He is six months old and his head is flat in the back, how can it be fixed? Can it be fixed? I have heard of some kids having to wear helmets to get their heads to round out again, is that the only way?
2006-11-11 07:27:19 · 11 answers · asked by hargonagain 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I know when he is with me I try not to let him lay on his back except when he is sleeping, his mother leaves him in the car seat, stroller or swing all day and rarely holds him. So I keep him off his back as much as possible when he is with me.
2006-11-11 07:50:24 · update #1
Until the mom decide to not leave him on his back all the time there is nothing you can do. However, I strongly urge you to work on his neck and back muscles because there was a mom I know who was like this and at 4 month he couldn't even hold his head up.
Luckily she went to a mommy and me baby class run by a public health nurse and when the nurse told her off about that and the flat spot it woke her up a little. Telling the babies daddy about the helmet they use to fix the flat spot really woke him up. She made sure to give him tummy time and use positioning pillows to get him to sleep in other positions (on the advice of the nurse). The dad made sure to pick him up, pull him up a little bit at a time by the arms to help develop neck muscles. The dad know plays with the kid in all those good more rough ways dads do.
It may be possible that making sure the baby lies in different positions while sleeping and making sure it sits up as much as possible during the day the flat spot will slowly fix itself. If not it will have to be the helmet. The flat spot if it gets too bad can hinder brain development.
If you can consider taking the baby to a doctor or public heath nurse. With or without you daughter. Talk to her as much as you can. Also I know they are really expensive and kind of dumb but there are those chair things that make a baby sit up before they are ready (Someone knows what the name of it is, help me out, they are really popular right now).
I am glad you are taking such an active role in your grandson's life.
Best of Luck.
2006-11-11 08:12:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Best thing to do is keep him upright as much as possible. Don't let him lay in the same position all the time either. When he's asleep tilt his head left one night and right the next. It will naturally round back out. My daughter had a severe case of flat head at 6 months and now at a year it's almost perfectly round. The helmets are a last resort with most neurologists these days due to the expense and no complete proof that it works better than positioning.
2006-11-11 07:32:50 · answer #2 · answered by Kel K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've seen babies wear those helmets. My son had a flat spot because he hated tummy time, not because I left him a swing or carseat. The pediatrician was concerned about it, we were going to have to see a neurologist if it didn't get better. But after awhile he rolled and crawled, now you can't tell since it rounded out on it's own.
2006-11-11 08:24:30 · answer #3 · answered by me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will round off as he gets older. My cousin's baby was like that, and he is now 4 and his head is round. The saying is that when a baby isn't held a lot and if he lays a lot then his head will be flat in the back and usually bald in one spot. So check and see if he's having to lay a lot or being stuck in the swing.
2006-11-11 07:30:12 · answer #4 · answered by Wonderious 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I know as a grandmother you must be worried but this sounds quite a normal thing to happen. I'm sure if there was anything seriously wrong with him the nurse or the doctor would have picked it up. His head will normalise in time and if you are really worried ask your daughter/daughter in law to take him to the doctor for peace of mind.
2006-11-12 07:08:02 · answer #5 · answered by sadgirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't need a helmet! His head is this way because babies lie on their backs and sit in swings and bouncers and their head is always lying flat as he sits up more on his own the head will shape itself. don't worry this is very normal.
2006-11-11 07:37:11 · answer #6 · answered by mommy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means he is laying on his back to much, so switch him to laying more on his sides to even it out, my kids had the same prob. and that is what the doc said to do
2006-11-11 07:39:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
rub his head as much as he will let you in a round circular motion(like you are rubbing a ball)...this will help round it out
babies skulls are real soft...the football head comes from being in the birth canal(or prolonged sleeping in same position)...you can massage it out
2006-11-11 07:29:57 · answer #8 · answered by kimandchris2 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
How do the parents feel about it? After all, it's their baby. They should talk to their doctor about it. It's not your problem.
2006-11-11 07:35:47 · answer #9 · answered by sheeny 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
don't leave him sitting in his carrier
2006-11-11 07:37:28 · answer #10 · answered by naturegirl 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋