HELP please Plagiocephaly - what more can I do?

[August3]

I am so concerned.

My wee one is 5 months old and has positional plagiocephaly. The picture attached is the aerial view. She was a ventouse delivery and had severe torticullis in her neck as a newborn. She was developing a flatness on her favoured side. We got physio for her neck and that has worked wonders but she still has a very noticeable flat spot now on the back of her head.

Both the physio and HV said it would correct itself as she becomes more mobile and become less noticeable as her hair grows in, has anyone got experience of this happening?

Currently I am
putting her down for tummy time as long as she will endure throughout the day (up to 45 minutes at a time)
sitting her upright in a little toy car and on her high chair when she is fed up with tummy time
sitting her between my legs upright for play and reading books
propping her up against a memory foam pillow on the sofa
she is positioned on her back on a foam pillow at night and for naps

I have contemplated letting her sleep on her tummy but with SIDS......

I have gotten so desperate that I am wedging her head to one side and off the flat spot when she naps with a 1kg bag of porridge!!! Does that make me a terrible mother??

Any advice would be gratefully received, am so worried

 

[KAH1990]

I'm sorry I don't really have any advice but didn't want to read and run - Although my LO's flat spot wasn't as noticeable as yours he defiantly had a flat spot forming (he had a perfect round head when born) so I could notice the difference and I was panicking so much about it but now at 6 months it's rounded out really nicely and his hair is starting to grow back on his bald spot as well he's rolling around everywhere now and sleeps on his side so there is never pressure on the back of his head now so I've put it down to that! I really hope your lo's flat spot sorts it's self out on its own without intervention.

 

[girlinyork]

DD had a wonky head and once she started sitting up independently i.e. without her head supported, it corrected itself. My HV wasn't concerned either and it turns out it was rightly so x

 

[candyem]

My son had a flat spot on his preferred side similar to this. I worried about it and spoke to three hv about it but tjey were never concerned.

He has just turned 2 and now you wouldn't know.

Even at two, he still doesn't have loads of hair and he is so fair that it was really noticeable when he was young.

No advice but I have had the same concerns and it did sort itself out

 

[Smiler82]

My son had a bit of a flat head - I didn't think it was too bad but he's always had loads of hair so you couldn't really tell. I've been taking him to a chiropractor and she has worked wonders. His head is much more rounded, and his development as far as things like rolling, crawling etc are coming on leaps and bounds.

My friend's son had a severe flat head and she took him to an osteopath, and again it really helped. Might be worth a consultation with someone local and see if they can help?

 

[kirstybumx3]

Rio's head was very much like this. No matter how it tried I couldn't get him to lie any other way. Then he started to prefer tummy sleeping around 6 months, as well as sitting unaided etc. he is 10 months now and his head is pretty 'normal' shaped x

 

[Lellow]

My sons head is exactly like yours OP, but im not concerned as my eldest was the same and his head sorted itself out as he got more and more mobile. Im pretty much certain both our babies heads will be fine.

 

[August3]

Thanks for the replies.

@smiler82 thanks for the suggestion, have arranged an appointment with an osteopath who specialises in children

Have also since spoken to my doctor who says she will refer us to a paediatrician if concerned still when I return home in a few weeks.

Has anyone used any special pillows with holes with success? or is there a light up toy that I could attach to the side of the cot until she falls asleep that you recommend?

 

[Smiler82]

I haven't tried the pillow personally, but again my friend whose son had a severe flat head used one and she said it def helped x

 

[kanga]

My sons having physio for this ATM too. He favours looking right and had a flat spot on one side. We place a folded muslin under his shoulder/upper back to get him looking left. I wear him in the sling a lot more now too. I don't think you'll see results for a few months yet, so hang in there x

 

[kanga]

If you're watching her and you have one of those apnea mats, you might think about tummy naps..?

 

[August3]

@mummy wummy, thank you I have tried the folded up muslin but she is so strong now she just headbutts it away. Works okay in the bassinet when we are out for a walk.

@kanga, tried putting her on her tummy for naps yesterday and she hollered which usually never does!

Went to a doctor this morning and got a referral for a paediatrician who specialises in early child development, have an appointment for 6 weeks time. In the meantime I can only try to keep her off the back of her head as much as I can throughout the day.

 

[MindUtopia]

It sounds like you have her upright for much of the day anyway, but you might consider using a wrap if you need your hands free more. Wearing babies in a wrap counts as 'tummy time' as it keeps them off their heads and strengthens neck and back muscles.

Also, if she is still favouring her head to one side at that age, I'd consider looking into cranial osteopathy. Many babies who were poorly positioned in pregnancy (breech babies) or during birth and my guess is she was if you needed ventouse, have tightness in their necks and shoulders which can be alleviated with a bit of osteopathic treatment. It's very gentle, like a nice massage, for babies. You'll have to pay privately, but it's not much, only 30 quid a visit here and very worth it, and you'd likely only have to go a few times. Even once might be enough to see marked improvement. I'd really look into it.

 

[August3]

Thanks MindUtopia.

We had our first appointment with the osteopath yesterday evening and she worked on freeing baba's neck and ribcage as well as working on her head.

I don't know how convinced I am that it will make a difference but it can't do any harm.

I am going to start a new thread on advice re. the helmet or band.