Flat Side of Son's Head

Hello B.. I also have twin boys who are 9 months old. One of my boys had the same issue. The back of his head was flat (they slept on their backs). The other one didn't not have a flat spot on his head. Their dr told me that once he started rolling over and crawling, that his head would round out. He was right!

my niece had an incredibly flat back of the heard when she whas crib-age. now she is 6 and you'd never know it! have hope. im sure your son will be fine, just follow the doctors orders and as your son gets older to crawl and so forth it will help even more. good luck and god bess.

My daughter did this to and had a very weird shaped head that scared me for a very long time till she learned to crawl then it started becoming a normal round head since she spent less time laying down I wouldnt worry to much about it until they are a bit older but it after 9 months or so and they are mobile and it still hasnt changed them I would go to the dr again

My son had this problem, it is still a little flat but it is getting better. He is only 9 months. He went to see a specialist who said that between 8 and 12 months their head goes through a growth spurt that should push it out to normal. Keep repositioning him. Also, try lots of tummy time and in a car seat put something behind his head to keep him off of the flat side. Talk to your doctor too if it is a big concern. He may just monitor it until he is a year old and then if it is still flat, you may also have to see a specialist who will most likely try a helmet that pushes his head into shape.

My daughter did this. Her head is a little lopsided. Sounds sad to say but I think the cause of it was that the muscles in her shoulders were shorter on one side so it naturally felt more comfortable for her to sleep a certain way. I would move her head over and over but she would turn it right back.

Just keep doing what you can. I did game like neck exercises in which I would sing and turn her head from the left to the right to help the muscles stretch. I had one doctor suggest upside down swinging to help the muscles stretch evenly. I did both but basically just kept turning her head I think helped the most.

B.,

We had a nephew who did something very similar and we eventually found out that he had an ear problem on one side. He could not get comfortable until he was on the "good side." If you think about it, I think a lot of people do that when they have a headcold and one ear is drianing/plugged/stuffy (clearly, I am not an ear-nose-throat physician or I'd know the right terms! :) but you get the point, right?) Maybe you could have a thorough exam if you have not already.
Good luck!
B.

HI, I went through the same thing with my twin daughter.
She was squished in the womb, and her head was flat on one side. The doctor called this Plagiocephaly. She did not require a head cast. She is almost 4 now and her head rounded out about the age of 2. If it isnt too bad, it will shape out itself. I wish you luck!! Feel free to email me!!

B., Many, many years ago, one of my brothers, as a baby, had a flat side on the back of his head. As I remember, as he grew it eventually rounded back out, just as the pediatrician said that it would, without any intervention. M.

lol, both my kids did this. once they have hair you can't tell. as long as the indent isn't too flat (i think thats bad for their brain) its fine. although i would just keep turning him over. my poor daughter liked the back of her head, so she had a funny looking flat back until her hair grew back more. and my son was on the side. there really isn't a way to keep them on one side or the other, i've tried believe me. just have to keep turning them, but it isn't as worrisome once they get around 8 or 9 mo i think..it gets a little harder when they get closer to 1. good luck!

Hi Becky,
My son did this same thing! My pediatrician said that it is pretty common with babies in this day and age because of all the back sleeping. I tried all those same things as well and he did the same thing, always ended up back on the same side:) Although, his had to do with his neck! The muscles on the opposite side were so tight that it was pulling his head to the one side and was more comfortable for him to lay his head that certain way! We actually had to go to a physical therapist and do streching and strengthening excersizes. Alot of tummy time as well, which he hated:) He is now a healthy, almost two year old:O) And you can't even tell his head is a little flatter on one side:) I would just ask your pediatrician about it and take a quick peek at his neck:) Good luck~!
J. G.

Hi Becky,

We just went through this with my son, the right side of his head was flat and it was starting to protrude out in the front. Our doctor sent us to the Children's Center at PEMC in Everett for physical therapy. The condition he had was called torticollis. They said he got it most likley from being stuck in the same position in the womb for a long time. It caused the muscles on one side of his neck to get really tight so he never wanted to turn his head to that side when he was in his crib or just laying in his swing. They did a very through exam on him and showed us several physical therapy excerises to do at home. It worked great, his head is pretty much back to normal now and he has a full range of motion on his right side now. They said it was very important to get them off their backs as much as possible. Lots of tummy time! They also said that there is no point in trying to change there sleeping position it dosne't work and it is not comfortable to them. It sounds like you are having the same issues, you should definatly get a referral for physical therapy for your son soon. Good luck! PS If you wait too long it can get very severe and it may require the use of a helmet 23 hours a day!!! Yuck! Most insurance companies won't cover this, but the physical therepy route usually works up until a year old when there bones get harder.

My daughter did that and it went away with time.. as she got older she started sleeping on the other side.. U just gotta try to keep his head propped over if u can.. but it wil grow back normal..

Hi B.,
I also have twins (daughter/son). When they were babies I could not get my daughter off of her back, I did the same as you , I repositioned her, did the towels and positioner pillows.
She just out grew it on her own. I was concerned because she had a flat back of the head. I just made sure during the day that I kept her off the back side, and I took care of the positioning during the day. maybe this was why she eventually stopped sleeping on her back side so much.
She is 4 1/2yrs old now and her head has reshaped fine.
Good luck