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This board is fabulous but I have a real Q about Plagiocephaly - anybody?

LucyPevensieLucyPevensie member
in Babies: 9 - 12 Months
My little guy's head looks a little effed up (right rear is a little flat - and he has a slight bulge on front right forehead - he always turns head completely to the right when he sleeps - and when repositioned - eventually turns it back that way and once I'm asleep too, there's not much I can do), I'm very concerned.  Pedi is downplaying - I am pushing to see a specialist.  Anybody go the helmet/band route - and could you share your experience with me?  Thanks so much!! 
Wheee!
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"When it comes to sleeping, whatever your baby does is normal. If one thing has damaged parents enjoyment of their babies, it's rigid expectations about how and when the baby should sleep." ~ James McKenna, Ph.D., Mother Baby Behavioral Sleep Center, University of Notre Dame

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Re: This board is fabulous but I have a real Q about Plagiocephaly - anybody?

  • auslyn804auslyn804
    We were told at 2 months that ds would probably need a helmet because his head was SOOO flat and pushed forward on the right. ?His right eye was forward, his ear, his forhead....it was really bad. ?We switched ends of the crib, prop him slightly on his left side when he sleeps to keep him off the right as much as possible. ?I bought toys that he could sit up in to keep him off his head and whenever he laid on the floor we would prop him on his left and play with him on his left. ?ALL this and at 4 months it still looked awful. ?Dr told us that at 4 months it usually is at its worst and if we keep doing what we were doing we should see an improvement by 6 months. ?So we did, and it looks so much better. ?It is still slightly flat but barely at all and is shaping out nicely and he will not need a helmet. ?I guess I don't have advice on the helmet but I just wanted to share my experience with plagiocephaly and how it can work out to not need it! ?Good luck with your ds.
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  • 3sthecharm3sthecharm member
    I just read a story about things that contribute to flat head. they say the benefits of the helmets etc arent really proven.....and its not really related to sleeping on the back. I think the story was on reuters.com health section
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  • hmmshmms member

    Hi - we just finished with our helmet about 4 weeks ago...DS head was very flat on the right-back side.  He got his helmet at 5 months and wore it for 10 weeks.  I'm thrilled with the results and so glad we went through it, but I hated the helmet everyday for 10 weeks.

    Short version...we'd noticed the flat spot and mentioned it at our two-month appt, pedi had us wait until 4 months.  At 4 months she referred us to a pedi plastic surgeon.  Based on his measurements and DS's age he recommended treatment.  Optimal age to do helmet therapy is to start between 4-6 months, LO's are growing so quickly and the results happen much quicker then waiting until LO's are 8+ months when growing slows some.

    If you'd like, I can email you some pictures (before and after) and more info.  I'm only on the nest in the evenings.  You could at least get a 2nd opinion and see what they say.

    Lilypie - (vulX)

     

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  • radiokateradiokate

    You definitely still have time! My DD had a really bad flat spot around 4 months, but we did our best to position her differently when we could, put her in the Bumbo chair to play with her playmat toys (instead of on her back, etc...) and once she was rolling and sitting up all the time, she has made DRASTIC improvements! I was almost certain we would have to go the helmet route, but my pedi was pretty laid back as well, saying there is still a lot of movement with their skulls until they're a year... Sure enough, I think DD is fine! It's not totally normal, but her forehead bulge is almost completely etc, and it just keeps getting better!

    So no matter what you decide, just keep in mind you still have plenty of time! :)

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  • chapelhillgirlchapelhillgirl
    We just picked up DD's helmet yesterday.  She did the whole "tilt to one side" thing also (torticollis).  I asked the pedi at 2 months and she said to wait.  I asked again at 4 months because it was looking worse to me.  She said we could wait a little longer if we wanted or she'd refer us to a specialist.  We decided to go see the plastic surgeon at Boston Children's.  DD's measurements were just within the helmet range.  The Dr. left it up to us and said we could do a helmet now and she'd probably just wear it for about 2 months.  Or we could wait and see if it got better on it's own, but if it didn't and she didn't start the helmet until 8 months or so, she'd most likely wear it for 4-6 months.  We decided to just go ahead with it now... I'm going to update my sig. pic tonight with a helmet one :).  It's not that bad.  She seems fine with it... I just miss playing with her hair all day and kissing her forehead but I'm nom-nom'ing her cheeks a lot more instead!
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