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babies with flat heads?
Posted by Maryloo
babies with flat heads? May 14, 2011 04:09AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 2,155 |
Has anyone else noticed that the back of babies ( and young children's) heads are flat these days??
I think ther is going to be a gaenerationof "flatheads" due to the latest trend of babies being put to sleep on their backs only.
I was lead to believe that the bones "set" in the first few months and they willstay like it.
I know my daughter who had a disability always ended up( by rolling) with a slightly crooked forehead despite me putting her to sleep on alternate sides. You cant see it now of course once s her hair got longer.
At the school I work at there are few young children "coming through" who have flat back heads.Interesting. Apparently Plunket is ADAMENT these days to sleep babies on their backs only or later on only with a sleeping wedge in front/back of them. Surely if the baby is wrapped with their arm slgihtly forward ( as in recovery position) it is impossibe for them to roll onto their tummies early and lead to smothing etc. Any views/opinions?
I think ther is going to be a gaenerationof "flatheads" due to the latest trend of babies being put to sleep on their backs only.
I was lead to believe that the bones "set" in the first few months and they willstay like it.
I know my daughter who had a disability always ended up( by rolling) with a slightly crooked forehead despite me putting her to sleep on alternate sides. You cant see it now of course once s her hair got longer.
At the school I work at there are few young children "coming through" who have flat back heads.Interesting. Apparently Plunket is ADAMENT these days to sleep babies on their backs only or later on only with a sleeping wedge in front/back of them. Surely if the baby is wrapped with their arm slgihtly forward ( as in recovery position) it is impossibe for them to roll onto their tummies early and lead to smothing etc. Any views/opinions?
Re: babies with flat heads? May 14, 2011 04:53AM |
Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 828 |
All your questions appear to be answered here Maryloo. [www.craniofacialsurgery.co.nz]
Re: babies with flat heads? May 14, 2011 06:48AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 2,155 |
Re: babies with flat heads? May 20, 2011 02:01PM |
Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 1,144 |
Re: babies with flat heads? May 23, 2011 05:09AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 1,123 |
Re: babies with flat heads? May 25, 2011 02:26PM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 554 |
Wirth my 3 children,I always followed the old adage - from midwifery days - of the 'morning,noon and night - put them on the right" with the arm they were lying on forward to stop them rolling onto their faces and they all had lovely shaped heads. Our latest grand babies sleep on their backs more but tend to have their heads turned sideways so it is not a problem. I dislike
the look of the flat head babies, but I believe Plunket recommend it for safety and cot death precaution. I must look at that cranial link!
Maggie
the look of the flat head babies, but I believe Plunket recommend it for safety and cot death precaution. I must look at that cranial link!
Maggie
Re: babies with flat heads? May 27, 2011 02:43AM |
Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 1,723 |
Re: babies with flat heads? May 27, 2011 11:37AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 2,155 |
I cant see it being a very natural sleeping position flat on their backs with heads turned...and stayinga there.. Next they'll all have cricks in their necks!!.
Having and nmaking choices for what is right foryour baby is sensibe. DIL said the Plunket nurse told her that they basically tell first time mothers - one fule for all -to put baby on their backs for those mums / parents who dont have the common sense to to do or try anything else....and lots of new parents dont experiment or feel they can "go against" the midwife.
It will be interesting Lisa for you to see the difference in the head shapes of your children - presuming the others didnt sleep on their backs. As an experienced mum, will you do as you did for the others or will you go with the latest line of Plunket thinking?
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/2011 11:43AM by Maryloo.
Having and nmaking choices for what is right foryour baby is sensibe. DIL said the Plunket nurse told her that they basically tell first time mothers - one fule for all -to put baby on their backs for those mums / parents who dont have the common sense to to do or try anything else....and lots of new parents dont experiment or feel they can "go against" the midwife.
It will be interesting Lisa for you to see the difference in the head shapes of your children - presuming the others didnt sleep on their backs. As an experienced mum, will you do as you did for the others or will you go with the latest line of Plunket thinking?
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/2011 11:43AM by Maryloo.
Re: babies with flat heads? May 28, 2011 12:37AM |
Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 221 |
My boys were all projectile vomiters and no matter how long I 'winded' them after a feed they would vomit when they were lying down.If they had been on their backs they would have probably choked.They were all big strong babies and 'chose' to sleep on their tummies with their heads to one side.Even in the nursing home our eldest managed to roll into that position.The nursing staff gave up and left him after attempting to put him on his side.
Re: babies with flat heads? May 31, 2011 04:08AM |
Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 1,723 |
Maryloo... To be honest .... I think I will be naughty and do what I did with the other two kids. The idea of the poor bubs ending up with a flat head seems scary! Also I agree it doesn't seem natural to sleep on your back with your head turned to one side. But I have always wrapped my babies for the first 6 or so weeks or so.
My mother inlaw helps me no end with my kids... she had 6 kids herself and she will more than likely fight me to look after bubs and we share our home lol... Cant see her changing from recovery position after all these years of looking after babies.
Warm fuzzies Lisa
My mother inlaw helps me no end with my kids... she had 6 kids herself and she will more than likely fight me to look after bubs and we share our home lol... Cant see her changing from recovery position after all these years of looking after babies.
Warm fuzzies Lisa
Re: babies with flat heads? May 31, 2011 11:06AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 2,155 |
Good on you Lisa for using your common sense and experince to make workable and safe decisions!! Experienced with mothers who have their heads screwed ...you cant beat 'em!! Must make life easier ...not trickier or more stressful.
hope things are progressing well for you and you are enjoying being pregnant this time around.:-)
hope things are progressing well for you and you are enjoying being pregnant this time around.:-)
Re: babies with flat heads? May 31, 2011 12:55PM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 391 |
Yes you do need to have common sense but the correlation of tummy sleeping with cot death is very strong. There is definitely a rise with the flat head thing and yes it does look odd but there are things you can do to help like putting something for the baby to look at but alternating the side each time you put the baby down to encourage them to turn their head, or making sure they get enough 'tummy time' when they are awake. I work with babies and I know what the latest research is saying so as easy as it is to sleep a baby on their tummy may seem I don't think it is a safe option. I have also had 2 babies and both of them slept on their backs, and if I am to be honest sometimes swaddled and on their sides too when they were really little. (I also need to say that side sleeping is also not encouraged as the baby can 'tip' onto their tummy but that was my compromise and one that I was happy to make (especially armed with the safe n sound monitor)). Neither of them had a flat head at all. However I don't think I would have been brave enough to do the tummy thing though knowing what I know and having read the research on it.
Yes it is great for mothers to be practical, especially in a world that bombards us with 'rules' on how to parent and mother our babies BUT sometimes the old ways aren't right and we also have to embrace new methods and new research to make some changes for a better outcome.
Yes it is great for mothers to be practical, especially in a world that bombards us with 'rules' on how to parent and mother our babies BUT sometimes the old ways aren't right and we also have to embrace new methods and new research to make some changes for a better outcome.
Re: babies with flat heads? June 01, 2011 08:37AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 2,155 |
Yes Megan, DIL is now mortified her 3 month old has a flat head...boys have short hair too so she is worried.
I dont advocate tummy sleeping at all and if a baby is wrapped properly with the arm they are laying on being properly placed to prevent them rolling then thats the best idea for me!!
I dont advocate tummy sleeping at all and if a baby is wrapped properly with the arm they are laying on being properly placed to prevent them rolling then thats the best idea for me!!
Re: babies with flat heads? June 02, 2011 02:41AM |
Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 1,723 |
Im defiantely not an advocate for tummy sleeping either.
I did have a very interesting conversation with two thai mums last night. They were explaining to me that up until about 20 years ago (and still in some families) thai babies (Especially Girls!) were wrapped and placed on there backs to sleep not allowing there heads to to move to the sides as a rounded back of a girls head signified a wilful and possibly disobedient child. A beautiful head was one which was flat at the back! Now many Thai mums beleive a rounded head is more beautiful and no longer believe that a rounded head means a naughty kid lol!
I did have a very interesting conversation with two thai mums last night. They were explaining to me that up until about 20 years ago (and still in some families) thai babies (Especially Girls!) were wrapped and placed on there backs to sleep not allowing there heads to to move to the sides as a rounded back of a girls head signified a wilful and possibly disobedient child. A beautiful head was one which was flat at the back! Now many Thai mums beleive a rounded head is more beautiful and no longer believe that a rounded head means a naughty kid lol!
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