Flat head

KittyMisha

So my LO started to get a flat spot on the back of her head, just a bit to the left, within a week of birth. At her well baby 3 week checkup the spot was pronounced enough that the doctor referred us to a physical therapist, whom we will see next week.

In the meantime, I found this super goofy-looking product at BRU that I think I might try. It's basically a beanie with a tube-shaped bean bag sown on the back. You put it on your flat-headed baby with the bean bag over the flat spot and it prevents them from lying on it and makes them lie on the other part of their head instead. I asked my doctor about it and he said he had no idea whether it works, but shouldn't be a safety risk and might be worth a try.

So I am wondering whether anyone had used something like this and, if so, how did it work? I'm a little worried that it might interfere with her sleep, just because it is uncomfortable.

abnelsen22

My friend is using this on one of her twins (4.5 mos - adjusted age 2.5 mos). Their PT recommended it. But just for the day time when he's more supervised. But he also sleeps 10 hours at night, so maybe that's too long to wear it.

tamarar5

We don't have the flat head issue, but DD2 clearly prefers to face one way, to the point where I worry about her neck muscles. I wonder if it would force her to lie the other way and use her other muscles too?

[Deleted User]

@tamarar5 I had the same concern about n my DS favoring one side and not stretching his muscles. I asked about it the last time we were at the doctor's and she did a long as he is ABLE to turn to the other side he's ok (and my little guy's head IS flat on his preferred side already). She said we could try playing and talking on the other side too encourage him to look that way. I switched his changing table around so he is looking at the wall if he doesn't turn the other way. She also showed us that we can gently stretch his neck by putting his ear to his shoulder. She said a lot of times babies develop this preference if that's the way they need to look to see you when you're coming to get them from their crib, which was an interesting thought (though in our case we have him in a mini pnp next to our bed and I'm not sure he knows which way we are yet, though we are toward his preferred side so, I don't know). I personally would not be comfortable putting my kid to bed with any sort of hat... too much of a risk factor for me.

Valancyy

You can switch the way the lay in the crib each night.  One time put their feet toward the bottom, the next time, put their feet toward the top.  This is supposed to encourage them to look both ways.

calibroncosfan5968

is it called the tortle? We have one too!