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No Flat Heads Here! A Review

*Disclaimer: This is not a paid review. All opinons are my own.

When Punky was about 3-4 months old I noticed that she had developed a flat head on one side. I was super vigilant in making sure that she was always asleep on her back and I didn't really start to give her tummy time until she was about 3 months old, not realising as a first-time Mum that she could have started tummy-time from a very young age.

As a result of spending so much time on her back with her head mostly turned to the same side, her head had started to get quite flat. In fact it was quite noticeable and a few people pointed it out to me. I started to get concerned and of course I googled flat-head syndrome. Let's just say that got me even more concerned.

Thankfully her flat-head wasn't severe and after speaking to a Doctor friend of mine she reassured me that it wasn't bad enough to need referral to a specialist but to just start giving her more tummy time and try to turn her around in her cot so she would turn her head to face the opposite side to the one that was flat.

I was lucky that her flat-head corrected itself and didn't need treatment. Some kids flat-head syndrome can be so severe that they require specialist treatment including the use of wearing a a helmet to try and correct the flatness.


The Baby Head Rest
With this in mind, when the call when out on facebook for people to test and review the Baby Head Rest from Rose and Lily Australia I put my hand up. Zee wasn't yet born but I really wanted to try one out as I was determined to make sure Zee's head stayed well-rounded.

I've now been using the Baby Head Rest with Zee whenever she spends time on her back on the floor. I haven't used it in the bassinette as I use a wedge to keep her slightly elevated to one side to help with her reflux and I alternate which side is wedged which means she also alternates which side her head is facing. I'm pretty sure that as a result of this, and using the Baby Head Rest, Zee has so-far avoided having any flat spots on her head.

The Baby Head Rest is made from memory foam and has a lovely soft cover over it. I was a bit concerned at first that she wouldn't like having it under her head, and that it might restrict her head movement while lying down but it doesn't seem to bother her at all. She can still rotate her head from side to side so she can watch Punky playing around her.

Testing out the Baby Head Rest

When I saw these in the shops before Punky was born I wrote them off as just another thing to make money off parents, however now I think there is definitely benefits to using one. If nothing else, it reminds me to be vigilant in facing Zee from one side to the other in the bassinette and also to remember to give her tummy time. I would definitely reccommend it to anyone who is concerned about flat spots on their own baby's head. If we ever have any more kids I will certainly be using it again.

Did your kids develop flat-spots on their head? Did it go away on it's own or did you need to seek treatment for it?

*Back before Zee was born I was sent a Baby Head Rest from Rose and Lily Australia to review. I was provided with the head rest free of charge with no obligation for a favourable review. I have not been paid any money for this review. You can view my Disclosure policy here.

 

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Comments

Kylie Purtell said…
Mine didn't get it but a friend's baby did - I think you were meant to keep putting them on their tummy whenever possible (I've forgotten, tho we discussed it at length). Anyway, don't you think it's astounding that this can happen to humans? I'm really amazed at how pliable we are.
18 October 2013 at 06:49
Kylie Purtell said…
Ahh okay. If I knew about them I'd definitely get one too. Our youngest started to get quite a flat head too around the same age. Googling is probably the worst thing I could have done. It caused me to get really really worried. We just had a visit to the paed who assured us she had a slight issue, but nothing major that tummy time couldn't fix. Our little one hated tummy time though, so this definitely would have come in handy.
18 October 2013 at 07:38
Kylie Purtell said…
Neither of my kids have flat heads .... that I'm aware of at least! They're grown up now (14 and 9) but now you've got me thinking. Tonight when they get home from school I'm gonna have to check! Mind you, they were both wigglers when they were babies and rolled around a lot. I'm not sure they spent a whole lot of time in one position ...
Great pillow idea though.
Cheers
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
18 October 2013 at 09:01
Kylie Purtell said…
Yup don't think Lil Pumpkin had a flat head.. her PD didn't say anything either ;p but it's good to have a pillow like this. My hubby has a memory foam pillow and he raves about it so much!


Ai @ Sakura Haruka
18 October 2013 at 09:53
Kylie Purtell said…
I was one of those naughty mums who let their kids sleep on their tummies during the day - as long as they were in my sight, and not just because they sleep for 3 hours rather than 40 but because Maddi had reflux and it helped settle her stomach. You're doing a public service here lovely!! x
18 October 2013 at 10:17
Kylie Purtell said…
My bubba has a flat spot on his head. Now that he is moving around and not lying so much I am hoping it corrects itself. The doctors have just told me to keep an eye on it.
18 October 2013 at 10:43
Kylie Purtell said…
Good to know. Dora was too wiggly to ever favour a side but who know what this bubba will be like :)
18 October 2013 at 14:36
Kylie Purtell said…
You know, Nunu started getting flat head and we were so paranoid about it. Our Paed even started talking about wearing a helmet. Luckily, it didn't get that bad but I really wish I had a head rest like this one. I think they're fabulous. And Zee! Wow! She's getting so big already!! x
18 October 2013 at 14:42
Kylie Purtell said…
Great article! Three of my 6 kids had these positional turns and received paediatric physio for differing lengths of time to treat this. My 1st born had a severe case and could not be breastfed because of it (14 months treatment as she also had shoulder dystocia from her traumatic birth). My second had 9 months of physio and my youngest had 6 months for the same positional turn condition! Apparently it can begin in utero. I am quite petite but my husband is over 6ft. Babies can develop a 'preference' for a side if they are squeezed about in a certain position while still inside!
Pretty unlucky to have 3 hey?! At least I have learned to get onto it quickly. Celeste has a slight flat side only now which will grow out over the months. It always does grow out but it can take a good 18 months from memory.
18 October 2013 at 16:39
Kylie Purtell said…
(Six Little Hearts blog)!
18 October 2013 at 16:40
Kylie Purtell said…
What a great tool to use for little ones when laying down! My boys were all reflux babies so they didn't sleep much in cots! They usually had to be held to get to sleep, and held to keep them sleeping! But I think that I would have used the Pillow for when they were on the floor during the day, would have helped with their reflux issues as well as help out with any flat spots!
18 October 2013 at 23:51
Kylie Purtell said…
Absolutely! I had no idea just how soft and pliable a newborns head was until Punky came along and it happened to her. I had no idea. It's actually kinda scary!
20 October 2013 at 17:13
Kylie Purtell said…
I was the same, the worst thing I did was google, I was freaking out! All I can say is I am so happy that one of my close friends is a doctor, one quick text or play date with our girls and I am reassured that either I'm over-reacting or my Mummy instincts are right. So much better than Dr. Google!
20 October 2013 at 17:15
Kylie Purtell said…
Punky ended up being quite the wriggler too, as soon as she started rolling her flat spot went away as you just couldn't keep her still!
20 October 2013 at 17:16
Kylie Purtell said…
I have actually been thinking I need a memory foam pillow for myself, they look awesome! This one has really come in handy for Zee, it's definitely made a difference.
20 October 2013 at 17:16
Kylie Purtell said…
As soon as Punky learnt how to roll I couldn't keep her on her back, I would put her down to sleep and would always come back to find her sleeping on her tummy. I've tried to put Zee down to sleep on her tummy a few times when Punky has been at daycare and I can have the bassinette out in the loungeroom with me but she always wakes up after a few minutes. I have a feeling she is going to start rolling soon so will be interesting to see if she's like Punky and starts to prefer to sleep on her tummy. She definitely prefers to sleep on her side rather than her back though, that's for sure.
20 October 2013 at 17:19
Kylie Purtell said…
It's amazing how quickly it develops isn't it. One minute Punky's head was fine and the next one side was totally flat. It sorted itself out so quick though once she learnt to roll over and started spending most of her time on her tummy so I'm sure your bubs will too.
20 October 2013 at 17:20
Kylie Purtell said…
It's definitely worth it, even if just for the reminder of tummy time. Hopefully your new bub will be a good little wriggler too and you won't have to worry.
20 October 2013 at 17:21
Kylie Purtell said…
Oh that would have freaked me out! When I started reading more about it with Punky I was so worried but thankfully like Nunu it didn't get that bad. I can't imagine how hard it would be to have to put a helmet on your bubs, some of them have to wear it for up to 23 hours of the day! Imagine trying to get them to sleep. I'm so glad I've had it this time with Zee, I definitely think it's made a difference.

I know, I can't believe how big she is getting. She is very long too, almost too long for her 000 onesies!
20 October 2013 at 17:23
Kylie Purtell said…
That is unucky! We thought Punky had the same thing too, as she would only turn her head to the right but thankfully it didn't take much to get it sorted and encourage her to turn her head both ways. It definitely helped with the flat spot once she was turning her head both ways. So many things I had no idea before Punky that I am thankfully way more aware of now with Zee.
20 October 2013 at 17:25
Kylie Purtell said…
It's definitely helped Zee when she is lying down. With the pillow under her head she doesn't get the hiccups when lying on her back but without it she gets the hiccups almost straight away and then a tummy ache, so it has helped in more ways than one. I totally forgot to mention that in my post actually. Must fix that.
20 October 2013 at 17:26
Kylie Purtell said…
Absolutely, I've talked about it with a few of my friends when they've had their first babies so they haven't freaked out too much about it.
20 October 2013 at 17:28
Kylie Purtell said…
As soon as Punky learnt how to roll she slept on her tummy all the time too. I was always so worried and at first I used to go in and roll her back over but then I realised that she slept so much better that way that I just gave it to it and she has been a tummy sleeper ever since. Will be interesting to see what Zee does, she doesn't sleep well flat on her back and is propped on her side for sleeps. I've tried her on her tummy a few times but she just woke up so she might be a side sleeper I think.
20 October 2013 at 17:30
Kylie Purtell said…
Here is another great preventive tools review
http://twokidsandthreeangels.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/mimos-pillow-review.html
26 October 2013 at 03:54

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