring! Is he meeting milestones cognitively - with pointing/gestures/speech too? X

Mummyto4boys1122 · 18/07/2023 14:17

Yes! He’s doing exactly what he’s meant to be doing, and in my opinion more they said it would take longer for him to meet his milestones but he’s walking talking knows his colours, animals he’s just done amazing! He does have sensory issues and is being tested for autism, have u been referred to pediactrics?

minipie · 18/07/2023 14:19

DD had a very similar shaped head and I was worried about craniosyntostosis (a friend’s child had had this so I guess it was on my mind). We ended up seeing a specialist through insurance who told me she was fine. And she is. Her head is still a bit more oval than round from the top but is totally within normal.

Does he sleep on his side a lot? DD preferred to side sleep as a newborn so we kept her propped half on one side with a rolled towel, looking back I wonder if this caused the head shape 🙈 but it’s probably got nothing to do with it!

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