2007-11-30 03:26:20 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
We had the same issue. It's because your baby is laying the same way when sleeping. Try to work on this now....we now have a slight (VERY SLIGHT) flat spot at 5 months. My Ped. said that if it doesn't go away by 1 year, they want to put a helmet on her! So we've been working to have her lay facing the other way.
Don't worry...it's strictly cosmetic...It causes no real damage. But a helmet can cost around $5000 & they would have to wear them 23 hours a day.
Just rotate your baby's head to face the other way & it will get better..plus when they start to sit up, that will help.
Also...don't worry about the people telling you that you're not holding your child too much. This is normal & happens a lot.
They also make sleep pads that have memory foam that helps w/ that & we have one of those that's helping.
2007-11-30 06:49:37 · answer #1 · answered by Tracy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
6 Week Old Flat Head
2017-01-11 18:18:04 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's normal for newborns to have heads that are flat at the back. It'll resolve itself as your baby starts spending more time holding his head up and spending time on his tummy. If your baby is 6 months old and still has a flat head, then it's a good idea to bring it up to his doctor.
2007-11-30 07:50:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I worried about this, too, and you can find some scary things on the internet about flat head syndrome. My son spend a lot of time playing on the floor and in his bouncy seat. The truth, with us, anyway, was that as time continued, his head has rounded out. Ppl say not to do as much floor time or make sure something is padded behind the head. There are also special pillows you can buy to place behind the head in the crib and while on the floor and in a baby seat or swing. We used nothing and he was fine.
2007-11-30 03:31:18 · answer #4 · answered by lysistrata411 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This occurs when a baby spends too much time on his back, as the skull is very soft and maleable when babies are young.
I would recommend giving him more 'tummy time' as well as letting him sleep on his tummy or side during the daytime, when you are better able to monitor him, so that his skull is relieved of all that pressure on the back of it. Also, if you have a babyseat, such as a portable carseat that rocks, try letting him nap in that... though he will be on his back, there will be less stress on the back of his skull because he'll be more in a seated incline position.
I have a baby that is just the same age as your's and I haven't noticed any flattening of his skull, mainly because he only sleeps on his back during the night. I can't get him to sleep in his crib during the daytime, so mostly he is in my arms, laying on the floor or my bed (on his tummy) or in his babyseat, so he's not spending a majority of the day on his back, which can lead to flattening of the head.
I'm sure your pediatrician will have some advice on how to prevent this flattening from getting worse, as well as correcting the problem, and congrats on your new baby!
2007-11-30 03:41:18 · answer #5 · answered by Skludo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pick your baby up!Hold your baby as much as possible, before you know it he will be crawling and then walking. You can never get that precious time back. Wear him in a sling. Try a little supervised tummy time. Move him to different positions to sleep. But, alwas BACK to sleep. Reduces the risk of SIDS.
I have seen babies with flat heads who had to wear helmets. It is sad and it was because they left the baby laying in her crib all day and never held her. She is 3 years old and her head is still flat on the back.
2007-11-30 04:46:37 · answer #6 · answered by lazyslops 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
More tummy time. My friend in pediatrics sees babies who have to wear helmets to re-shape their heads because they are left lying on their back too much. It IS a big deal if you ignore it but with different positioning it won't be an issue.
I'm NOT telling you to put the baby to sleep on the back just spend some time each day on tummy.
2007-11-30 03:58:52 · answer #7 · answered by giraffegal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Place him on his side instead of his back cause a baby laying down alot is what causes there head to be flat
2007-11-30 12:00:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First try to see if you can them down and put their head in the opposite direction as the night before. You can also switch the way they face in the crib in case the baby turn its head to look out on side.
Also switch the side you feed the baby on each time and the side which you hold them on.
One thing we did, for other reasons but I noticed that it helped the head flatness, is had our baby sleep in her bucket seat (car seat) in the crib. She was a bit upright which helped her reflux and took the pressure off of the head. Our second daughter slept in her swing for the same reasons, and she liked the rocking. Both of these were for the night.
2007-11-30 04:55:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Put him down a different way each night when he goes to sleep. For example, night one put him down with his head facing left and the next night face his head right. I found it also helps if you roll up a receiving blanket and tuck it under the opposite side of his body to keep him in that position.
Tummy time also helps and is great anyway because it promotes growth and development of his neck muscles.
2007-11-30 04:42:10 · answer #10 · answered by PJ's Mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋