Flat head

penelopemaria · February 2014

My LO sleeps on his back, but always turns his head to the left. As a result he's starting to get a bit of a flat head. My aunt said there are some products out there that can help keep their head propped to the proper side. I tried googling but can't find anything. Anyone have any experience?

diadierk · February 2014

J likes to look to his right when he sleeps. I just turn his head to the left. He hasn't woken up yet! Sorry, prob not helpful...

MissyC979 · February 2014

We also have this problem. I've been trying to give him extra tummy time and turn his head the opposite way when I put him to bed, although he usually turns it to his preferred side. We have his two-month appointment Wednesday and I'll talk to the doctor about next steps. I don't know about things that prop up the baby--I'd be afraid of them being a SIDS risk.

AwaitingAAmiracle · February 2014

Buy Buy Baby sells a hat that has a thing sewn to one side of it so that the baby cannot lay his or her head flat on that side. It is sort of like a skinny, tiny bean bag made to prop up baby's head. I am not sure what it is called though.

Eggerkr · February 2014

I asked our ped about this too as my LO has a lopsided head. My SIL is a RN an mentioned sometimes babies need helmets to correct this. Thankfully our ped said once he starts sitting it will morph back. If anything we can do physical therapy to correct it if it doesn't go back on its own.

BoothBaby · February 2014

We have this issue too. When he is in the car seat we put a rolled up burp cloth next to his head to prevent him from turning to the right (his preferred side). During naps I will do the same thing if I can keep an eye on him. I don't like doing it at night because he can turn his face into it, but I will try turning his head without the prop.

SusanC111 · February 2014

Don't put anything next to him while he's asleep. Those positioners can be unsafe. Liam always turned to one side, leading to a flat spot. He had a mild case of torticollis. We caught it by 2 months and he started PT and went until 10 months. Your LO might just favor that side, but it's worth mentioning to the pedi. We were able to avoid a helmet because I brought it up to the dr early.

diszcz · February 2014

AwaitingAAmiracle said:

Buy Buy Baby sells a hat that has a thing sewn to one side of it so that the baby cannot lay his or her head flat on that side. It is sort of like a skinny, tiny bean bag made to prop up baby's head. I am not sure what it is called though.

Our BRU just started carrying this too! Ask your pedi first before trying something new.

katiewvb · February 2014

My guy has this too and our pedi sent is to physical therapy now (10 weeks) to hopefully avoid the helmet. talk to your pedi about it. We bought a boppy noggin best for him to use in the swing and bouncer and when he is playing on his mat (not sleeping). We do the stretches from this website too (from my pedi) https://www.seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE347.pdf

PT and pedi said to keep correcting it and stretch as much as possible.

mavgirl_73 · February 2014

Just to shed some light, cranio reshaping helmets are often not even considered until after age one. I would bring this up to your pedi to rule out torticollis. Until then all interesting stimuli should come from the non preferred side, tummy time with head turned to none preferred side and sitting up supported as much as possible. Often times heads will round out as baby spends less time on his or her back.

mavgirl_73 · February 2014

@sammichcat your doctor is seriously considering a helmut already?

mavgirl_73 · February 2014

Hmmmmm they are very intense. 6 months is so early.

Eggerkr · February 2014

mavgirl_73 said:
Hmmmmm they are very intense. 6 months is so early.

I would get a second opinion... Our pedi told us she will never use helmet unless absolutely necessary after age 1. Find a new pedi and ask about physical therapy.

Yankees0623 · February 2014

The sooner the better if helmet therapy is needed. You have to do it while their skull is still soft. I've had two babies that have needed helmet therapy. Sadly, my middle son's was not caught early enough. Now at 4 he still has a flat head. Mirabella got her helmet around 4-6 months old and did physical and occupational therapy for a year.

Yankees0623 · February 2014

And a pic of my princess in her helmet.

ScarlettV · February 2014

The hat is called a tortle and the people who had luck with it were the ones who's babies like hats or don't wiggle too much in their sleep.

notkateanymore · February 2014

mavgirl_73 said:

Hmmmmm they are very intense. 6 months is so early.

This. My pedi also told me in 20 years she's never had to use a helmet. They are not for just a little fix and not so early!

MissyC979 · February 2014

mavgirl_73 said:

@sammichcat your doctor is seriously considering a helmut already?

I just talked to the pedi today, She said 4-6 months is prime time for deciding on a helmet because there is so much growth at that time. She said doing it early can minimize the length of time it's needed. We're going to try physical therapy for his toticolis now and we'll reevaluate his head at four months. I'd like to avoid the helmet, but if he'll need it I want to get it over with sooner and faster.

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