Any Advice on How to Correct Flat Head?

First, most babies' heads become even as they get older and are up and around. But if you want to get a head start on evening it out you could prop him on his sides with blankets.

Two of my brothers had flat heads and now tht they're balding I can see that they aren't flat anymore. :) Actually they weren't flat when they started school.

Hi - I have used those pillows that have the hole cut out in the middle, but only in the swing we had and in a chair/bouncy seat that my son used. Not recommended to use in a crib as they could suffocate...
Not sure what else...can you turn his head to the side at all when he is sleeping? I know that does not sound really great but may help?
Sorry I dont have more!

Two words: TUMMY TIME!!

Please go to the website of Nurturing Pathways - www.nurturingpathways.com - and read what she says about tummy time. I teach this program, but my telling you this doesn't net me anything. I am happy to give you great dieas for how to keep him happy on his tummy and how to engage him so he enjoys it there! Good luck!

Lots of tummy time. There are so many benefits to tummy time. It helps develop the muscles in the back of the neck which make the head round, it helps strengthen the muscles between the ribs, and there are neurological benefits as well. As baby gets older, if you do lots of tummy time, you will notice his skull rounding out. If you are still concerned when he is a little older, 6 months or so, ask your pediatrician about it because they make helmets for kids with severely mis-shapen skulls and your pediatrician can refer you to a microneurosurgen if they think your baby might need one.

dr judith boothby in ne is suposed to be the best at craniosacral.

my Daughter really liked only turning to the left side and it made her head really flat on that side. At two months my docter told me tummy time is crucial and when napping turn the head and switch which end of the crib you put baby down in. I had a hard time at first getting my daughter to keep head the other way even when I turned it but then I put a toy on the crib rail so she would look at. This worked for naps. T would play on either side of her when she was on her back to get her to turn head. She is 7 months now and she has a pretty head. Once they are sitting up it really does start to go away. Once your baby is a little older they can be in an exersaucer for a little bit and that will help them be in upright position if they are too young to sit up too. Take care and don't stress too much about it. Your peditritian would tell you if it was major enough to go to a specialist. Have fun with motherhood and enjoy it. It goes by two fast.

Children's has a plagiocephaly clinic that is really good. Even though my son's case was mild, I went in anyway. I think the general recc'd is to constantly rotate them in their bed, but your pediatrician should be able to tell you a lot more too. Sometimes you can buy wedges that prop them up on one side (we use rolled blankets) which helped too. Good look.

Hi,
It's funny there's another A. M who responded. I have a name for you regarding pediatric craniosacral: Benjamin Matson-Bell. His number is ###-###-####. He is renowned for his work. He's in Eugene. I have a 3 yr old boy, and he was diagnosed with a flat head, for much the same reason (sleeping and playing on his back). He was recommended to a firm which would fit him with a soft helmet that would require he wear it 23 hours/day for a year! When my husband researched the potential side effects and weighed it against the potential benefits (it was only a cosmetic procedure), we decided to go without. Now his head is still a little flat, but nothing you'd especially notice. At least he doesn't have headaches. My advice is to avoid the helmet at all costs. The gear restricts the flow of craniosacral fluid, and also the minor movements of the cranial bones. Not a good idea in a little one whose brain is growing so rapidly. My two cents.
Good luck!

Addressing the signs of plagiocephaly or “flat head syndrome” early, including flat spots on your baby’s head, is the best way to prevent further problems and, in many cases, correct the problem completely. It is important to change the position of your baby’s head throughout the day to prevent them from favoring a certain area of the head. When feeding your baby, try alternating the arm you hold him in, and encourage him to turn his head to a different side each time he is fed. Alternate the side of the changing table you stand on when changing his diaper to encourage him to turn his head in alternate directions in order to look at you. Make sure to implement plenty of supervised “tummy time” during the day, and try massaging his neck when he is relaxed and calm to encourage stretching on both sides of the neck. Another technique is to place interesting and stimulating toys in new locations around his crib/room so he’ll have to turn his head in different directions to see the toys. Spreading awareness to friends and family is key to ending plagiocephaly. Feel free to visit https://www.facebook.com/DrJaneScott for more information and to join the mission to end plagiocephaly!

I have had all my (5) kids sleep on their side.. you can accomplish this at least two ways: nowadays there are special cushions you can buy to help your baby stay in that position (look in baby product catalogs or online)

I did this: I rolled up a receiving blanket or a small towel and propped up my babies with that on either side.

also... you can try having him sleep in a swing? at least for his naps.. one of mine slept in the swing almost ALL of the time.. she just felt more comfortable there.

i would go along with all the other moms here and say lots of tummy time. none of my kids had a flat head, but then after a couple of weeks of sleeping on their backs they didn't like it anymore so i put them on their tummy. everyone in my family including dh are tummy sleepers, so this was the position they were most comfy in. plus from the time they were pretty small they had tummy time with toys around them so they had something to look at, and eventually when they got old enough they started to play with them. but you have to do what is best for your little one, good luck!

I do not have any experience with what you are describing, but seeing a cranial sacral therapist might help. They make adjustments to the cranium and spine with only very light touch - it is mostly energy work. I believe that there is a local practitioner who specializes in children, a man, but I don't know his name off the top of my head. Good luck!

We took our baby to a wonderful pediatric osteopath for that - Margaret Sorrell. I think she moved to Bainbridge or Vashon since but her co-worker Steven Cavanaugh is, I think, still working on Capitol Hill in Seattle. He's very nice as well. It's VERY gentle.

all my kids had a bit of a flat head. It went away once they started turning over. IMHO, you are jumping the gun if you go to a cranial specialist. It's normal. My 13 year old's head was the flattest and she has had a perfectly shaped head since she was about 6 months old or so. I wouldn't worry unless it's a huge thing.

Us moms worry constantly. It makes us better in alot of ways but sometimes its just added stress. Most children have a somewhat flat head. My pediatrican asked me to just turn the head one side or the other during sleep alternating each nap. I was only semi diligent because of course the risk of waking a sleeping infant is sometimes just not worth it and my daughter favored one side over the other and slept better then. Like mentioned several times it is just cosmetic in most cases and is only a major cosmetic issue if its more one side then the other. I am convinced this is part of the reason we have hair, most heads are not attractive without it. LOL.
I have seen the helmets and they look horrible, I wouldnt do that because your baby is still little enough that changing positions can fix the problem. Tummy time is very important for development but most young infants only need 10 minutes a day and that can be broken up into a few minutes at a time. My fist child spend his tummy time on my chest while I layed flat in bed resting. That gave us close time and tummy time. Plus the breasts work great for a natural "boppy". Take the advice as just advice and use your good mommy sense as to what will work for you. Congrats on being a mom, it really is the best! Jen
mother of 2 ages 3 and 1

some cultures masage the head daily in order to help align the bones inside their litte skull. my babies were tummy sleepers and breast fed with a family bed so we were always close by and didn't mind the tummy sleeping. I also carried them around more than put them down. they have really nice little heads now.. :) I think it also just depends on genetics.. some kids have flatter shapes don't they?

I would find a carrier that he likes. Physical touch is necessary for neurological development. The article below is really great and explains in a scientific way why it's so important to hold your infant all the time. Otherwise, THE CONTINUUM CONCEPT is a great book to read that also explains it.

http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/PS2010/html/Touch%20and%20...

With my two children I alternated them sleeping on their side with a reciving blanket for support. And also let them sleep on their tummies. If your baby is not comfortable with that you could try the car seat or swing. Hope that helps.