Helmet party!

mmorlino

mmorlino

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When my son was born I always put him on his back (hey, young Mom here, that's what "they" told us to do!). I didn't want him to die of SIDS!

So, he developed a flat head. At 4 months he suddenly rolled over onto his stomach and has slept like that ever since. Immediately his head showed a drastic improvement! But, there was still that little bit left that made him look "funny".

So at 8 months we fitted him for a special helmet that would reshape his head. It's quite a simple idea and very effective!

All that to say, here he is at 10 months one of his bi-monthly head check-ups with another helmet head. (he's the blondie on the right)

He got his helmet off at 12 months, by the way! He had it off for about a month now and I'm loving it!
 

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mmorlino

mmorlino

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Oh, my son does have a name (Logan) and a face! Here are some pictures of his adorable little face :)





He loves the dogs and the dogs love him! Here's Lexi and Logan playing together:

 
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AGonzalez

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I was ALWAYS told to put the baby on their back or side to sleep...still have the pamphlet from the NY hospital called "Back to Sleep" - nice pun. I usually propped them on their side in case they harfed up food at night, so they didn't cough and drown in the crap.

He is adorable though! So blonde! (I think blonde babies are cute so hehe)
 
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mjb

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Adorable!!

Since they tell you to put them on their backs to sleep, do they give you any ways to prevent the flat head? I'm wondering because I'm about to be a grandmother, and all I hear is put them on their backs to sleep!!

Of course, it was never put them on their backs to sleep when mine were babies.
 
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AGonzalez

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The pamphlets will say something to the effect of on their side or back...if you roll up a spit up blanket thing and prop their backside on it, it keeps them on their side and allows spit-up to go on the bed instead of down their lungs. Just rotate them and switch sides every now and then and no flat heads, at least I guess this worked because none of my kids had to wear helmets or had flat spots?
 
sparks19

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mjb said:
Adorable!!

Since they tell you to put them on their backs to sleep, do they give you any ways to prevent the flat head? I'm wondering because I'm about to be a grandmother, and all I hear is put them on their backs to sleep!!

Of course, it was never put them on their backs to sleep when mine were babies.
Click to expand...
yes....

Hannah was put on her back to sleep and it was very obvious that she would turn her head to look at any light in the window coming through so the doctor said to alternate which end of the crib her head was at.

most doctors will give you some kind of recommendation about how to prevent it. it was obvious that hannah's flat spot was from looking at the light in the window. so we made arrangements to counter act that.

but a flat head is likely with any favorite sleeping position really. so best bet is to keep a good dialogue open with your doctor and ask about anything you might be even slightly concerned about :) the doctor and you can come to some sort of decision about what to do.
 
mmorlino

mmorlino

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Yes, without next baby (if there is one, still in discussion with hubby :) ) I will definitely be laying him/her on their side. And once they can hold their head up, I'll definitely be putting them on their tummy, if they can handle it (Logan hated being on his tummy until he did it himself)
 
sparks19

sparks19

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mmorlino said:
Yes, without next baby (if there is one, still in discussion with hubby :) ) I will definitely be laying him/her on their side. And once they can hold their head up, I'll definitely be putting them on their tummy, if they can handle it (Logan hated being on his tummy until he did it himself)
Click to expand...
lol I remember the first time hannah rolled onto her tummy in her crib. she was so mad LOL. she didn't WANT to be on her tummy. kind of freaked her out. now she always sleeps on her tummy with her bum in the air lol
 
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AGonzalez

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LOL Sparks! Oddly enough all my kids sleep like that, in that semi-fetal ass-up position, hehe, even my almost 6 year old.
 
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zoe08

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Your son is so cute! I love his blond hair too!

We do back to sleep at night, and most times during the day, but sometimes he takes a nap on his tummy as long as I am watching him.

And we try to do lots of time sitting up during the day (on my lap, or I carry him around a bit so he isn't laying on his head) and tummy time.
 
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Pam111

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Aw, your son is just adorable. I love his hair.

My son has always slept on his back when in his crib or bassinet, but he sleeps with me a lot of the time and then he is on his side most of the time. Now that he can roll over, he puts himself on his tummy sometimes when sleeping alone
 
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Fran27

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He's a doll!!!! Look at that hair! Love the picture with the dog too.

We put them to sleep on their back here also... they both ended up with a flat spot, but mostly Lisa's was worse because we noticed at 4 months that she really was always looking to the right... so we did a lot of repositioning and mentioned it to the doctor, who said that in most cases it goes away by 2. So we didn't go with a helmet and at 18 months it's really not noticeable at all anymore, so I'm glad we didn't spend money in a helmet.

I don't think sleeping on the side helps much though, you just get the spot on the side... so it's best to make sure they look different ways all the time.

They started rolling to their tummy at 4.5 months and then it was over anyway... lol. Now they sleep on their sides mostly.
 
bubbatd

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What a sweet boy !!! I don't think any of my 3 would have slept if that was the rule in my day !! They hated being on their backs !
 
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Pam111

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The back of Damien's head was just a little flat (nothing that was ever mentioned by his pediatrician or anything, though). Mostly, he just had a big bald spot from laying on his back but it's mostly growing in now.
 
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nancy2394

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The american academy of pediatrics has deemed the back the safest postion to lay your baby to bed. I had a hard time accepting that was safer than the side lying position because I was always afraid a baby would choke or aspirate on their vomit.

But, with that being said.... it really is the safest position. If you think about it in regards to structures, it might make it easier to understand. The esophagus is located behind the trachea. The trachea is the "wind pipe". If the baby is laying on their side and they vomit... they've got their trachea and esophagus vulnerable to the vomit. If they are laying on their back and vomit.. they are more likely to have the vomit go back down the esophagus rather than aspirated into the trachea.

We have been seeing less and less incidents of true "sids" cases with the back position. They are starting to break down the whole "sids" deaths into 2 different categories. A lot of the deaths labeled "sids" have been cases where the babies have been in the bed with the parents and have smothered. So, those are more on the lines of asphyxiation cases rather than true sids.

I do a lot of newborn teaching to new parents as well as parents who have had previous children. And one of the first things I teach them is to lay their baby on their back to sleep.

As far as the whole head molding thing... Rarely do I ever hear of a baby having a flat spot that stayed. When babies are born they have sutured in their skull that are not fused because that is what enables them to fit out the birth canal. The tummy time during the awake hours will help balance out the flat spot.

Oh, and btw... cute cute cute little boy. I just love those blonde locks of hair and those vibrant blue eyes. ADORABLE :)
 
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zoe08

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Pam111 said:
The back of Damien's head was just a little flat (nothing that was ever mentioned by his pediatrician or anything, though). Mostly, he just had a big bald spot from laying on his back but it's mostly growing in now.
Click to expand...
This is like Mason. He has got a little bald spot going, but it hasn't gotten too flat.

At my nephew's 2 or 4 month appt the dr. mentioned his flat head and we just started laying him on his tummy more and trying to change his position, and it fixed itself.

I am so glad my sister had my nephew and I have been babysitting him since he was a month old and going to dr appts with her and such. I learned so much from taking care of him, I know much more what to do with Mason.
 
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