How to prevent FLAT HEAD syndrome with super easy techniques

[@motherwelldoula]

Paced bottle feeding (with the headupright while feeding) is another great way to limit time on the back of the head. I love this!

[@birthtoolbox]

Great tip! I didn't used to talk to families about this, but now I do. I hope this video makes it easy to share the information with more people.

[@LibaneseGurl]

My head is flat and i asked my parents about it and they just said, yeah it is a beauty in our culture !!! Now i am always making sure to havie the best haircut to brevent people saying my flat head

[@birthtoolbox]

It’s more common than you might think!

[@dorothyonyango6575]

My situation too. The flat head makes me stress my hairdresser when styling.

[@yassinel7458]

@@birthtoolbox if the baby is still young like 2 months old can the flat head situation be reversed ?

[@birthtoolbox]

@@yassinel7458 yes, I believe so. Make sure you speak to you doctor about it.

[@yassinel7458]

@@birthtoolbox she told me “ I wouldn’t worry about it . His case is minor in the realm of flat heads” she suggested more tummy time.

[@priyapper]

Alice, is it good to use a pillow for baby? In India, a lot of moms use a pillow filled with mustard seeds for babies, but there are mixed opinions on that

[@birthtoolbox]

Here in the US we do not recommend pillows (or anything else) in baby’s sleeping space.

[@silversunastrology]

Off topic here, but gold looks great on you!

[@birthtoolbox]

Thank you! 😀😀😀

[@annramirez3406]

Great ideas Alice, thank you!

[@birthtoolbox]

You are welcome!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@dazaniluver25]

So helpful! Thank you

[@birthtoolbox]

Glad it was helpful! ❤️

[@emesebankos4023]

My kid will be 5 month old. Is it any time too late to change habits to prevent flat head? How much time do we parents have to prevent it? When dose the kids head keep its form? When dose it stay as it is? Thank you if you replie!! ❤❤ I need your help❤

[@birthtoolbox]

I’m sorry I don’t know about 5 months. Great question for the pediatrician.

[@davidkalmes8983]

Sorry for the late reply here. My wife and I have a son who has flat head on his back right side ( favorite position) he's 3 months old and is getting better slowly, but when we caked his doctor about it just after the 2 month point they said don't even worry about it until they're at least 4 months old. That's a long winded way of saying that you're definitely still in an ideal time to start treating it. Between 4-12 months is a crucial time to treat it and can still correct it before it gets much more difficult. I see you post is 2 months old, so you're still in a good spot. Good luck!

[@emesebankos4023]

@davidkalmes8983 Thank you! It got better alredy. ❤️

[@savagebiscuits0952]

My baby is a momth old , has a flat bit on his side,can i change it or is it too late ?

[@birthtoolbox]

My guess is that it can change. I would speak with your pediatrician about it.

[@bosnian8487]

ive took baby today to scan her hips and asked dr about her flat side he said so what? it will change just make sure to position her to other side more and do neck stretching. my baby is 2 months and 1week old. dont worry :)

[@Miamajah]

It can pretty easily be fixed within the first 4 months. After that it requires at bit more effort, but the scull plates can be moved longer than you think - but then it needs to be done professionally.

[@draynged7869]

Just so people know that early signs of flat spots are not the end of the world. It can be fixed. Just make sure to change their habit. Use phones or tablets or music light up toys to pull their attention to the side you need them to turn to...

[@birthtoolbox]

Yes, that is a great point.

[@Marilolthisishard]

My sons head is flat to the side, because he only sleeps looking to the right. And even if i chance his head, he goes back to the other side. But ill keep eforts and hopefully it will be corrected easily.

[@birthtoolbox]

Yes, and ask his doctor about it.

[@draynged7869]

Try a phone or tablet(or any attention grabber) on the less dominate side to pull attention. This video is just a bunch of common sense. I thought they would have tips and tricks, but this is all common sense methods...

[@robertrogers074]

It's been a while you had a video.

[@birthtoolbox]

True! I was busy live streaming my class!

[@robertrogers074]

@@birthtoolbox good to see you back and doing another way of helping others.

[@amvien]

What’s the point of switching sides while burping when they won’t be on the flat side?

[@birthtoolbox]

That helps them develop their neck muscles equally which can then help with head turning and reducing flatness.

[@amvien]

@@birthtoolbox thank you! The baby does naturally turn their head the opposite direction, on either side!

[@birthtoolbox]

Yes, that is usually the case!

[@cassandranunez461]

My kiddo had this issue due to a NICU stay at 36 weeks.

[@birthtoolbox]

There is a higher risk with premature babies.

[@noranasibyan2101]

My baby sleeps on her back but head she is turning one side or other not straight, is it normal ? But Im switching side to side , when she is not sleeping Im trying to put her head straight on her swing , but now i notice that her sides both are just a bit flatten , is that normal ?

[@birthtoolbox]

It’s great that you are paying attention to her positioning. I suggest asking her doctor at your next check up.

[@demarloboqueda1713]

My baby is 3 months old can I make my baby's head round?

[@birthtoolbox]

I don’t know, but recommend asking the doctor at your next appointment.

[@draynged7869]

@@birthtoolbox LOL The doctor unless a horrible one is going to see it, and say something...

[@KLM1111]

Really don’t like how you said it’s a problem that the mothers caused… seriously as if we don’t have enough to worry about and this can happen in the womb and in spite of regular tummy time. SMH.

[@birthtoolbox]

I said that you don’t want your doctor to tell you that you caused it.

[@acacia0104]

But it's true. It happens mostly because mothers leave their child to lay on their back and sleep on their back for too long without repositioning the babys head. I call it lazy mothers syndromes. You have to carry the baby more, perhaps use a scarf if you need free hands, let them sleep on you/your chest more. But some mothers just want to put the baby down quick as possible after feeding.

[@emmaspilman4271]

Coming from a mom with twins, we are far from lazy mothers but thank you for your input!

[@NomceboNzima]

Thank you so much for your lessons ❤️​@@acacia0104

[@pennyjotter6073]

My baby is almost 7 months now, I’ve noticed a very slight flat spot. Is it too late to fix?

[@birthtoolbox]

I am sorry that I don't know for sure. It's a great question for your pediatrician.

[@razanah4789]

Does his head fixed?

[@Yeahthisisme7]

It’s usually possible to fix before the baby turn 24 months , best before 18 months

[@vincentkingsdale8334]

We noticed at 3 months....used a helmet until 1 year....helped a lot

[@shayarbiswa]

Hi, did the helmet help with head shape? Did the baby had to wear all the time or just during the day?

[@rosea164]

What about anti flat pillows?

[@birthtoolbox]

The FDA does not recommend anti flat pillows. From their website: "Be aware that infant head shaping pillows are not safe or effective for preventing or treating flat head syndrome or other medical conditions."

[@nasreenakhuda]

Hello mam, can I lay on my back on floor without any pillow and bed for as many hours I can? Will that make my head get flatter little bit also? I'm 18 age..Pls reply

[@birthtoolbox]

Heads don’t change in shape when you are no longer a baby.

[@chrevek2714]

It will flat your head.

[@meowwuff8070]

See I would love to get this information but this video is simply too long I can’t pay attention for that long

[@birthtoolbox]

10 minutes seems reasonable to me for important information. You can always change the speed of the video.

[@husniyabegimatadjonova8335]

Maam,is it okay if i use special pillow with hole in the center to my 4 months old baby?

[@birthtoolbox]

Best practice is not to use a pillow with your baby.

[@sabrinahossain5539]

My baby is 7months old..she has a flat spot..can i fix it now?

[@birthtoolbox]

Unfortunately I am not sure. I recommend talking to your pediatrician or family doctor.

[@mamatharani2600]

mam my son 6month but hed not round sep plz tell me sejaion

[@birthtoolbox]

Hello! For a six month old baby, I would ask his doctor about it. My suggestions here are for a newborn.

[@citizenm9590]

Does it impact there IQ if they are flat headed?

[@birthtoolbox]

Not to my knowledge!

[@monetum1392]

It probably shouldn't. Brains are amazing at adapting to weird shapes so it shouldn't be harmed by the shape.

[@carolyngambling628]

Ok my daughter was born with a flat head! I did not cause it stop putting the blame on the parents.

[@birthtoolbox]

I am not blaming. I’m giving accurate information.

[@Itsundertheblood]

It would’ve rounded out after a few hours…sounds like she hit a nerve 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@monetum1392]

Even if she was born flat headed it would've rounded out in the first view months. Accept the blame.

[@9096349693]

My baby is nearly 5 weeks old now. I am worried about her flat head. Can I position baby on side lying for few hours and change it on and off?

[@bosnian8487]

every time baby wakes up for feeding and you want to put baby in crib make sure its different side than it was last time.its pretty small baby so you can train their neck muscles. try feeding both sides and turn baby every time to different side you will be good

[@birthtoolbox]

Do you mean on baby's side in the crib for sleep? For sleep you want to continue to put baby down on their back. When not sleeping you can put baby on their side and also vary the way that you hold baby. Also, speak to your pediatrician about ti.