Flat head :( Worried!

kezz_howland · Apr 1st, 2012, 13:15 PM

George is 10.5 weeks old now and his head is getting a little flat on one side particularly. From the top it looks a little wonky, and from one side his neck looks like it goes almost straight up into his head if you know what I mean. From the other side it doesn't look too bad. OH thinks i'm getting worried about nothing, but I dunno what to do and don't want him to have a horrible shaped head! He is always moving in his sleep and has never always slept in one position, so I have no idea how it is even getting flat! He is holding his head fairly well so we have ordered him a bumbo in the hope that spending more time in there and in his jumperoo will help it. They didn't say anything at his 8 week check at the docs but I think it looks worse now. Will it return to normal? If so how quickly? Should I take him to the docs to get it checked out or is it very common? Here is a pic of him asleep. I don't thnk it looks as bad on the pic... but any advice I'd be very grateful! Thanks

pinkbumpnov · Apr 1st, 2012, 13:17 PM

My lo has this, so does my friends lo. Seems common.

It apparently sorts itself out when they start moving around more
x

loz27 · Apr 1st, 2012, 13:27 PM

my lo had this quite bad, one side of his head was extremely flat. if you looked down at his head from above it looked even worse. for my lo it slowly started to improve at 4 months when he learned to sit unaided and now he is 10 months it is totally gone. my hv told me it is very common and just montitored his head measurements now and again. i wouldnt worry im sure it will go by itself x

ttcnewbie123 · Apr 1st, 2012, 13:41 PM

My LO has this too, I think its very common - all you can really do is encourage your LO to lie on the other side I.e approach him from the other side so it evens out. Our LO is now just over 4 months and its a little better but still obvious, my understanding is that it will never be perfect again as the soft spot at the back has now closed up but once they have more hair etc it will be less noticeable. Mention it to your health visitor if ur worried x

Clo · Apr 1st, 2012, 14:03 PM

My lo had this badly from the day he wad born as he was breech and his head was squashed sideways under my ribs...and once he was born he favoured one side too...but once he started sitting it started to sort itself out. He is 11 months now and u cant see it at all any more (not sure if it completely sorted itself our or if its just covered by his full head of thick hair lol) x

happythought · Apr 1st, 2012, 14:24 PM

My son had/ has the same thing. He seems to favor his right side and was getting a little flat on that side. But he has a bumbo as well and I give him tummy time every day. It seems to be improving and I am noticing him sleeping on his left side more too which is helping. It should continue to get better as he starts sitting up more. Just keep an eye on it.

Mommy_RN · Apr 1st, 2012, 14:33 PM

Hi there! It is called Plagiocephaly and is very common in young babies. Start by keeping him off his back when he's awake (tummy time, lie him on the other side, etc). In most cases, the head can usually correct itself as the skull grows. Sometimes, the baby may need a helmet worn for 23 hours a day for a few months. It is easily corrected.

Since your LO is so young, his risks for needing the helmet are very low, especially if you keep him off his bad side :-)

kezz_howland · Apr 1st, 2012, 14:47 PM

Thanks everyone.

He doesn't sleep on one side, but sleeps on his back, and his head moves from one side to the other in his sleep so I can't keep him off a particular side really... and can't understand how it's even formed when he doesn't seem to prefer that side at all?!

I hope his bumbo will allow him to spend more time off his back and help. He HATES tummy time tho and only stands a minute or two before he starts to scream. e has been having one or two naps a day on my belly (and on his belly) with my slightly propped up now to keep him off his head entirely. Fingers crossed it gets better! HV should be coming round in a few weeks so I will speak to her about it when she comes and see if she is at all concerned. Thanks again everyonw

BabyN2010 · Apr 1st, 2012, 15:17 PM

My son had the same issue. He did favour one side though. We bought a clevamama memory foam pillow and he used that up until a few weeks ago when he decided it was more of a play toy.

It made quiet a big difference and I would recommend it.( The pillow itself is breathable as well which is good as pillows can be a safety concern )

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clevamama-72.../dp/B001O83F7C

Vanilla_girl · Apr 1st, 2012, 17:38 PM

My son has this. He has tortacollis which made him look to the left all the time, which caused the flat head. He mows wears a helmet, and it's improved greatly. If you go the helmet route, try to get it on by 5.5 months, to hit all the growth spurts.

Apr 1st, 2012, 13:15 PM	#1
kezz_howland Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Boston, Lincolnshire Posts: 856	Flat head :( Worried! George is 10.5 weeks old now and his head is getting a little flat on one side particularly. From the top it looks a little wonky, and from one side his neck looks like it goes almost straight up into his head if you know what I mean. From the other side it doesn't look too bad. OH thinks i'm getting worried about nothing, but I dunno what to do and don't want him to have a horrible shaped head! He is always moving in his sleep and has never always slept in one position, so I have no idea how it is even getting flat! He is holding his head fairly well so we have ordered him a bumbo in the hope that spending more time in there and in his jumperoo will help it. They didn't say anything at his 8 week check at the docs but I think it looks worse now. Will it return to normal? If so how quickly? Should I take him to the docs to get it checked out or is it very common? Here is a pic of him asleep. I don't thnk it looks as bad on the pic... but any advice I'd be very grateful! Thanks

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Apr 1st, 2012, 13:17 PM	#2
pinkbumpnov Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: UK Posts: 224	My lo has this, so does my friends lo. Seems common. It apparently sorts itself out when they start moving around more x

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Apr 1st, 2012, 13:27 PM	#3
loz27 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 793	my lo had this quite bad, one side of his head was extremely flat. if you looked down at his head from above it looked even worse. for my lo it slowly started to improve at 4 months when he learned to sit unaided and now he is 10 months it is totally gone. my hv told me it is very common and just montitored his head measurements now and again. i wouldnt worry im sure it will go by itself x

Status: Offline

Apr 1st, 2012, 13:41 PM	#4
ttcnewbie123 Other BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,542	My LO has this too, I think its very common - all you can really do is encourage your LO to lie on the other side I.e approach him from the other side so it evens out. Our LO is now just over 4 months and its a little better but still obvious, my understanding is that it will never be perfect again as the soft spot at the back has now closed up but once they have more hair etc it will be less noticeable. Mention it to your health visitor if ur worried x

Status: Offline

Apr 1st, 2012, 14:03 PM	#5
Clo Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: England Posts: 1,374	My lo had this badly from the day he wad born as he was breech and his head was squashed sideways under my ribs...and once he was born he favoured one side too...but once he started sitting it started to sort itself out. He is 11 months now and u cant see it at all any more (not sure if it completely sorted itself our or if its just covered by his full head of thick hair lol) x

Status: Online

Apr 1st, 2012, 14:24 PM	#6
happythought Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 653	My son had/ has the same thing. He seems to favor his right side and was getting a little flat on that side. But he has a bumbo as well and I give him tummy time every day. It seems to be improving and I am noticing him sleeping on his left side more too which is helping. It should continue to get better as he starts sitting up more. Just keep an eye on it.

Status: Offline

Apr 1st, 2012, 14:33 PM	#7
Mommy_RN Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Beverly Hills, CA Posts: 61	Hi there! It is called Plagiocephaly and is very common in young babies. Start by keeping him off his back when he's awake (tummy time, lie him on the other side, etc). In most cases, the head can usually correct itself as the skull grows. Sometimes, the baby may need a helmet worn for 23 hours a day for a few months. It is easily corrected. Since your LO is so young, his risks for needing the helmet are very low, especially if you keep him off his bad side :-)

Status: Offline

Apr 1st, 2012, 14:47 PM	#8
kezz_howland Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Boston, Lincolnshire Posts: 856	Thanks everyone. He doesn't sleep on one side, but sleeps on his back, and his head moves from one side to the other in his sleep so I can't keep him off a particular side really... and can't understand how it's even formed when he doesn't seem to prefer that side at all?! I hope his bumbo will allow him to spend more time off his back and help. He HATES tummy time tho and only stands a minute or two before he starts to scream. e has been having one or two naps a day on my belly (and on his belly) with my slightly propped up now to keep him off his head entirely. Fingers crossed it gets better! HV should be coming round in a few weeks so I will speak to her about it when she comes and see if she is at all concerned. Thanks again everyonw

Status: Offline

Apr 1st, 2012, 15:17 PM	#9
BabyN2010 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 111	My son had the same issue. He did favour one side though. We bought a clevamama memory foam pillow and he used that up until a few weeks ago when he decided it was more of a play toy. It made quiet a big difference and I would recommend it.( The pillow itself is breathable as well which is good as pillows can be a safety concern ) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clevamama-72.../dp/B001O83F7C

Status: Offline

Apr 1st, 2012, 17:38 PM	#10
Vanilla_girl Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 318	My son has this. He has tortacollis which made him look to the left all the time, which caused the flat head. He mows wears a helmet, and it's improved greatly. If you go the helmet route, try to get it on by 5.5 months, to hit all the growth spurts.

Status: Offline

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