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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
armywife0528
member
FP RNP Sleeper and Flat Head (PSA?)
armywife0528
member
Anyone else having this problem? I loved the RNP at first because DS has reflux issues. He slept swaddled in it for the first 2 months only at night. He napped in either his bouncer or his swing. I did not put him down for structured naps at all during those first two months. I started to notice he was getting a flat spot on the back of his head when he was about 7 weeks old. We were doing tummy time with him several times a day, plus I EBF and was feeding him for probably 30-45 minutes every two hours (or less). You also have to count the times that we were holding him and walking around the house because he was fussy. All told, he was probably in the RNP 7-8 hours per night, and they were not consecutive hours either because he was getting up to eat. Pedi confirmed at our 2 month check up that he was getting a flat spot on the back of his head and that we needed to increase tummy time. Since then, he has been spending ALL DAY on his tummy (other than when I have to run to the bathroom or get something to eat) and we are seeing very little improvement. Pedi said, and I quote, "It's not so bad that he needs a helmet yet, but we don't want to have to go there."
He has been sleeping in his bassinet since about 9 weeks, and I didn't make the connection with the flat head and the RNP until DH said something about thinking it may have caused it. I did some research this morning, and some other moms on other sites have had the same problem - loved it at first and then realized it was causing flat head. There is a really hard piece of plastic in the back and on the sides to provide support. Most of the other moms said it was causing their LOs to hold their head a certain way and get a flat spot on one side. We used a head bumper noodle in ours to keep him from slumping, and he was swaddled, so his is flat on the back. He still sleeps flat on his back in the bassinet, despite every attempt I make to put him on his side. He always rolls back to his back. I'm so stressed about this and can't stop worrying. I never thought I would be one of those mothers with a LO with a flat head. I thought they only came from just sticking your LO in something and leaving them there, which I have not done, nor would I ever do, but I still feel like this is my fault. Just an FYI that if you are using the RNP, you might want to keep an eye out.
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Re: FP RNP Sleeper and Flat Head (PSA?)
CaraM - You know, I thought the hard plastic was a good thing at first. My SIL had told me to make sure it had a good support for his neck when I first got it. It thought that and the head bumper noodle would be great. I read such great reviews here and on Amazon and BRU that I thought it would be a good thing. Guess not.
We've put ours up for now. I don't think I will ever use it again or recommend it to others. Maybe it's such a new product that no one has made the connection? One of the negative reviews I found about it was just written on 9/22/10.
My son always sleeps with his head turned to the right and we use the RNP only at night. I'm paranoid he's going to get a flat spot on that side so we've been trying to turn him to the other side when we put him down anywhere to nap.
I think I see a slight flat spot (although it might be my mind playing tricks on me) so I put a receiving blanket in between the hard piece of plastic and the fabric of the RNP to make it a little softer. I'm sure that's probably not recommended, but oh well.
The two men in my life. Oh, and I have a husband too...
I appreciate you saying this, too. He sleeps so well in his RNP. I was thinking I'm being selfish because I'm sacrificing my son's head shape with my good sleep. Ugh.
We are just trying to turn his head to the other side at this point. He actually never sleeps with his head straight back. He always turns it to one side or the other and actually sleeps on his side in his swing/bouncy seat, RNP.
The two men in my life. Oh, and I have a husband too...
Yes, I had read that too. I'm hoping that it won't get to that point. DH says he sees some improvement. I think it's probably minimal at best, but I'm hoping it will keep getting better as his neck strength improves. Thanks again! And thanks to you too, Simone! Nice to know I'm not the only one who is worried!
i'm with wife1014. it's not any particular product that's causing this. your baby could get a flat head from his crib mattress.
my baby is 8 weeks old and we're just like you -- 8 hrs a night in the rnp, several hours a day of holding and feeding, daytime naps in her bouncer. no flat head. its not the rnp, which is no harder than my crib mattress.
i think it's whether or not the individual baby is predisposed to it. his head will go back, with or without a helmet. (there are studies showing those helmets do nothing).
don't beat your self up. you are doing everything right -- back to sleep, increased tummy time, holding your baby. he's just predisposed to this, and it's temporary. good luck!
From a momma with a baby with a flat spot... it's not the RNP that caused it... it's the way he's been sleeping. It could have still occured sleeping in the bassinet, PNP, swing, bouncer, or crib. It's all in how the baby sleeps. Do NOT beat yourself up over this, you will achieve nothing.
You are doing the best you can to provide him with ample opportunities to be off of his head so you're doing a great job. Of course, I did the same thing and my DD still needs a helmet to correct her flat spot.
As far as the pp who said that there are studies that say the helmet does nothing... show me the articles please. I don't believe this comment (or the findings from these articles) is true.
Thanks Qmommy and Allie30. I'm sure he could have gotten from any surface, I just wondered if any other moms were noticing it happening more frequently with the RNP because of some the reviews I read and DH had suggested it the other day. I have noticed he turns his head a lot more sleeping in the bassinet, which could be do to less restriction of movement than in the RNP or increased neck strength. Who knows? I guess it really doesn't matter how we got here, we just have to address it now that we are here.
Thanks to everyone for their input. At the very least, I feel a little less like a horrid mom.
Qmommy, I love your siggy pic. Too cute!
I'm paranoid about it too (knock wood, no flat head yet) so I started doing the same thing. I hate to give up the RNP because she sleeps so well in it but I may look into one of the other fisher price rocker things. She doesn't like to lay flat in her crib yet b/c of reflux