Flat Spot & Infant Helmet?

My first thought is "does she sleep on her back only"...that leads to a flat spot. I didn't listen to the so called experts, my children slept on their stomachs so they would lay on either side of their head, so we didn't have this problem.

B.

Hi K.
My daughter wore the helmet for about 3 months. She is a twin, baby B, and for some reason the way she was in my belly during pregnancy caused her to be born with tight neck musles, forgot the proper name for that condition. so she had therapy for that for a few weeks until everything was fine. but in meantime she developed a flat spot on her right side. so we were referred to cranial tech in miami (we were living there at the time). the insurance ended covering about 80 per cent of the costs, but it did wonders for my daughter's head shape. actually looks awesome now. you're in luck that you're considering doing it now rather than summer months when it gets really hot and therefore there will be sweat and therefore more cleaning of the helmet, because the thing about the helmet is that it needs to be cleaned pretty frequently (esp. in the beginning until the head gets used to having it). otherwise it causes a rash on the forehead. my daughter wore it for 23 hr out of 24 hrs a day. she wasn't bothered by it at all. you might want to know that because the head keeps growing you will have to go back to the place every so many weeks for adjustment (they shave the isndie of the helmet to fit the head properly).
so please do not worry. it will help her head shape tremendously and it will not be a bother at all.
feel free to ask me any questions you might have.
vlora
EDIT:
I just read irene's response so i wanted to clarify one thing. the flat spot in the head, if not corrected could cause major misproportions with the eyes, cheeks, nose and chin. even at 5 months old, which was when my daughter got fitted for the helmet, you could notice one cheek sticking out compared to the rest of the face. so i totally disagree with the previous post since this is not a matter of headshape but rather of a flat spot in the head.

My son was born 2 months early and he had a very severe flat head syndrome. He didn't wear a helmut until he was about 1 1/2- two years of age. The dr at children's was surprised he wasn't wearing one alot sooner, but needless to say he hated it. He cried every time I put it on. He wore it for a short time and then he outgrew it. He still has a flat head but he is four years old now and his hair kinda covers it. I think there would have been much better results had they put the helmut on when he was an infant.

K.,
Our son had to wear the helmet also. It was called the Doc Band. He had NO problems with it. Within 2 days he forgot it was on. He slept fine, which I was worried about. My regret was we waited too long and he had to wear if for 1 year instead of months. If you want, please feel free to contact me. I can answer questions from a Mom's point of view.

My son is turnin 6 months this sunday and we never had a problem with his head.. what i always did though was make sure i always gave him plenty of tummy time. but it may also have been bcz he nvr slept on his back. i kno they say its best, but it wasn't in our case..

Do you have a sling? I'd wear or hold her during the daytime hours and avoid lying her down as much as possible.

the flat spot thing.. is a new development in the areana of infants. its something that came around when the whole sids thing led doctors to make kids sleep on their backs.. i would get a second oppinion.. hit the library.. and ask lots of questions... asking questions here is a good start.. but i would check out some other reasourses..
its a new thing and they are still gathering information.. my children never had it but both of them were active enough by the time they were 5 months old that they were tossing and turning in their beds to get comfortable.. but i have heard of it..
i would recomend following your heart.. but listen to the doctors.. ask them lots of questions.. if you dont get awnsers that suit you or make sence.. then ask another doctor.. ask a nurse.. ask ask ask.. eventually you will get what you want...
god bless

K.,
My 2-year old has a flat spot on his head also. My doctor mentioned the helmet but never really pushed the idea. Now I wish I had used it because it is very noticable to me. (other people say it is not noticable)Of course now it is too late. You only have a few months window for it to work.
Since we never used it I can't tell you if is was uncomfortable for the baby or not.
Use your best judgement.
Good luck,
Dinae

Hi K.,

My daughter has a flat head in back. She is 14 months now so its too late to do anything about it. Her ped. at the time never seemed concerned about it and never really mentioned it. Luckily, it isn't severe and didn't misproportion her face or anything like that like someone else mentioned to you. But, I notice it and it bothers me. It kinda makes me feel bad, like maybe I should have mentioned it to the ped. more. She is my first child though and I wasn't sure if it was a semi normal thing since my ped. at the time said that her head will round out by itself. It has gotten rounder but she's still a flat head. I should mention that I only put her to bed on her back since that is what everyone says to do nowadays. It helps prevent SIDS they say. Luckily, my daughter has a ton of hair and it helps hide the flat spot. But, I would definitely listen to what your doctor says and look into it. It's nothing like surgery and is painless for the child so I see nothing wrong with it. I wish my ped. would have mentioned it to me.

Good luck and do some of your own research on it. I hope it all goes well!

-D.

you see i think doctor just find a way to make money.
every body head and anything eles on their body is mot made the same.
my 19 year old daughter has a egg head,but her dad has a peanut head.my 29 year old has a round head and her father has a block head,i have a butt shape head with the part down the middle.you can go check and see if the baby need it i say let the baby be.

Hi K., this has become very common over the years since the "back to sleep" method has come about. It is called plagiocephaly and treated through the use of the "Doc Band" or "Star Band". There are alot of good web sites out there on just this subject. You may want to start with this one...
www.plagiocephaly.org/support/ Lots of info and good support to be found there. Just key in the word plagiocehaly in any search engine and tons of stuff will come up for you. Good Luck and don't worry too much. R.

Yes I Have I Got Told 2day That My 5 Mo Old Son Might Need That Aswel Due A Flat Head One Side,

My children never had the flat spot, but when my oldest was little I had my Dr. telling me for him to sleep on his back and my mother telling to put him on his stomach, so I ignored both of them and put him on his sides. He slept very well and we never had problems with flat spots. Try using a wedge behind her back and alternate sides each night. Eventually, she'll be rolling and move at night and she won't have the constant pressure on the back of her head. Good luck:O)

My cousin had twins and both twins had to wear helmets for almost 3 months. It was the greatest thing she did for them. Their heads are perfectly round again. The helmets didn't hurt the twins at all. Helmets do wonders for flat heads. Don't worry about it. The helmets aren't always attractive to look at, but my cousin decorated them for each twin. There are so many babies that get flat heads and have to wear helmets. The time will go by fast. The pediatric physical therapist should be able to inform you entirely on it so you know what you're getting into. Hope that helps

does she lay in one position for a while? do whatever they sugguest. my nephew has this problem (10 yrs now) and it is a mess. they never did anything about it and his head is crooked. I am sure they will fix it with the helmut. doing something now and being dilligent about it will save her a lifetime of a crooked head.
good luck, it will be ok, don't worry.
mer

I have not heard of wearing a helmet, but I raise my now 11 mo old neice. She was 3 months when I got her and the back of her head is flat as well, they told me it was from her laying too much and not being held...and that it would go away, well since I have had her they sure cant say she is laying too much with me and it hasnt gone away...I sure would be interested in what the dr tells you.

My daughter is 6 months old and when we went for her 4month visit the doctor said the same thing. However he suggested that we try laying her a different way in her crib and so forth. And now two months later she is much better. So I suggest you try laying your child a different way in the crib

Good Luck
B.

DIANE R- it is not too late to prevent further problems from your child's flat spot,

K. W.-

Contact a D.O. (an MD with osteopathic training) or massage therapist trained in Craniosacral therapy and has experience working with infants/toddlers. VERY light gentle touches that affect the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, and thus the nervous system and skull. It is different and not real mainstream, but I have a friend who used it and had remarkable results. Just look into it, read about what it can do for babies and children and realize that it is gentle and not harmful. It might be worth a try.

K., my cousin had to use a special helmet for her son. He had a flat spot on the back of his head and they were fitted for a special helmet to help reshape his head. It worked very well for them. I think they had to use it a bit longer b/c her son's flat spot was significant. But I am sure the dr. will go over all of that with u.
I hope it all turns out well.
K.