flat head

[Natnee]

I have been concerned about Belle's head. I mentioned it to my GP at her 8 week check and she said it was a little bit but 'had seen worse' When I took her to be weighed at 12 weeks I mentioned it to the lady who did this at the baby clinic and she agreed it was slightly. I took some photos some time ago, I think I might take some more tomorrow to compare from then. I don't think it's getting loads worse but I don't know, as I see her everyday whether it's a case of just getting used to it?

I bought the clevamamma memory foam pillow which seems good. She kept wriggling off the lovenest one. It's difficult to know though if it has done any good or whether she would've got worse without it??

 

[RJsMum]

Oops and yes back to sleep was introduced about 15 years ago, but to begin with most parents would still listen to their elders or friends who would all tell them they left their babies to sleep on their tummies for years and they all survived, and probably if they tried it their babies slept longer and better, so they may have continued.
It really is only very recently that the SIDS risk for tummy sleeping has been so publicised, and back to sleep really encouraged.
I certainly think that if we ever decide to have another LO I would consider tummy sleeping to avoid flathead. Not that Owen having to wear the helmet is a huge problem, but if I had known it could have been avoided by tummy sleeping I would have tried

I had to sleep DS on his side in a positioner due to his reflux. Otherwise, as a newborn he would only nap on his belly -- which I allowed because he was in plain sight in the same room at the time. Now that he's older (nearly 9 mos) he will flip himself to his tummy if you try to make him sleep on his back...but he's older and stronger, so I don't worry as much.

Ultimately it's probably the best thing I could have done for him though because his head isn't even slightly flat.

I do think though if parents even suspect it slightly, I would fully support them questioning it rather than rely on chance for it to correct itself.

 

[BabyJayne]

Oops and yes back to sleep was introduced about 15 years ago, but to begin with most parents would still listen to their elders or friends who would all tell them they left their babies to sleep on their tummies for years and they all survived, and probably if they tried it their babies slept longer and better, so they may have continued.
It really is only very recently that the SIDS risk for tummy sleeping has been so publicised, and back to sleep really encouraged.
I certainly think that if we ever decide to have another LO I would consider tummy sleeping to avoid flathead. Not that Owen having to wear the helmet is a huge problem, but if I had known it could have been avoided by tummy sleeping I would have tried

You would put baby to sleep on his tummy, even though it has been proven to increase the risk of SIDS, just to avoid flat head syndrome?
I am sure you just mean for supervised naps in the day, and not as full-term position for night sleeping, as no-one would put their child at a greater risk of death for the sake of a perfectly round head.

 

[RJsMum]

Oops and yes back to sleep was introduced about 15 years ago, but to begin with most parents would still listen to their elders or friends who would all tell them they left their babies to sleep on their tummies for years and they all survived, and probably if they tried it their babies slept longer and better, so they may have continued.
It really is only very recently that the SIDS risk for tummy sleeping has been so publicised, and back to sleep really encouraged.
I certainly think that if we ever decide to have another LO I would consider tummy sleeping to avoid flathead. Not that Owen having to wear the helmet is a huge problem, but if I had known it could have been avoided by tummy sleeping I would have tried

You would put baby to sleep on his tummy, even though it has been proven to increase the risk of SIDS, just to avoid flat head syndrome?
I am sure you just mean for supervised naps in the day, and not as full-term position for night sleeping, as no-one would put their child at a greater risk of death for the sake of a perfectly round head.

To her defense, and it's no dig at you, BabyJayne, honest...I would like to think that every mama knows her own baby enough to know how safe it is to put LO on their tummy to sleep. I mentioned in the past how my son had excellent head/neck control from birth and although I wouldn't place him like that at night in his moses basket...I would for naps and I was confident he would turn his head as needed. He also slept on me a lot at night on his belly (in a safe way that I was comfortable with) and never had an issue.

I don't really think that she is saying she would risk SIDS for the sake of avoiding a flat head.

That being said, I personally don't feel it is solely from sleeping. I think a lot has to do with babies being on their backs in general and less tummy time taking place -- also because people were afraid to put LOs on their tummies or LOs didn't enjoy tummy time as much.

I never saw my SIL put her LO on her tummy until she was maybe 7 or 8 months because she was too nervous that she wasn't ready. By then, the whole one side of her head had a noticible drop from the crown and is very flat. I then did tummy time with DS since day 1 AND I happened to wear him a lot in a wrap, so he wasn't on his back or in a bouncer for much of his newbown life. I think that is a lot of the reason why he doesn't have one.

 

[Second Chance]

My sons head is also flat and my family keeps telling me to lay him on his side to sleep but his dr said not to.. I dont know what to do, i keep telling them not to, as it increases the risk of sids but I dont want him to have a flat head all his life and I dont have the money for treatments...

 

[RJsMum]

My sons head is also flat and my family keeps telling me to lay him on his side to sleep but his dr said not to.. I dont know what to do, i keep telling them not to, as it increases the risk of sids but I dont want him to have a flat head all his life and I dont have the money for treatments...

I put DS on his side to sleep because of reflux (and also the advice of the HV), but I used a sleep positioner. It had a rolled bit on either side so it prevented him from rolling onto his front.

I would say if you're going to consider placing baby on their side, to seriously consider a sleep positioner.

At the same time, there are other ways to avoid them having a flat head...like having them upright when they're awake or doing tummy time. Just in general not leaving them to lie on their backs.

 

[Second Chance]

I do have a sleep positioner, but I am just afraid to sleep him on his side, there were times I would lay him in his boppy on his side and tuck a blanket in on either side but it still scares me sometimes.

 

[doolittle]

Yes I did mean that I would consider tummy sleeping a future baby, overnight and for naps. I fully understand the risk of SIDS, but I do beleive that if the sole risk of tummy sleeping was that dangerous then babies in SCBU wouldnt be regularly placed to sleep on their tummies by the nursing teams.
I wouldnt tummy sleep from the start just to avoid flathead, but if I noticed flathead starting to develop then I would seriously consider it to help correct it naturally as opposed to having to go through helmet therapy.

 

[_Vicky_]

My sons head is also flat and my family keeps telling me to lay him on his side to sleep but his dr said not to.. I dont know what to do, i keep telling them not to, as it increases the risk of sids but I dont want him to have a flat head all his life and I dont have the money for treatments...

firstly stop stressing and dont listen to your family if you would prefer not to side sleep. SIDS to me and MY sense of peace when the boys sleep on their backs is far more important than a flat head! Sam was really really bad for ages - being twins they did spend a LOT of time in bouncers as who has four hands. He is also MR cool and didnt move much at all. BUT his head has really really improved sooo much since six months. I am personally not even thinking about it until he is a year - I dont want to go down the helmet route but OH would and by the looks of it it wont be necessary.

My sisters boy (also twin) was REALLY flat and now he is four and you cant tell at all.

 

[_Vicky_]

Yes I did mean that I would consider tummy sleeping a future baby, overnight and for naps. I fully understand the risk of SIDS, but I do beleive that if the sole risk of tummy sleeping was that dangerous then babies in SCBU wouldnt be regularly placed to sleep on their tummies by the nursing teams.
I wouldnt tummy sleep from the start just to avoid flathead, but if I noticed flathead starting to develop then I would seriously consider it to help correct it naturally as opposed to having to go through helmet therapy.

OMG I am quite shocked!! when fynn was in NICU they were all on theri backs to sleep and they are monitored and have staff watching for 24 hours - soon as their breathing slows a bit an alarm bleeps - can you say that happens at home? I am really trying to remain calm and adopt an ;each to their own' stance but

DO NOT TUMMY SLEEP TO AVOID FLAT HEAD ANYONE EVER PLEASE - A BABY WITH A FLAT HEAD IS BETTER THAN BEING A SIDS STATISTIC.

I dont want to start a row but jeez ladies put it in perspective!!!

 

[doolittle]

Vicky, I did say that I wouldnt tummy sleep from the start to avoid flathead, but certainly if I noticed it developing at 3 or 4 months then I would consider tummy sleeping then. Thats my personal choice, and is of course related to my experiences with Owen. It's not that I am advocating or encouraging anyone else to adopt my choices.
Maybe if others had experienced what we have, they may too consider these and other options to to avoid what Owen has had to endure.
I fully appreciate that there is an increased risk of SIDS from tummy sleeping, but the SIDS statistics are also related to other factors such as decreased passive smoking and other such things. The SIDS statistics may have thankfully reduced since back to sleep was introduced, but consider also the decrease in passive smoking, use of cot bumpers, sleeping bags instead of blankets, not allowing baby to overheat that have also come into play around the same time.
Many SCBU babies still tummy sleep, infact Owens aunty is a midwife and asked if we had tried tummy sleeping to ease his colic, not saying that its right or wrong, just that it is not as uncommon as you may think.
I am really pleased that Sams head is improving, and that your sisters childs did too, but I would urge anyone who has concerns over their childs flathead to seek an expert opinion. Dentition problems and eye/ear assymetry in later life are far to risky to leave to chance in my opinion.
I respect that you are waiting until Sam is a year to assess the situation with him again, but if you seek expert opinions then you will have missed the window of opportunity for growth, and any corrective treatment will take much longer and have more complications should he require it.
Again I am not advocating tummy sleeping to anyone, just saying it is something I may consider if I had another baby who developed the same problems Owen has.

 

[Second Chance]

Personally I could never imagine sleeping my son on his tummy to "fix" his flat head problem, I know that there are other complications that can arise but my sons life is far more important than the shape of his head, I use other corrective matters, as he doesnt like being on his tummy, Ill sit him up in his bumbo (an infant seat) which doesnt touch his head at all and also helps strengthen his neck. And when I hold him, I make sure his head is not resting on anything. Someone said something about a mother knows their LO weel enough to know what is safe and what is not, not to sound confrontational, but I dont agree with that otherwise we wouldnt have the SIDS statistics that we have now. Just because you think its safe doesnt always mean that it is...

The pictures are of my son in his Bumbo

 

[RJsMum]

Personally I could never imagine sleeping my son on his tummy to "fix" his flat head problem, I know that there are other complications that can arise but my sons life is far more important than the shape of his head, I use other corrective matters, as he doesnt like being on his tummy, Ill sit him up in his bumbo (an infant seat) which doesnt touch his head at all and also helps strengthen his neck. And when I hold him, I make sure his head is not resting on anything. Someone said something about a mother knows their LO weel enough to know what is safe and what is not, not to sound confrontational, but I dont agree with that otherwise we wouldnt have the SIDS statistics that we have now. Just because you think its safe doesnt always mean that it is...

The pictures are of my son in his Bumbo

I'm the someone who said that and my reasoning behind it is that every mother/parent knows their own child and what their strengths/weaknesses are. For example, my son had excellent head/neck control from day 1 so I was comfortable allowing him to tummy sleep for naps. Mind you, I didn't do this to preserve the shape of his head. I was merely pointing out that if you know your child and whether they have the ability to lift and turn their head when needed. Especially once children start learning then to roll, which DS did at 17 weeks, I had no choice then because he would just roll himself to his tummy regardless...and I knew that. I wasn't about to check on him every hour in the night to turn him back over. I would just check that his head was turned to the side and I was okay with that.

To be fair though, he did sleep on me a majority of the time he was a newborn.

 

[Second Chance]

I think once they are old enough to roll over there is not much you can do to prevent them from sleeping on their tummies, just in the meantime I find myself checking my son even on his back just to make sure he is breathing...