sleeping on one side

MomofEv+1 · March 2016

I'm wondering if any of you have advice on how to safely help my baby from developing a flat spot. This kid wants to sleep with her head turned to the left all the time. I can turn her head right once she's asleep but it always ends up in the same place. My older daughter did the same thing and our pediatrician threatened us with a helmet so we some how took care of it, but I'll be damned if I remember how. Any words of wisdom?

ErinKimm · March 2016

My daughter does the same thing. Her doctor said to continue encouraging her to turn her head the opposite way and lots of tummy time. When she is taking a nap and I can keep an eye on her I roll up a small blanket or burp cloth and place it on the side of her head to prevent her from turning it that direction... Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't...depends on how tired she is. I'm interested to hear others experiences with this too!

Court11152325 · March 2016

We were encouraged to do more tummy time and wear her for some of her naps

LaceyH13 · March 2016

Is it due to torticollis? Or just baby's preference?

MomofEv+1 · March 2016

I don't think it's torticollis. She is capable of turning her head both ways. But for whatever reason, she prefers turning it left.

2winterbabies · March 2016

I took DD to the pediatrician yesterday and she has the same issue. She must lay and turn her head where her left cheek is downwards more often. She also recommended more tummy time to strengethen those specific neck muscles and hopefully she'll be able to turn them both ways eventually. My doctor believes she has SLIGHT torticollis because she is prefers her head in a certain position over the other. She wrote me a referral to an infant physical therapist so I can talk to them about what exercises to do with baby. I have a follow up appointment with my pediatrician 4 weeks from now to see DD's progress. If nothing improves, she has to wear a helmet

Some suggestions from the pediatrician is when she falls asleep, try laying her with her head in the position that your LO needs.
- roll a small towel and place on the side of baby's head to keep him/her from moving it to the other side. (please supervise baby on this one)
- tummy time (she says this is a really good exercise for baby)
- try talking to her to where she is moving her head side to side frequently while she is awake.

pupsicle23 · March 2016

DD has the same issue. The pediatrician said to do a lot of tummy time and turn the direction she lies in her crib and changing table so that she has to turn the other way to see interesting things. She also suggested neck stretches where you gently hold baby's shoulder in one hand and turn the head with the other. I've been trying to wear her a lot and keep her out of baby gear. DD also has a flat spot on the back of her head.

LaceyH13 · March 2016

We are seeing a baby physical therapist every couple weeks. She has us doing tummy time in a concentrated time period. So rather than some tummy time after each diaper change (for example), we have a dedicated 30 minutes in the evening where we put him on his tummy until he fusses a lot, then pick him up until he is happy again, then put him back on his tummy. We do this for 30 minutes now with a goal of increasing to 45 minutes and 60 eventually. She said this builds stamina better than just doing a few minutes here and there.

MomofEv+1 · March 2016

Thanks for the advice. I really want to get ahead of this.

MaMinette13 · March 2016

We took our LO to a physical therapist and she said we could put baby on her side to sleep. You can do either side, because when they are on their back with their head turned it is a different spot than when they are on their side. We started putting her on her side about a week and a half ago, and she loves it! Sleeps more soundly the whole night, and all nights but one she has still been on her side in the morning.

I don't use anything to prop her, just hold her there for a minute and rub her back and she supports herself.

misamima · March 2016

We were warned of a helmet as well at last month's appt. LO prefers her right side when sleeping so she's developed a flat spot there. It's not torticollis, just a side preference. I have a pediatric nurse friend and she recommended the tortle hat that they use at her work. We've been using it for a month now and I like to think it's making a difference. I guess we'll find out tomorrow's appt.

This is the hat we use.

Tortle Newborn Hat, Adjustable Head Support Prevents Flat Head, FDA Cleared, Neck Positioner, Animal Party, Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U2PN9EC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_fmm2wbDP718B6

ETA: Pedi recommend lots of tummy time and minimal time on LO's back while she's awake. Pedi also suggested to always turn her head on the other side when she's sleeping. The tortle hat was a friend recommendation.

blended10 · March 2016

This is probably a stupid question but did you notice the flat spot or did the pedi? Is it an obvious thing?
i have been googling pictures but I can't tell when I look at dd. She side sleeps most nights - sometimes on her back. I def don't hold her as much as I did ds but I don't feel like she's flat that much? Idk....

LaceyH13 · March 2016

@blended10 You would notice if your baby had a flat head.

MomofEv+1 · March 2016

Oh great I ordered that hat! And we've really been encouraging to turn her head and doing more tummy time.

angbrienza · March 2016

I noticed baby tended to turn her head more to one side while awake and wondered if it was because we cosleep and she's always turning her head in that same direction to nurse in the night. So we switched sides she sleeps on and I rolled a towel up and leaned her slightly on her side, leaning on the blanket a bit so her head would now rest to the side she didn't favour. Within a few days I noticed she started looking more to that other side and now I see no favoritism at all!

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