Positional plagiocephaly in infants?

Question

This question is ONLY FOR THOSE PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE HAD POSITIONAL PLAGIOCEPHALY. Please DO NOT REPLY if you have not had to deal with it.

My 7 months old has had a flat spot on his head since he was 3 months old, and I'm worried to death that he will have to wear a "helmet" to correct it. At this point, it's of moderate severity. Now that he can sit on his own, the baby does not spend too much time on his back when he's not napping, and he barely spends any time at all in his car seat or stroller, but I have not seen any improvement. His doctor says it will go away on its own, but I'm wondering how long it takes to see the spot going back to its normal shape. I tried repositioning, but the problem is that no matter what side I put him down on to (and tuck towels and blankets under his back), he always flips on his back and sleeps that way anyway! HOW LONG did it take your child's flat spot to disappear? Did you have to take any measures (besides helmet), and if yes, what?

Answer 1

My son had this too, it takes up to a year for it start to go back to "normal" shape. The Dr. will take a look at it at each well baby check up, as long he/she doesn't see any problems with it you won't need to do anything other than what you are already doing. Thankfully my daughter is a proficient roller from 3 months old so she doesn't have so much of a flat spot as my son did. Just try to keep him off his back as much as you can during the day and let him sleep how he wants at night. Don't worry, it will get better and by his second birthday at the latest his head should look perfect :)

Answer 2

I too started to notice a flat spot on my son's back right side at 3 months and told the Dr I was concerned. He said more tummy time and wait a while. By 7 months I saw no improvement and it was the same situation-he was never on that spot anymore and so I made another appt. My Dr said that if I was really all that concerned then I should go have him evaluated at Cranial Technologies. I did and he was fitted for a helmet and wore it for 3 months. He's 19 months old now and his head is much better...it still has some flatness, but I cannot imagine what it would look like if I hadn't gotten the helmet. I've done a lot of research and was part of a yahoo group for Plagiocephaly. There is also a group for older kids who still have it...you may want to go in and ask them. Good luck!

Answer 3

im not a parent who has had a baby that had this, but i had it when i was a baby, i am now 22, the spot is still flat and i am perfectly healthy.