Avoiding flat head in rock & play/bassinet/pack n play?

Question

I've heard that extended sleeping in any of the above can possibly cause flat head in babies to where they may have to wear a helmet.. Any experience with this with any of the above items, or how you avoided it while still using them? any tips or opinions greatly appreciated!

Answer

My pediatrician said watch how he sleeps. If he sleeps with his head turned left, turn his head right the next nap. Alternating which way his face is turned will help avoid that :) easy, simple, effective.

Answer

So I am actually a clinician that treats with a helmet (I will not mention what company I work for). The key to avoiding flat head is constant repositioning and tummy time. As long as baby doesn't have reflux you can start tummy time as soon as his/her belly button falls off. You can even do it on your belly so baby has a bit of an incline advantage. I would never put baby to sleep in an inclined position unles pediatrician instructs you ... I.e. Reflux babies. And always remember ... Babies need a lot of free time play like in a pack n play or play gym and very limited time in restrictive devices like a rock n play, bouncy seat or swing.

Answer

My daughter never had the flat head issue and I wore her a lot. We didn't use an infant car seat so she'd sleep in the Ergo or on my chest except at night. I think that made a big difference.

Answer

My son had a really obvious flat head. It corrects itself. Most babies get it

Answer

If you don't want your baby to have a flat head then don't leave it laying down all the time. My daughter slept in a Auto Rock N play and her head wasn't flat. During the day she was held when awake put in a door way bouncer, sitting in a bumbo, and other things that had her head off of a flat surface.

Answer

Babywearing - I always got praise for how "not flat" my last daughter's head was from the pediatricians 😂 a mix of babywearing and tummy time definitely help. And not leaving baby to sleep in the car seat  (especially as it's not recommended out of the vehicle for risk of positional asphyxiation)

Answer

Alternate the way the baby sleeps... Don't let his head stay to one spot every time. I learned this the hard way with my daughter. She had torticollis which meant that the muscles in her neck were tightened from when I was pregnant that she would lay her head in one position. I had to do physical therapy with her 3 times a week as well as at home exercises and she still needed a helmet.  She looked cute but it was a hassle that I wish could've been avoided.... Here's a pic when she had her helmet though 😊

Answer

I had my daughter starting to get that. We changed her position in relation to us- baby would always want to be facing where we were. So, one night she would sleep one way, the next night on other side. Does that make sense? Doing that plus neck exercises prevented having to use helmet. I don't think where they sleep has anything to do with it, it's more the position

Avoiding flat head in rock & play/bassinet/pack n play?

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