Flat Spots

Nancy - posted on 03/25/2009

my son also had a flat spot, but it did not go away. at around 8-9 months he had plagiosephaly (?) sounds horrifying! but he wore a custom "helmet" for 11 weeks and was good as new. better! sounds like you're doing all you can, try to be sure also that he doesn't favor one side while sleeping.

Kelly - posted on 03/25/2009

my son also has a flat spot on the right side of his head. at his 4 month doctor visit i asked her about it and she felt his head and said that he will grow out of it, and to ask again at his 6 month visit if i felt that it wasn't getting any better, she said that alot of babies have a flat spot and most of them grow out of it on there own. i would just ask about it at your next doctor visit, and see what they say.....untill then i would do some of the things that other mothers have mentioned, i have been doing lots of tummy time, and he loves his bumbo seat.......good luck

Tracey - posted on 03/25/2009

Good evening! My 5 month old daughter has been doing this since birth. Since the birth went very smoothly and no "tools" were used to help deliver her, we just thought it was her preference

When her head started to change shape, we tried changing her sleeping position and nothing helped. Finally, about a month ago, we went to see her doctor on an unrelated issue and he suggested that we see a physiotherapist. We went to see the physio today and to our great suprise, our daughter most likely suffered a very mild neck strain during birth and has since favored the opposite side of her head. This strain could have been caused by the way she positioned herself in the birth canal. The Physio told us that 3 bones behind her right ear were stiff (less mobile than the other bones in her head ) and that some simple stretching exercises would help. I was also shocked to notice (once the physio pointed it out) that because of the mild "deformation", her right ear is about half an inch more to the front than her left one.

My daughter has no movement restrictions (only stiffness) and the flattened side is only noticeable if you know that it's there. I know the description of her situation sounds horrible but I bet a lot of parents have been in a similar situation but have been too embarassed to talk about it. If I may make a suggestion, request a referral to a physio and see what they can offer.

Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

Tracey - posted on 03/25/2009

Good evening! My 5 month old daughter has been doing this since birth. Since the birth went very smoothly and no "tools" were used to help deliver her, we just thought it was her preference

When her head started to change shape, we tried changing her sleeping position and nothing helped. Finally, about a month ago, we went to see her doctor on an unrelated issue and he suggested that we see a physiotherapist. We went to see the physio today and to our great suprise, our daughter most likely suffered a very mild neck strain during birth and has since favored the opposite side of her head. This strain could have been caused by the way she positioned herself in the birth canal. The Physio told us that 3 bones behind her right ear were stiff (less mobile than the other bones in her head ) and that some simple stretching exercises would help. I was also shocked to notice (once the physio pointed it out) that because of the mild "deformation", her right ear is about half an inch more to the front than her left one.

My daughter has no movement restrictions (only stiffness) and the flattened side is only noticeable if you know that it's there. I know the description of her situation sounds horrible but I bet a lot of parents have been in a similar situation but have been too embarassed to talk about it. If I may make a suggestion, request a referral to a physio and see what they can offer.

Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

Merrybeth - posted on 03/25/2009

my grandson who is 4 now had the same thing when he was a baby. we caught it in time and now his head is fine. you can still see a little bit of a flatness but not noticeable to anyone but me im sure! we just had to make sure that no matter what we turned his head...sometimes after he went to sleep or put him on his side against something where he couldnt turn back...good luck!

Alyx - posted on 03/25/2009

I too noticed that my son at only a few months old was developing a flat spot on the back of one side of his head. Upon noticing this, I also realized that he was only turning his head to one side and never turned to face the other side. His regular pediatrician wasn't too worried, but told us to help him turn his head (gently) to the other side a little at a time several times a day until he had better range of motion in his neck. We were also told to increase tummy time activities. He was sitting up and trying to crawl before too long which helped tremendously. She also referred us to a cranial specialist. They too weren't worried much and told us he would grow out of it. For the most part he has. I won't say his head is perfectly shaped. But you can't tell.

Tammy - posted on 03/25/2009

My son is almost 6 months, he started wearing his helmet a week ago. Don't worry about your little one. very few babies end up in the helmet. follow all the great advice here and he should be fine. If you have any questions about the helmet then message me :)

Jaime - posted on 03/25/2009

My son's head was relatively flat from birth. Most babies' heads will round out naturally, but my son's did not. We tried everything - positioning, tummy time, Bumbo chair, etc. At 6 months, our pediatrician referred us to Cranial Technologies. My son's case was severe. He had 3 DOC bands ("helmets") total because his treatment lasted for approximately 8 months and he was, of course, growing. However, because his case was severe, our insurance covered all 3 bands. I was apprehensive at first, especially because I felt my baby wasn't perfect (even though it is strictly cosmetic, and deep down, I knew that, but still...). In the end, I'm glad that we went through with it because he has a beautifully shaped head now! In fact, the DOC band was much cuter than I thought it would be and it was only for a short time.

Like I said, my son's case was extreme, but everything worked out in the end. Get your doctor's expert opinion. :)

Joanna - posted on 03/25/2009

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY SON AND PUT A MUSICAL COT TOY ON THE SIDE THAT I WANTED HIM TO LIE ON AND HE ENJOYED LOOKING AT AT AND WENT TO SLEEP THE WAY I WANTED HIM TO ALSO PLENTY OF TUMMY TIME HELPS

Adrienne - posted on 03/25/2009

HI HEATHER, MY 2nd DAUGHTER HAD THAT FLAT HEAD THINGY... SHE SLEPT A LOT, WITCH WAS A BONUS!!! I WORRIED A BIT  ABOUT IT,, BUT SHE GREW OUT OF IT . SHES 3 NOW. NO FLAT HEAD & IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER!!! HOPE THIS DISPELS SOME OF THE WORRY..

Nicky - posted on 03/25/2009

u need to talk to the doctors about it. it is not a good thing. and also need to change him is his bed one night at the top and the night night at the bottom. there are this thing u can get to but in the baby beds so they have to sleep on the side u put him on..i cant reamaner what there called. but u really need to talk to the doctor my aunt and uncle freind never took her kid in and now he has to wear a helmet and im sure u dnt need that best of luck

Corrine - posted on 03/25/2009

this happened to my son at 2 months old i didnt really think much of it until his 2 month appt at the dr. she told me that if it wasnt fixed by 4 months he had to wear a helmet....so he got a lot of tummy time and time in the swing during the day. at night i swaddled him real tight and and put a rolled up blanket under the right side of his back,/shoulder forcing him to sleep on the left side of his head, and by 4 months the dr said his head was back to "normal"

Heather - posted on 03/25/2009

thats a great idea!

Rianne - posted on 03/25/2009

When holding him i your arms, just caress his head, like molding a dough ball in your hand.. the more you lovingly mold his head with a rounded palm the more it WILL shape his head. No body wants a flat head...

Heather - posted on 03/25/2009

I started to notice it also with my daughter so we are doing lots of tummy time!! Also trying to do things that keeps her off the back of her head...hope this helps

Rochelle - posted on 03/25/2009

I change the end of the bed my baby is in and talk to her and make sounds so that she will turn her head to look. Also, when you feed, make sure you're not getting him to turn his head so the flat part rests on your arm or anywhere. Otherwise, lots of tummy time, sitting up and playing on the other side!

Meghan - posted on 03/25/2009

when putting him to bed place him so that he will have to lay on the left side in order for him to look out at you and his room.also,maybe placing an interesting toy on his crib might help him to be on the left side more.ocean wonder's aquarium's are great!hope this helps :)