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Parenting after a Loss
I think LO may be getting a flat head
I give him plenty of tummy and sit up time, but it still looks a little flat. We have a doctor's appt (4 months! Wow!) this Friday, so I will mention it. My cousin had to have one of those helmet shaper-things which would be fine of course! I am just worried because my Aunt's insurance wouldn't cover it because it was supposedly cosmetic. But don't you need your head to be shaped correctly to have your brain grow correctly too? Whatever. Anyone else have experience with this?
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Re: I think LO may be getting a flat head
B's head was flat on the back right side because she slept on her back with her head turned to the right for the first 6 months of her life. She also utterly refused tummy time and preferred to lay across our arms rather than sit up.
After she started rolling and sleeping on her side/belly it corrected itself.
I think a helmet is only considered in pretty severe cases.
BFP #2 4/13/10. Bridget born 12/28/10
BFP #3 Finn born 8/11/15
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Unless it's really severe, it's cosmetic.
Is it flat in the middle or off to one side? If it's to one side, and LO keeps their head tilted and/or prefers to look to one direction, it could be torticollis (a tightening of one of the neck muscles), and there are stretching and strengthening exercises you can do to help. If it's in the middle it's likely just from back-to-sleep. Both improve with more tummy time and baby being able to developmentally do more to keep off the back as they get older.
My LO had a flat head from his position in the womb and torticollis. We did all the exercises and had him sleep on his side between rice bags (doctor's orders). His head improved, but we ended up having to do a helmet because it was still flat enough to get stranger comments. Insurance coverage varies by company and by measurements of how flat/asymmetrical the baby's head is. Ours was covered. LO didn't mind it at all.
Mention it to your pediatrician and they can tell you if it's mild and likely to resolve on its own, or bad enough to refer you to a craniofacial specialist and possible helmet therapy. There are also some helmet companies that do evaluations for free, but I felt more comfortable getting evaluated by a doctor rather than the folks that make their money on the helmets.
Boppy makes something called a Noggin Nest. We started using one because DD was getting a flat spot. It helped enough to prevent needed a helmet and now she's not on her back nearly as much so it's not a concern any longer. We used it in her swing and bouncy seat since that's where she spent the most time.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001O9H5Q8/ref=asc_df_B001O9H5Q81773383?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B001O9H5Q8