When I was giving my daughter her bath tonight I noticed that her head is pretty goofy shaped. I have notice for a while that she has a flat-ish spot over the "soft spot" in the back of her head... I brought it up to her pedi, who didn't seem concerned. But it wasn't until tonight when she turned her head just right that I noticed her head still has a little bit of that "cone" shape they get during birth... She has always gotten plenty of tummy time, and I tried to not let her stay in any one position too long (other than while sleeping) Shouldn't her head be round by now? (she is 3 1/2 months) She was a big baby (almost 10 lbs) so maybe it just got squished more? Should I be worried? By what age do babies start wearing those helmet things if they need them? While I am ecstatic to have a happy, healthy daughter, I don't want her to go through life with a goofy head! (Of course, it is possible that Im just being a nervous mommy. lol.) Any advice or reassurance is appreciated. :)
Brought it up to her pedi. at her 4 month checkup today... She says that it is too flat, and to have her sleep on her sides for the next 2 months (avoid letting her rest on the flat spot). If it doesn't grow into shape by then, she will send me to some specialists that work in the same building to see about a helmet or a band. Blegh.
It seems the only babies with perfectly shaped heads are C-section babies. If you delivered vaginally, the heads DO squish to make an exit! If the pediatrician isn't worried, you shouldn't be either. Keep up what you're doing and enjoy that little sweetie-pie! Congrats!
Your little girl sounds wonderfully healthy. No one has a perfectly shaped head and at this age, her skull is still growing. I am certain you have nothing to worry about.
It's only been recently that anyone has been concerned about those small variances in a baby's head. All of my brothers had flat sides to their heads at one time or another depending on how they were sleeping. The are senior citizens now and again have very little hair and their heads are an appropriate shape.
Sometimes a child has a medical condition that does require treatment so that their head has enough room for the brain or the head isn't growing properly but the average baby's head is perfect just as it is. There is no such thing as a perfectly round head.
If the doctor isn't concerned, relax and stop micro managing your daughter's head. It's shape will change thru out her baby and toddler time until the bones fuse. The skull has those separations to allow for change.
I know, we want to do the best for our babies. Sometimes the best is to relax and not worry about minor things.
Just keep the dialogue going with your pediatrician. It's their job to check on those things and as long as you're keeping up the conversation you should be ok. Also public health nurses are super good at giving information.
The helmet situation is usually something that arises during the extreme situations.
I would inquire again with your pediatrician , my niece had to wear a helmet and so did a friends baby starting at about 4 months. She wore it for at about 5-6 months due to a mishapen head that had a tendancy to lean to one side. They had my sweet niece in weekly PT sessions and mom and dad had to due a 3 times daily therapy stretching routine for the neck prob., they were trained on exercises to strengthen her neck muscles on one side. She was a premie and tinyat birth. after her wearing the helmet 24/7 for months it was off in May all is just fine and she has a perfect head now after doing the PT and daily therapy. If you have to go this route for your baby a warning, her helmet was very expensive, I think they had to pay about $1400 with insurance, as it is custom made and specially padded If you are not satisfied with your Peds answer you can always get a 2nd opinion Mom.
my son had the same problem (he is now 2.8) you need to keep moving her head around left/right even when she sleeps. If it gets bad your Pedi might suggest the helmet this is expensive & most insurance won't cover it. Keep up the tummy time.
good luck
Toni
1) pediatric chiropractor's can safely and gently encourage cranial bones in an infant to be more symmetrical/better aligned which reduces abnormal/uneven head shapes. Feel free to contact me if you want more info.
2) tummy time!
3) if it gets bad enough, go to cranialtech.com...I have sent patients there who I couldn't get improvement in their head shape (too old/too severe/etc) and found them to be helpful and professional (this is a helmet company that does physical therapy with the child/parent too).
I wouldn't worry, but keep talking to the ped about it. Mine told me that if we had wanted to "reshape" my son's head we should do it before he was 18 mos... I chose not to. It's not perfect, but it's fine. My sister did have her daughter wear one - at about 8 mos for 12 weeks and it helped greatly - her ped recommended it strongly as it was more severe. I'd ask the ped if it's just cosmetic or more than that. Then it's your choice. My neice didn't mind the helmet at all - I'd advice doing it in the winter as it's less warm for them.... good luck & enjoy that little one!
