My son sleeps on his back. Now the back of his head is slightly flat. I'm worried it won't round out. I look at him while he is sleeping. Sometimes he sleeps with his head up (eyes at ceiling) other times his head is to one side.
I know the plates in their skull don't fuse til they are 12 months. He is 4 months. I'm concerned about this!
2007-06-01 16:53:42 · 27 answers · asked by Dreamt_Illusions 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
His pediatrician didn't seem too concerned at the time when I asked several weeks ago. His 4 month check up is next week...I plan on discussing it further. Repositioning his head in the past only woke him up but I will try this again.
His pediatrician advised against using anything he could get caught in (the sleep positioners).
2007-06-01 17:35:38 · update #1
Ok a lot of people are promising you that "it'll be fine" or "it will be flat forever", each child's body develops at different rates and in different ways. Keep an eye on it, don't let him stay on his back for extended periods of time when he is not sleeping. Give him lots of tummy time, go ahead and try to let him sleep(nap) on his side or tummy if you feel comfortable doing so and only if you are there to monitor him. Talk to the doctor and keep track of how the spot grows or changes and make sure your doctor knows your concerns. I'm sure they have plenty of options for you to try as well.
Either way if his head ends up being flat or round I'm sure you'll love him just the same and as long as his health isn't affected then that is all that matters
2007-06-07 16:36:56 · answer #1 · answered by quvenus 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Many cultures considered a flattened head attractive!
Plains and Southwest Native American groups would tie their babies to hard cradle boards, swaddling them and strapping them down. There was even a strap that went across the forehead to hold the head in place. The babies were in these cradle boards for the majority of the day (and night) until they were old enough to walk.
They coveted the "flat head" look.
Other groups (mostly in South America) wrapped tight bands around the head to produce a lovely "cone head." It was considered sexy.
It takes a LOT of effort to significantly deform a child's skull.
Most people have slight irregularities in their heads - from sleeping position, from forceps, from injuries. Most of the time, they are not noticeable.
Your son's "flat spot" may not completely disappear, but I promise that it will get better over time. The "soft spot" in the front of a baby's skull closes at around 12 months, but some of the sutures in the skull don't completely close until a person is in their 40s! Bone is living tissue, and it can adust.
Relax, and continue to place your baby on his back to go to sleep. His safety is far more important than a minor (likely nonexistent) flaw in his appearance.
2007-06-02 00:38:57 · answer #2 · answered by stormsinger1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be concerned about this. My son is now 9 y.o. and he has a slight flat spot on the back of his head that has been there since about the same age as your son. You have to physically make him sleep in other multiple positions or the flat spot will become fused that way forever. IF he was to sleep on one side all the time he would start to get a flat spot on the side of his head. It is important that they sleep in different positions.
Reposition him after he falls asleep. Put him on his side and put pillows around or behind him so that he will not be able to roll back while sleeping. They sell a product for this. It is basically two triangle pillows with a strap attaching them together. He would sleep between the two pillows and be unable to roll over while sleeping.
2007-06-02 00:08:13 · answer #3 · answered by Wade M 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's nothing to worry about while his skull is still immature. Most babies whose parents follow the SIDS guidelines have some degree of flattening and/or baldness until the bones fuse. If he was unable to move his head, there might be a cause for concern, but he is managing to move his head side to side.
Doing anything now is more likely to cause serious problems than letting him grow naturally. There isn't any need for corrective procedures (including helmets) until he is much older and it has been found to be a real problem; and it's unlikely to be one.
2007-06-07 04:53:41 · answer #4 · answered by bungy_heart 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't stress about it...it's perfectly normal. I have seen hundreds of babies with slightly flat heads at the back..one with a totally flat head at the back! And all grew up to have normal skulls and nothing wrong with them at all. If you are still concerned, ask your child health nurse or a doctor but I think you will find they will tell you the same thing. Good luck.
2007-06-02 00:05:09 · answer #5 · answered by West Aussie Chick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son had a rather flat spot for a while - in fact, he still does have a bit of one, but it's no big problem. It got much, much better once he was spending most of the time upright.
Others have given you good advice - don't let him spend all his time on his back, whether on the floor, in his car seat, bouncer, or swing. Carry him in a sling or bjorn lots, and insist on lots of tummy time.
As far as the effects of slightly flattened heads goes, a friend of mine has a very flat spot in the back of her head. She's starting her PhD under one of the top researchers in our field in the Fall, having finished her MSc already. No learning nor memory problems there!
Keep asking your doctor if it reassures you, or if you notice that the flat spot is quite off center, as that could indicate other problems such as development or scarring in neck muscles (torticollis).
2007-06-02 02:58:40 · answer #6 · answered by melanie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you are beginning to see is called positional plagiocephaly. Doctors have seen a rise in this condition mainly to a campaign for babies to sleep on their backs in order to help reduce the risk of SIDS. Here's a really good article on the condition. Although I didn't read through the whole thing I can tell you from experience (I have a flattened head) and a friend child has the condition that both of us struggle with learning and memory issues. Follow the recommendations to help reduce any possible problems in the future.
2007-06-02 00:04:55 · answer #7 · answered by Orion 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's completely normal for your baby to have a flat spot on his head from sleeping on his back. When he begins to turn over in his sleep (usually over 6 months of age this will begin), the spot will eventually go away. Do not have him sleep on his stomach at this point in time because there is too much risk for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Give it time.
2007-06-09 01:12:36 · answer #8 · answered by Laraine S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not an expert on this...but I thought I would just share so you don't worry anymore. Baby's heads are soft and when they are little lying on their back or in a punkin seat ect, their head may look flat because they are always lying down. After they start moving around their head will start looking more round because they aren't lying around. I would not worry..... I think this is a normal and so is your reaction. Your baby will be fine once he stops lying flat.
2007-06-08 21:51:00 · answer #9 · answered by ♥ Liz ♫ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a simple thing I do, is top and tail them, have them up one end of the cot for a few nights, then flip them over and have them up the other end for a few nights. babies naturally lie the same position in their sleep (usually with their face away from light), so flipping them over forces them to rest their head on the other side.
I have never had a flat headed baby yet. though I dont drive so my kids have naps in the pram, naps in their cot, naps in the car (when dad drives them) and naps on the couch, so theyre not always in the same place all the time (and on a good note, theyll sleep anywhere!!)
goodluck!
2007-06-06 06:54:27 · answer #10 · answered by Dani 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋