Posted by
Shadow
20 yrs ago
Hi. My 10 week old is starting to develope a flat head. I try to put her on her side to sleep but she doesn't like it and fusses after just a few minutes. I've also put her moblie and stuffed animals to the side of the crib. She enjoys looking at them and does turn her head to the side. But it doesn't seem to help much. While sleeping at night and napping during the day, she still faces up. Even if I turn her head while she is asleep she end up facing upwards. I don't want to put her on her tummy to sleep because her neck is still very weak. Does anyone have any solutions or ideas? I've heard of a pillow that helps. Has anyone heard of it? Thanks in advance!
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DebG
20 yrs ago
Do you give her awake tummy time? That is so important!! It helps for when she is ready to crawl too. Start with just a few minutes of laying her on her tummy when she is awake. Put a favorite toy in front of her and see if she grabs for it. Do this at least 2-3 times a day. And continue to increase the time. She will eventually learn to roll over. She might scream in the beginning, both of my children did. But it really is important! Good luck!
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swmbo
20 yrs ago
My friend's boy had a really flat head at the back. He's now 2 and it's probably a bit flatter than my son's but it's not noticable. As soon as they start to roll around in bed, they gradually start sleeping in different positions and the flatness will disappear. I wouldn't worry about it.
From what I recall, pillows are not recommended until a child is put into a bed (and even then just a small one). I think pillows are a SIDS risk, and they can also result in misalignment of the spine/neck.
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swmbo
20 yrs ago
Oh, my reply regarding pillows was about the pillows you put under your head. If you're talking about pillows that hold a baby's body in place then that's a different thing. Sorry!!!
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we started noticing ds flat head when he was only a month old. good thing we detected early. we put him on his tummy in the day time. i strongly agree that tummy time helps ( adult must be there to watch him when he is on his tummy ). and when he sleeps at night we put a firm pillow ( not a super soft one )on his back ( not on the back of his head, but his back ). it prevents him from turning on his back again. we do it like every 2 or 3 hourly each time either on his left, his right or his back. it really stopped his head from getting more flat.
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Thanks for all your replies. Right now I only give her about 10-15 minutes of tummy time because she doesn't like it. I've tried putting her favorite stuffed animal nearby for her to see. When I do that, it lasts longer. I'll try doing it more often during the day.
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Thanks Mummy! The rings were what I was asking about. I thought they were some sort of pillow. I 'll go check it out! I've heard good things about them.
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Plagiocephaly or flat head occurs in some babies due to soft skull bones. Flattening of the head does not affect the baby's brain or development. Mild flattening may resolve but more serious flattening may be permanent. However, there are few ways to prevent it.
Babies should have supervised "tummy time" when they are awake several times a day. Tummy time should commence as soon as the cord has fallen off.
Alternate your babies position in the cot, one day her feet at the end of the cot, the next day place her feet at the opposite end of the cot.
Babies like to look into their room rather than at the wall. Continue using toys and mobiles to give her something interesting to look at.
Pillows are not advised.
If your baby still develops flat spots, speak with your pediatrician or family doctor.
Well Baby Clinic 2849 1500
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Matilda International Hospital
Hong Kong
http://www.matilda.org
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MC
20 yrs ago
I have noticed that most of the flat heads happen to Asian babies, rarely to non-Asians. It is partially a race thing. When my daughter was born (she is Eurasian), I spent so many sleepless nights, getting up at all hours to make her sleep on her side. I also bought a small round pillow (in Wing On) where it basically has a hole in the middle. So that way, even if the baby sleeps facing up, it is ok. Also, many Chinese (older generation) believes that you should message the baby's head to make it round. My helper also told me that. Anyway, I am glad to say that my daugther's head turned out to be really nice.
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TMOM
20 yrs ago
My baby is 6 months old, her head is completely flat on the back. from the front she looks fine. I am going to the pediatrician next week but I am so distraught today about it. I went to a cookout yesterday and this little girl just kept saying over and over "her head is SO flat, I am going to call her flat-head" and now I am feeling so panicked about it and thinking that I should have been doing more to prevent it. She sleeps 12 hours with her head totally flat on her crib mattress. I would love to hear from people who either way, their baby outgrew it or they had to get that helmut. I am feeling like such an inadequate Mom today...
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TMOM
20 yrs ago
where is Caroline Rhodes located? I am in US in Massachusetts. We are going to pediatrician next week and I bet he will say "oh don't worry" but I am VERY worried...more so because I am thinking that her flat head is a reflection that I haven't been doing what I should have been as a Mom ...thanks for the name. I will check it out.
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Loulu
20 yrs ago
because of the concerns of SIDs most days from what I have seen babies have flat heads until they start to crawl and roll on to their tummy. Don't feel guilty! But definitely tummy play is important and most babies don't like it at first which I find quite puzzling since mine didn't either and she always sleeps on her tummy now and she's 6 months! I have heard the special positioning pillows are good but remember that babies heads are soft so often go to whatever shape they are supposed to later on......
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TMOM
20 yrs ago
Thanks so much everyone for your feedback. She is starting to spend more time on her belly and seems to be liking it a little more and also the exersaucer...she can 'stand' in that for periods of time. Hopefully in her 7th month this will all be history and her head will be taking shape nicely. Will keep you posted...pediatrician appt is next week.
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TMOM
20 yrs ago
going to New England Medical Center in Boston today to have baby's head checked out. She is 7 1/2 months old now. Still quite flat. she is off her head more and more and is now sleeping on her side in her crib a little but I will feel better having an expert check it out. If by chance she does need the helmut I have come to terms with that. That is until today when the Dr says it and I lose it and start crying! Thanks
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HKC
20 yrs ago
I have read an article in a magazine and they recommend a mattress called Sleepcurve, check out, www.sleepcurve.com.
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cd
20 yrs ago
I seem to be seeing more and more babies with flat heads, it certainly seems to have increased since everyone was told to put their babies to sleep on their backs. Saying that, you don't really see many toddlers with flat heads so it must correct itself at some point.
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Hi,
I bought a fantastic product called safetsleep. I ordered it from NZ but its worth it!
www.safetsleep.com
Cheers,
intrigue
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My baby is 4.5 months and her head is not only flat, it's become a rather strange shape on top. It's very worrisome. She is starting to turn a little and sometimes sleeps with her head facing one side or another but it doesn't last for long. She always ends up with her head flat against the mattress. I put her in a sleeping bag and she seems to have a difficult time turning over in that. Does anyone know if she might turn on her side better if I take her out of the sleeping bag with regular covers? Thanks.
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TMOM
20 yrs ago
we went to NEMC in Boston, she got fitted for a helmut to help correct the flat head. Hers is the whole back of her head is flat. some babies have it on one side or the other but ours is just the whole back. She will wear this helmut 23 hours a day for a while then it will lessen. Some babies have misshapen facial features and their ears can be terribly misaligned due to the flattening. Luckily Rylee doesn't have that. She is going to be 8 months old next week so hopefully by the time she is a year there will be improvement and maybe she will not have to wear the helmut any more. She is just now rolling around more in bed, sleeping on her side etc. Up until a few weeks ago she slept 11 hours a night flat on her head. We didn't know any better...so we didn't move her at all and were happy she was sleeping! The doctors should warn you about this, and suggest propping baby once in a while to change head positions.
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My baby who is now 16 months old have a really flat head on the back of his head and it worries me a lot...help....
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