2007-01-09 06:33:47 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
It really depends on the severity of the flatness and how old your infant is. You have until 9 months of age to correct the flatness. If it is not corrected by this age and depending on how flat the baby's head is, your child may be required to wear a helmet to reshape their head. Especially if their face is not asymmetrical because of the flat head.
Sometimes an infant head may be flat due to positioning in the womb. A lot of times flatness can be attributed to the "BACK to sleep" program for newborns (putting newborns to sleep on their back)
Some suggestions for reducing and correcting flatness are as follows:
1. If you are using a mobile of some sort in their crib, move it to different positions around the crib each day. This encourages your baby to look different ways, thus not applying pressure to the same side or back of the head.
2. Change your babies position in the crib when they go down for naps (if napping in the crib) or when they are put to bed for the night. Still put baby on their back if they are unable to roll but maybe try putting them with their head at the opposite end of the crib
3. LOTS of supervised Tummy Time. A lot of babies dont like to be on their stomachs as newborns but try to have lots of supervised tummy time many times throughout the day, maybe just 10-15mins at a time.
4. If bottle feeding, try to feed your baby in a more upright position so not as much pressure is being applied to their head. If nursing, try switiching your baby's position (from cradle hold, to football hold etc) each day.
5. Swings and bouncy chairs are good as well. Try allowing your baby to nap in either one, they reduce the amount of pressure applied to the back of the head.
Good Luck
2007-01-09 07:47:11 · answer #1 · answered by twinsin06 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you will need to give the baby more playtime on it's tummy and try to alternate which side of the head your baby is laying on when they are sleeping. We didn't notice my daughter's flat spot until she was 2.5 months old, and she was so wiggly by then that it was hard to keep her head on the non flat side...a loosing uphill battle in our case. She is now permanently a little bit flat. The Dr. said the scull is usually sealed up by a year. So you have until a year to try to help the situation. Good luck!
Edit: Addressing the helmet others have heard of or not heard of...they exist. They are for severe cases. The Dr. told us that if the flat spot got bad enough that the helmet would have to be used, and that the babies who use it will need to spend over 20 hours a day wearing the special helmet. Again all of this will need to take place before the child's scull seals up at 1 year of age. At Dr. visits I when I would inquire about how well she was doing on the flat spot they would always look for symmetry in the face and ears.
2007-01-09 08:25:58 · answer #2 · answered by JordanB 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO! You need to start positioning him in his crib better and make sure he isn't in the swing or carseat all day. In the crib you can use a wedge under your baby's back (they sell them at baby stores, target, etc) to lean your baby to the left one night, and to the right the next, so that he is getting equal pressure on all sides of the head during this stage. Once they can move around and turn over there's not much you can do except get a helmet. Even when baby is in his swing or bouncy seat, try to skew his body/head one direction and then the other for an hour at a time.
2007-01-09 07:28:26 · answer #3 · answered by toomanycommercials 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, it does NOT correct itself. You should contact your child's doctor. The reason is because your child spends too much time lieing flat on his/her back. Try holding the child more, using things like bouncers or swings with curved head pillows (they are sold are places like babies r us or target). If those things can not be used, your doctor may have to give your child a helmut to try to reshape your infant's head before it starts to cause long term damage.
For people who haven't heard of "special helmuts" try checking with a medical supply place. I work with insurance and we are billed for "cranial helmuts" (which are what they are called) every day. Also, my husband and two little cousins had them as infants/toddlers, so I have seen them in use too. People who don't know what they are talking about shouldn't act snoty to other people's comments, it's ignorant and rude.
2007-01-09 06:49:26 · answer #4 · answered by angie_laffin927 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try propping the baby up as much as possible. Limit time in the car seat, crib, bouncy, etc.
My daughter had a pretty flat spot on the back of her head but her dr said that it'll even out before she's 2 years old. It actually evened out before she was about 6 months old.
2007-01-09 06:48:24 · answer #5 · answered by momoftwo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could but I would point out your infants head to the doctor. They may have you meet with a therapist to teach you exercises you can do to help your baby's head form normally. If it gets too bad, your child may be required to wear a helmet to correct the problem.
2007-01-09 06:50:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, But, if you can keep your baby off of its back, then this will also help. Sometimes baby's have a certain way they like to sleep and will sleep on one side more than the other or they really like to lie on their back. This will cause one side to be flatter than the others. So, if you can help your baby lay on their side more this can help. During the day time place a blanket behind the baby, to help keep them on their side. But, it will go away no matter what about the time they start crawling more and walking more. hope this has helped.
2007-01-09 06:45:35 · answer #7 · answered by WINDY 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to make sure your baby changed positions when he or she sleeps. Flat head is common in babies since there head is very soft. It will eventually go away. Just make sure he sleeps on the side of his head every now and them.
2007-01-09 06:52:06 · answer #8 · answered by courtney b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my best friends son had the same problem as an infant it was from always laying him on his back and not turning him enough he had to get a special helmet made she didnt use it on his as often as the doctor said and he still has a flat head at 8 yrs old.
2007-01-09 06:38:59 · answer #9 · answered by aquaris01975 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The best cure for it, without getting the dreaded "special helmet" (which I've never heard of except in the other answers) is to make sure the baby is not laying on its back all day. Jack's head was round, but that's because he had TONS of "tummy time" and was held often. Make sure baby's getting lots of time on his tummy. He'll develop and learn faster, and his head will round out. =)
Good luck. Babies are fun, aren't they?
2007-01-09 06:41:57 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋