flat head :(

So I read this article in the paper about babies getting flattened heads on one side from sleeping on their backs, and that you should alternate the side of the face the baby rests on when it sleeps every night? Well since my baby is still 'on the inside' I have never really seen one sleep thru the night? Don't they move around at all on their own? They just stay in one position? Sorry so naiive.... I have a lot to learn!

Jessica, that is simply not true!

My friend's child had a flat spot on his head for a long time when he was an infant/toddler and he was NOT neglected at ALL! He just had a very strong preference for which way he turned his head when he slept at night.

You can try as hard as you want to position the baby different ways, and they will turn their little heads to the left or right regardless - they will do what is most natural and comfortable to them.

Jenny11.9 - bottom line is, don't worry about it.

I recently posted on this in regards to my son when he was about 5 months. (now almost 8 months). The condition is called positional plagiocephaly and my son developed a slope on one side of his head due to favoring it while lying down and sitting. (His twin did not have it.) The ped noticed a slight asymetry in his eyes and sent us to a pediatric neurological surgeon (scary title). He measured Ryan's eyes, which were actually just fine and suggested we switch his head from side to side while he was sleeping and give him more tummy time, and there was no need for further treatment unless it worsened. He HATED being on his stomach so much he would get into a fit after a minute. We woke up every 2 hours to switch his head and he would turn it right back. He slept about 8 hours through at that time.

About a week after the doctor visit he started to roll over and tummy time became more bearable. Now his head looks fine and he sleeps on his side (still the favored one, so we try to switch it up). He was never neglected so if it does happen, try not to feel guilty (I know I do but I shouldn't.)

OMG! I hope I didn't start a controversy I guess I was generalizing too much from the babies I saw in the hospital who had really serious problems from neglect (which included a lot more than just flat head). One thing I have learned from med school is that anything and everything can happen to anyone and while you can speak in generalities based on a big picture, there are always people/kids who don't fit that big picture and they can really be alienated when your prediction or advice is wrong. I guess I was just trying to reassure jen but maybe I should have qualified it. Thanks for setting me straight!

I had a gf whose daughter had this happen to her. This may have been an extreme case, but her head was almost completely flat in the back. Eventually, she had to wear a helmet for 6 months to reshape her head. It was pretty scary, but afterwards, she was fine. The drs compared it to having to wear braces. It made me a little afraid, honestly. I'm glad to hear that this was not as common as it was certainly made to seem.