Mis-shapen head in an infant

DS had a perfect little round head when he was born. Now I'm noticing that it is becoming out of shape...it is sort of jutting out to the right side. I think it is because he positions his head to rest on that spot when in the swing. How do I fix this before he needs a helmet to fix it? I've tried turning his head the other way, but he just turns it back to what I guess is comfortable for him. The ped said I can lie him on his belly to sleep during the day if I'm right there, which I am (or I let him sleep on my chest). But for other times, like nighttime sleep, and napping, and when we just need to put him down, what do we do? And I'm assuming that I have to turn his head so that the area that is NOT protruding is the area he is lying on, right?

Re: Mis-shapen head in an infant

Tummy time. Have him do skin to skin contact on your and your DH where you are laying down and he is on top of you. This way he will have your warmth (I would cover both of you with blankets to keep warm). Alternatively, have DS do tummy time on the floor looking at a mirror or a small toy. I am not sure how old your DC is, but by two weeks old you can start tummy time in one-two minute increments and then work his way up. Even if he screams and does not love it, it will increase his neck muscle tone and help his head shape.

Re: Mis-shapen head in an infant

Can you maybe roll up a towel or something to position him so be can't turn his head back at certain times? I know I'd be worried about him putting his face in the towel, but maybe propping it behind his back a bit?

Re: Mis-shapen head in an infant

Re: Mis-shapen head in an infant

Mis-shapen head in an infant

You can buy a noggin nest for when they are in the swing

Mis-shapen head in an infant

My dd had that too. She is now 6 months and it's going away on its own. I asked my pedi about it at her last appt. he said her head still needed some rounding on her left side. The more she is playing on her tummy and now she's sitting up it will happen on its own as her head develops.

She has always favored sleeping on the left side of her head, but now that she's rolling around her sleep positions are slightly changing.

I also asked him about the helmet bc I don't want it to get to that point. He said that a lot of pedis don't believe in them bc it's just trying to speed up what will happen on its own. Not sure how true that is, but I do know that dd's head is much rounder on that side now.

Re: Mis-shapen head in an infant

You want to make sure he has full range of motion in his neck. Can he fully turn (you moving it) his head the opposite direction. Also does his head tilt to one direction? If he has some tightness toticollis may be playing a role. If you think he has some tightness let your ped know they can refer you to physical therapy.
Otherwise just concentrate on getting him off the flat side of his head. Use a carrier (ergo etc.) when possible during the day..let him nap on you with his head turned the opposite direction than he prefers.
Try to have him nap on his side when you can watch him during the day off the flat side of his head.
Use rolled up blankets etc to help position him when he is in swing, bouncer
If you notice that he turns his head to a particular sound, light etc arrange the swing etc so that it encourages him to turn the opposite direction than what he prefers.
Hope this helps

Mis-shapen head in an infant

My ped said to use a rolled up washcloth to keep his from turning his head all the way back. Also make sure he can turn his head that way, or else I think there are tp stretches they can do to help

Re: Mis-shapen head in an infant

Posted by allIwant

You want to make sure he has full range of motion in his neck. Can he fully turn (you moving it) his head the opposite direction. Also does his head tilt to one direction? If he has some tightness toticollis may be playing a role. If you think he has some tightness let your ped know they can refer you to physical therapy.
Otherwise just concentrate on getting him off the flat side of his head. Use a carrier (ergo etc.) when possible during the day..let him nap on you with his head turned the opposite direction than he prefers.
Try to have him nap on his side when you can watch him during the day off the flat side of his head.
Use rolled up blankets etc to help position him when he is in swing, bouncer
If you notice that he turns his head to a particular sound, light etc arrange the swing etc so that it encourages him to turn the opposite direction than what he prefers.
Hope this helps

Re: Mis-shapen head in an infant

Re: Mis-shapen head in an infant

My DS has slight flattening, the ped pointed it out at his 2 month check up but said it was mild. He encouraged tummy time as much as possible but said it typically (not always) corrects itself as they get older and spend less time on their backs. In the meantime, basically whenever he is NOT sleeping I have him on his tummy, side, or sitting up, and when I can have him nap with me nearby on his tummy or in a carrier like the Ergo or Moby I do.

Re: Mis-shapen head in an infant

Check this out....DS's therapist (he had slight torticollis) highly recommends this hat...we didn't end up getting it because his head started rounding out ok and he's sitting in the exersaucer/bumbo a lot now...but I was about to buy one!

hat

Re: Mis-shapen head in an infant

Re: Mis-shapen head in an infant

Noggin nest for naps and in stroller. Switch arms when you carry him. I did let my dc sleep w noggin nest but he was right next to me at night.