flat head and tummy time

one side of the back of DS's head is noticeably flatter than the other, and although i pointed it out to the ped, she did not seem too concerned (this was at 8 weeks).

well at 11.5 weeks it is not any better - and might be worse. DS absolutely HATES tummy time - even when i lay him on my tummy or on the boppy. he can last for barely a minute before he starts crying.

i try to keep him in a sitting position as much as possible (in his jumperoo, bumbo and on my lap) and he has pretty good head control there, but i know its not enough.

any advice? i am afraid he will need a helmet soon.

(btw, i tried to search for this as i know it's been brought up before and it said no topics matched so don't flame me for not trying please! )

Re: flat head and tummy time

ok so i was afraid of this too since the ped did say that her head looked a lil flat but nothing to be worried about and she HATED tummy time even with the tummy pad with the boppy....actually she seemed to HATE it even more if that was possible ...lol... soooooooo i recently (maybe about a lil over a wk) have been helping her roll over while on the bed. i put her on her tummy on the bed with me and flip her over on her back and make a big deal with clapping and saying yay!!! and she smiles away. then i do it again rolling her on her tummy until she fusses and flip her back over on her back clapping and saying yay!!! she loves it and hey it gets her to do tummy time...and to practice one day being able to roll over belly to back and back to belly on her own

Re: flat head and tummy time

I became obsessed with DD's head shape around 8 weeks old when I started to notice a little flatness. At both her 2 month and 4 month checkup, the Ped said it was within the normal range (that some flatness was normal). I was still convinced she'd have to be in a helmet.

Once she started sitting up better, using the exersaucer, jumperoo, etc...it got better. There is still some minor flatness, but her hair covers it at this point (she is 11 months).

She never needed the helmet - I worried myself for no reason!

Re: flat head and tummy time

My dd hated tummy time!!! shes had a flat spot also on left side and now at 14m still has, not as noticeable since hair has gotten thicker, but i can feel it. My peds said its nothing to worry about, never had to use a helmet. What i would try and do is what you are doing.. and also try and massage his head.

Re: flat head and tummy time

the neurologist had mentioned the helmet to me and I bought the noggin nest for ds. It really helped for int he car seat and in the swing.

Re: flat head and tummy time

My son hated tummy time too and it turned out that he had torticollis. One side of his neck was tight, so every time I placed him down to sleep his head went to the one side. I tried so hard to kepp my son off the back of his head but the torticollis made it very difficult. Check to see if your baby's head tilts to one side. We ended up getting the helmet for five months and my son had to go to physical therapy to losen up his neck muscles.

Hopefully you don't have to get the helmet but if you have to, I'll be happy to share any information.

Re: flat head and tummy time

I just wrote something about how we do Tummy Time the other day. Here it is all copied, pasted and appropriately "gendered" for LB's little man:

Try not to just flip him onto his tummy from a supine position.

GRADUALLY turn him in a transition from his back, to his side and support him with your whole hand. Make sure he has his top leg crossing over the bottom one for balance.

After a minute or two, slowly turn him into a prone position as you help him pull his arms out so he is on his tummy. Note where he bears weight if it is an equal distribution or otherwise. It is all a precursor to crawling.

After that, transition him to the side that he did not balance on yet and then return to his back. Just as it is important to have time on the belly for strengthening the trunk and for head control, it is equally as important to work the muscles on his sides.

It may be much easier for Luca to tolerate Tummy Time this way. Abby does very well with this approach.

We used to wedge a receiving blanket under her alternating every night. But now, even in the Swaddle Me, she squirms down her crib so I took it away. She does not have a flat head.