Per the recommendation to keep babies on their back when they sleep, I feel like so many babies get flat heads. My son already has a bald spot. He's 3 months!
Is there any way to prevent infant's heads from getting flat in the back? Does it usually self-correct?
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Tummy time and wearing your baby during awake times might help.
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Like @Happygal: mentioned, babywearing and tummy time are really important. Other ideas are to switch the direction your baby faces in their crib and limiting the time they spend in "baby holders". Once they start rolling and sitting, their heads usually round back out.
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All the above! We also saw an osteopath, for feeding issues, which helped.
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Yup tummy time and baby wearing (so they aren't also flat on their back in the stroller). And switching direction in the crib as well as on the changing table, so they get used to looking in both directions.
My 4 month old has an awesome bald spot but as best I can tell no flat spot. She just likes to rub her head around when I lay her down which I think makes the bald spot worse. My older one never got a flat spot or a bald spot because she would never let me put her down. Ever.
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What everyone else has said - tummy time and baby wearing - also limit time in baby containers (bouncers, etc) and only sleeping in crib, no RnP. My LO refused to be put down (which had its own set of problems) and the silver lining to that was her head was beautifully shaped! She did get a bald spot because she really enjoyed wiggling in her crib before sleeping and after waking up. That has gone away and she is has a lovely toddler mullet now. We also alternated which end of the crib her head was at each time she woke up.
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Avoiding long periods of time in an infant car seat will also help reduce the risk of flat head, most of the babies test I know with a flat spot spent a lot of time in their capsule / bucket seat.
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DD barely slept on her own those first few months.. We held her, she slept on us, etc so her head ended up being so perfectly round lol!
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Tummy time, and putting your baby down in the crib alternating ends. LO2 usually turns his head towards the door to see us walk in or leave, so he ends up falling asleep that way. We alternate which end of the crib we put him down each night. LO1 had terrible flat head on one side because we always put him down on the same side. It does eventually semi-correct itself, but he still has a flat spot on the back of his head while LO2 has a perfectly round noggin.
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our pediatrician told us to alternate by sometimes putting her on alternating sides to sleep especially for nap time when she was being supervised
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@2PeasinaPod: alternating ends in the crib is a good idea!
My guy has been in his bassinet to sleep since day 1, so it's good and bad I guess!
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@2PeasinaPod: Ditto.
DS2 had a flat spot that wasn't getting better at 8m old. We started laying him the opposite way (he also looks at the door) in the crib, and at 9m it's almost completely better.
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@pachamama: Is it the type of bassinet that it really doesn't matter which end he sleeps? Even in there, it helps! Especially if it's next to your bed. He'll likely turn his head toward you.
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Even if it is a rock and play, just turn the whole things around so he's facing the opposite way each night
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@2PeasinaPod: not sure, it's that chicco portable one. It's hard to keep a baby off his head when he likes his activity mat and needs to nap!
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@pachamama: Try flipping him to his tummy on his activity mat, then back. The more you flip, the less pressure the back of his head will have. Plus, it will help with his neck control!
A way to help him figure out how to roll over on his own is to cross one leg over the other, then gently roll him onto his tummy.
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