Plagiocephaly

I have noticed that my son's head as gotten increasingly flatter. In fact I think it has now hit a plateau and seems completely flat on the backside. At around 2 months I began to notice the change of shape and questioned this at his two month appt. The doctor told me it is normal and not to worry although I was and still am very self concious about his flat head. My way of dealing is to point it out to others before they get a chance to comment on how flat his head is. Some people have told me that it must of been the way he was laying in my belly but when I brought him home from the hospital his head was much rounder. At his four month appt his doctor did tell us that his head was a "little flat"....little?? to me I don't think it could get much worse! She said not to worry and that as soon as he is able to sit up on his own his head is still molding and will improve. She said it is very common and especially since most pediatricians preach back to sleep to prevent SIDS until the child is able to roll on their own. Since about two months I have tried to limit the time he has on his back and even started to let him sleep on his stomach during the night. Another reason I put him on his stomach is because he is not a good burper and usually falls asleep with his last bottle of the night and then will not burp.. I don't want him to spit up and then choke so I put him on his stomach. Other than sleeping Kinnick is not fond of being on his stomach at all. His neck is very strong but when he is on his stomach he is limited to what he can see around him. Since I am very aware of Kinnick's little flat I did research the subject...

Having a flat head is actually called Plagiocephaly and it occurs when a baby's head develops a flat spot or becomes asymmetrical due to some kind of external pressure. Babies are born with a soft, pliable skull, and when they sleep on their back every night, their head can develop a flat spot where it presses against the mattress. Starting in the early '90s, parents were told to put their babies to sleep on their back to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. While this advice may have saved thousands of babies' lives, experts have also noted a fivefold increase in the incidence of misshapen heads since then. A baby may also develop an abnormally shaped head if development in the womb is constricted somehow. This can happen when there's more than one fetus, if the mother's uterus or pelvis is especially small, or if there's too much or too little amniotic fluid. It can also happen to a breech baby whose head gets wedged under the mother's ribs.

I have also read a couple things that are used as treated for plagiocephaly which include a helmet and special pillows. The helmet helps to reshape the babies head. Luckily Kinnick's head is not bad enough that he would need a helmet but I have considered purchasing a pillow. One article suggested buying a really soft pillow that wouldn't put pressure on the head. Although several people have said this is so common and not to worry about it.. I can not help but notice and wonder what others think. He certainly does not have a flat head because he is unloved or not held enough because we love to snuggle him and love him dearly!!



On a much better note KJ and I have found a new love... WALKS. It is so nice to get out now that the weather is warmer and the sun is shining. The first walk we went was when we went to visit my friend Kelley and her daughter Toryn. Toryn is only a month older than Kinnick but is very strong.. she is already sitting up on her own and holding her own bottle. It was neat to see them interact! When we decided to go for a walk I hadn't brough a coat so Kelley let us borrow one of Toryn's. It was cream but I am sure he will not enjoy the story as he gets older how he shared clothes with the neighbor girl. :)