My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

What do I do?

He HATES tummy time... if I put him on tummy time, it's basically him struggling/crying/screaming until I pick him up.

I have him on my chest quite often, so he's not laying back then.

When we're not holding him, he's either in the My Little Lamb Swing, or a vibrating bouncer, both of which have a pillow for his head to rest on. I thought that would go a long way towards preventing the flat spot.

At night, he sleeps in the Fisher Price Rock N Play Sleeper. I'm assuming this is the time that mostly contributes to his flat spot?

Is there anything I can do more or buy to stop this problem in its tracks? Will the flat spot "go away"?

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

it could round out once he starts sitting up. This was not the case for DS. He's a back sleeper, so his flat spot is still here at 1 yrs old. I would try to limit time in swings, bouncy seats, etc, especially with the head pads that say they help reduce flat spots. We took DS to a top Dr in NYC and they said those are the worst. Try to move his head on the side when sleeping flat, then alternate the side each night. Allow him space and room to naturally move his head will keep it rounder.

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

Those pillows will NOT get rid of or prevent a flat spot. They get the flatness from laying on their backs for so long (sleep on their backs, bouncers, swings, carseats, rock n play sleeper, etc).... all of that causes it.

You have to do tummy time. I can't stress that enough. My DS HATED tummy time and I would just give in and not bother most times. He was either in my arms (to feed or coddle when crying) or in one of his swings, bouncers, rockers, etc. He needed a cranial helmet for 3 months and there's NO way it would have just corrected on it's own.

I WISH I knew from the beginning that we should really try tummy time more. What they recommend (and what worked with my DS once I learned of this) is to start doing tummy time on a boppy pillow. When they're too young, doing TT on a flat surface is too hard for them and makes it hard for them to breathe as they try to lift since they're not strong enough. Babies hate it, cry etc. Being on a boppy, they are already elevated and can tolerate it better. Keep increasing the amount of TT every day. Let's say today he can do 30 seconds before going into a full fit. Tomorrow, try for 45 seconds. ETc. Keep increasing in 10-20 second intervals until they get stronger. When he can do it for a minute or a few minutes, get a smaller pillow or rolled towels to do TT on. Repeat. Then you can try it on a flat/floor surface.

HTH!

Also, when they're very young, you CAN still correct flat spots. Besides TT, you should always change their position, lay them on their sides during the day when you can supervise. Also, when you put them in their cribs, change positions every day. Today put their head to the left end. Tomorrow to the right end. As they are drawn to sounds, they will turn their heads in that direction. If you always lay them to the same side, they will have a preference and lean more that way, causing more flatness on that side.

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

Thank you for the advice!

I tried the boppy on the floor/rug this morning. This may sound stupid, but how do I use the boppy during tummy time? Where do his hands go? Do they rest on the boppy or does his chest rest on the boppy with his arms hanging over it? I feel like no matter what position I put him in on the Boppy, it seems really wrong and he ends up like a see-saw with his head facing down and I have to keep correcting it. Then I think - "No wonder the kid hates this! His head keeps going face down!" lol.

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

I would put his arms over the boppy so it's under his arms.

\DD has a flat spot. It went away on its own. But I did buy the noggin nest so when she was laying down, in the swing or bouncer her head was resting on that. That def helped.

On your chest is great.

Also I was told by me ped when we put her in the bassinet to flip her every other night. So where her head was her feet would now go. So he's resting on different sides of her head

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

My DS had a significant one too... I could have written exactly what you wrote!

I will tell you he is 1 now and he still has it a little - def not as bad - but I can tell - probably because I'm his mommy

I know as he gets more hair it won't be noticable at all... so my advice would be to try to keep him off his head as much as you can, but don't beat yourself up over it.

It can and will rectify itself as he grows.

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

my DD has one but my ped is not concerned. as long as your dr. keeps an eye on it i wouldn't be super concerned. just make sure to give tummy time as much as possible.

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

You don't have to do traditional tummy time. you can put him on your chest or across your lap, laying on his belly, or hold him in sitting position- with your hands under his arms and supporting his neck.
This is what I did with all three of my kids, I rarely put them down on the floor or boppy and none of them ever had a flat spot.

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

No one does not have to do traditional tummy time, but it should be noted that tummy time is used to increase core strength whether on the floor or on a caregiver's chest. If the child is sleeping IT DOES NOT COUNT. So sure, your child may not have a flat spot, but it isnt doing much for core strength if the child is sleeping. Just an FYI for the OP.

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

Get in the habbit now of turning his little head to the other side when you lay him down. My daughter had this as well REALLY bad. I mean it was a flat flat spot, and my ped said she'll grow out of it when she gets older. By 6 or 7 months it was much better nad now you would never know. I also want to stres sthere is a HUGE difference between a flat head and the tortowhatever that requires a helmet. Let your ped know when you see them next and they'll let you know if they're concerned or not. This is honestly a reason I won't get the R&P either. I like the crib kept Emmy flat and I could turn her head really well from side to side. You can also do baby wearing.

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

my kids both enjoyed naked tummy time.

when he is in swing, bother him and rotate his head on one side on day and the other the next.

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

Just want to add that if your DS has a neck problem like torticollis, no amount of tummy time will correct things.
Would definitely talk to your pediatrician about your concerns and they can point you in the right direction!
My DS needed PT for a few months plus a helmet to correct his flatness because his neck muscles were stiff.
Good Luck!

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!

my 2 cents:

tummy time can't remedy this, and flat headed babies are a relatively new phenom related to all the devices like car seats and boucers and sleeping positioners we put our babies in, to sleep, play, etc.

get him out of raised seats/ raised cribbing and get him flat on floor, on pad, on something for the majority of the day

He has to be able to move his head from side to side on a flat service to exercise his neck and properly shape his head. Those pillows do more harm than anything.

Do not carry/stroll him around in the carseat. If you can get a bassinet stroller. Infants need to be flat on their back. On their tummy is good too, but if he hates it, I wouldn't do it. He can get the same benefit flat on his back.

Def. talk to your ped!

Re: My DS has a flat spot on the back of his head!