My baby had a flat head but we avoided using a helmet. Here’s how we did it.

My baby had a flat head but we avoided using a baby helmet for flat head syndrome. Here’s how we did it.

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Babies wearing helmets? What are they for and why on earth are kids wearing them these days? They come in bright colors, designs, and they even make decals for them to dress them up. Helmet Molding Therapy is the technical name for it and is used to help correct babies who have deformational plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome). We were able to avoid the need to use one with our daughter and while some of these methods won’t work with every baby here’s what we did to avoid a helmet.

How did I know my baby had Deformational Plagiocephaly (aka Flat Head Syndrome)?

About two months after my middle daughter was born we noticed that she was always looking to the left. Laying down she’d turn her head to the left. When I held her in my arm it was always my left arm because I’m right-handed and as a busy mom with a newborn and a two-year-old running around I needed to have my dominant hand readily available. At her 8-week well child visit, I asked my pediatrician if what I was seeing was normal and I shouldn’t be concerned or if there was something more to my little girl’s left-side favoritism. What I learned during that visit was that my daughter had torticollis and as a result, it was causing her to have flat head syndrome. A definition of torticollis that I found to be helpful is from Day 2 Day Parenting,

Torticollis means ‘twisted neck’ and is caused by damage to or a shortening of the Sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle (SCM muscle) in a baby’s neck. Congenital Muscular Torticollis (CMT) can be caused by in-utero positioning, lack of space in the uterus, a traumatic birth, a multiple birth or low amniotic fluid. Some babies have an actual tumor in the SCM muscle, while other babies just have tightness or thickness in the SCM muscle. Some babies may have no tumor or tightness, but have asymmetric neck posture due to eye problems, congenital absence of cervical muscles, low muscle tone or general delayed development.

Torticollis and Flat Head Syndrome — Babies who have torticollis will typically only look to either their right or left.

How does the doctor diagnose Flat Head Syndrome?

During the appointment, my pediatrician put my daughter on her tummy and looked at the symmetry of her little head. If the symmetry was bad she would refer us to physical therapy. The left side of my daughter’s head was becoming so flat that her left ear was being pushed to the front and the left side of her forehead was beginning to bulge. We were referred to physical therapy

What happens if my baby is referred to physical therapy for Flat Head Syndrome?

Our physical therapy appointment went well. The physical therapist confirmed that my daughter had torticollis; the left side neck muscle was weak and the right side neck muscle was tight. I also learned that because my daughter was always looking to the left in her little world the left was what was normal and mid-line, or center. Hearing that really put things into perspective for me.

The goals our physical therapist had for my daughter were simple:

to stretch out and loosen up her neck
to teach her that the midline from her nose to her belly button is how the world should look.

What kind of therapy will my baby have to prevent wearing a baby helmet for Flat Head Syndrome?

We, and by “we” I mean “I”, had homework to do. My homework consisted of stretching my daughter’s neck to do three to four times a day. Our physical therapist also gave us a few exercises to do that would help her become re-orientated in the right mid-line direction. Those exercises were taking toys such as the Oball (pictured below). I would shake the Oball in front of her so that she would have to turn her head to find where the noise was coming from. Then she’d grab for the ball front and center. We also used the Fisher-Price Go Baby Go! 1-2-3 Crawl Along Snail and I would get her attention by turning the snail on so it would sing and then she’d have to turn her head to look for the snail which was always on the right.

Products our physical therapist suggested we use to help prevent the need for a baby helmet to correct Flat Head Syndrome:

We used a Baby Moon pillow for her to rest on during nap times and bedtime. The pillow works because it helps alleviate pressure on the back of the head or for her the left side of the head because the small hole in the center of the pillow makes it challenging for her to move.
When she was awake she was always on her stomach so she wasn’t applying pressure to the already flat side of her head. Once she became strong enough to use an activity jumper you would find her hanging out in her activity jumper.
The physical therapist also turned us on to using Summer Infant’s Cradler Head Positioning Pillow in her car seat. Again, the goal was to get her to realize that the world happened front and center from her belly button so the head positioning pillow helped with that in her car seat.
Integrating chiropractic care to help loosen her neck muscles up. We saw a chiropractor who worked on her neck and did some cranial massage as well.

Baby looks to the left or right all of the time, what is wrong? Read more to find out what it could be.

How long does a parent have to correct flat head syndrome before it’s determined that a baby helmet is needed?

My doctor told us that we had until our daughter was 5 months old to correct the problem. Since I knew that the source of her flat head syndrome was her torticollis I focused all of my attention on working with her daily. If the physical therapist said to stretch her neck three times a day, you better believe that I did it. If the physical therapist wanted us to do as much tummy time as possible and purchase little pillows that would help position her head, I said where can I find them? If I had to resist the urge to hold my daughter with my left arm, by golly, I got smart and went against what felt natural to me and held her in my right arm.

Can I really prevent my child from needing to wear a baby helmet to correct Flat Head Syndrome?

We avoided the helmet. It wasn’t easy and it took a lot of work. It didn’t happen overnight; my daughter was in physical therapy for four months. I remember at the time when she was diagnosed I was lamenting on my Facebook over the fact that she may have to wear a helmet. Naturally, all of my friends chimed in with their opinions, “Only use a chiropractor” and “You’ll just have to get the baby helmet, you can’t do anything to stop it”. I’m happy to say that I was met with a lot of different options for my child and combining all of them together worked for us. You see, it doesn’t have to be the same treatment or nothing at all, you can mix and match. I mixed chiropractic care and essential oils with physical therapy. I think that any treatment that will help avoid your baby having to wear a helmet should be met with optimism and perseverance.

Bert A.

As the creator of the lifestyle blog and book, Me Before Mom, Bert supports millennial moms facing the challenges and changes of motherhood. Me Before Mom is an online community that offers support through real life stories, encouraging advice, and answers to questions about how a woman maintains herself during this self-sacrificial time of parenthood. Stories from Bert Anderson have helped women across the globe through the Huffington Post, Today’s Parent, and on the Harry show. Whether weathering the first year of motherhood or walking through the later stages of motherhood, Bert has helped many continue to find herself while still in the throes of motherhood. Purchase your copy of Me Before Mom: Putting Your Oxygen Mask on First today!

July 8, 2019July 7, 2019

What is Flat Head Syndrome?

What exactly is flat head syndrome? Flat head syndrome or positional plagiocephaly happens when a flat spot begins to develop on the back or the side of a baby’s head. A common cause of flat head syndrome is lying an infant in the same position every time they go to sleep.

What is Flat Head Syndrome?

Flat head syndrome is when an infant develops a flat spot on the back or side of his or her head. An infant’s bones are not fully fused together making them very pliable or easy to mold. The good news is that if your infant does develop flat head syndrome treatment is easy to come by and correct.

What causes Flat Head Syndrome?

Some cases of positional plagiocephaly begin in the womb. “Many babies can develop a flat head as a direct result of their positioning in the womb before they are even born, known as positional moulding. Babies can also develop the tendency to develop a flat head during birth, with passage through the birth canal causing temporary bruising in the neck or shoulder muscles,” Technology in Motion.

In 1992 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a statement that recommended babies sleep on their backs or sides to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In 1996 the AAP issued another statement that a baby’s back was the only safe place to sleep. Babies sleep a lot which begins the flat spot and then using other devices where they lay down on their backs only furthers the flat head problem. Premature babies are more likely to have flat head syndrome because their skulls are even more pliable than a full term baby.

Baby laying on back can cause flat head syndrome — Photo by Kevin Keith on Unsplash

Can a flat head fix itself?

It depends on the severity of the plagiocephaly. In milder cases, you can help correct flat head syndrome with simple changes like switching the arm that you hold your baby and trying to keep him or her upright, avoiding putting pressure on the flat spot of their head.

Our story with Positional Plagiocephaly

I noticed in the beginning of August 2011 that my daughter, Kendall’s, head was looking a little weird. It was flat on the left side. That was alarming but then I also started to notice that she was always looking off to the left. The same week that I noticed these things I happened to be going on a little weekend mini retreat with some of the leadership team from my MOPS group. I mentioned it to a few of them – we’re all moms and two of them have four kids so I figured that they’d know something. They agreed with me about her looking to the left all the time. I happened to have her two month appointment scheduled that Monday so I decided to not panic and just wait to talk with her pediatrician.

The appointment came and Kendall’s pediatrician noticed her looking to the left immediately (after I mentioned it to her first). She explained to me that we’d put her on her tummy and look at the symmetry of her little head. If the symmetry was bad she would refer us to physical therapy. So we put her on her tummy and sure enough the left side of her head was becoming so flat that her left ear was being pushed to the front and she was getting a bulge on the left side of her forehead.

Our physical therapy appointment went well. The physical therapist diagnosed Kendall with torticollis meaning her left side neck muscle was weak and her right side neck muscle was tight. She also explained to me that because Kendall was always looking to the left in her little world the left was what was normal and center. That really put things into perspective for me. Our goals for Kendall were to stretch out and loosen up her neck as well as teach her that the center from her nose to her belly button is how the world should look. She gave us homework of stretches to do three to four times a day as well as some exercises to get her re-orientated in the right mid-line direction.

Because of her torticollis she was developing plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome). We began working on getting her head back to a nice round shape by doing lots of tummy time (thankfully she’s not extremely fussy when it comes to tummy time) and putting her on her right side (when we’re with her). We’ve also just purchased a special pillow called a Baby Moon Pillow to help with allowing us to have her on her back but not put pressure on the left side.

We had until she was five months old to correct both her torticollis and the flat head syndrome. If it didn’t work she would have needed a helmet which is not the end of the world by any means. I was amazed when I look through her newborn photos how early this started and it didn’t really dawn on me until we went to the doctor that it wasn’t normal. They say that torticollis starts in the womb and can be perpetuated if kids spend time in the special care nursery or NICU. Kendall was one of those kids as she spent five days in the special care nursery.

Today, Kendall has a completely normal shaped head. The work we did with the physical therapist while it was inconvenient, it definitely paid off.

Know that if your baby does have flat head syndrome it’s usually not life-threatening. It also doesn’t reflect on you as a parent. There’s absolutely nothing you could do to prevent or cause it to happen.

Bert A.

January 16, 2019January 15, 2019

Top Ten Pregnancy Books for First Time Moms

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You know the classic pregnancy book, What to Expect When You’re Expecting and while it’s full of information I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to read that book when it comes to your first pregnancy. I founds when I was pregnant with my first that What to Expect kind of scared me; it almost had too much information and when you’re a newly pregnant mama, too much information can be a bad thing. I’ve compiled a list of the top ten pregnancy book for first time moms that I think is worth your time.

Top Ten Pregnancy Books for First Time Moms

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy: From Doctors Who Are Parents, Too!

To the point but friendly this pregnancy book has a way of being authoritative in a non-condescending way. Publisher’s Weekly said, “…the book contains at least one feature that most pregnant women will find indispensable: charts that indicate how to handle ‘troublesome signs and symptoms’ during each three week period. For example, if a woman has slight spotting during the first four weeks of pregnancy, the chart tells her to notify a doctor during her next hospital visit. But if she has any bleeding at all during weeks 29 to 32, the chart indicates that she should tell her doctor immediately.”

The Healthy Pregnancy Book: Month by Month, Everything You Need to Know from America’s Baby Experts (Sears Parenting Library)

I like Dr. Sears and for the most part adhere to a lot of his practices so for me, this book is a given. As a mother who gained a whopping 70 lbs during her first pregnancy I so wish I would’ve read this kind of a book when I was pregnant for the first time. Not only does Sears and the contributing authors look at nutrition but they look at all sides of pregnancy in a very easy to read book.

The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth (Sears Parenting Library)

Written by the same authors, Dr. William Sears MD, and Martha Sears, RN, of The Healthy Pregnancy Book I appreciate this book because it gives every single option you have as a first time mom when it comes to labor and delivery. It also does it in a very non-judgmental way. If you are aiming for a pain medication free childbirth, Dr. Sears and his wife, Martha Sears, give you the ins and outs of your options, as well as talks with dads about what to expect and how to be helpful before, during and after L&D. Amazon.com said, “In this helpful resource guide, the Searses cover the gamut of possibilities, and teach readers what they need to know to take control of their own birthings. The Birth Book is divided into three parts: ‘Preparing for Birth,’ ‘Easing Pain in Labor,’ and ‘Experiencing Birth.'”

Common Sense Pregnancy: Navigating a Healthy Pregnancy and Birth for Mother and Baby

I did not try to go all natural with any of my labor and deliveries; it wasn’t something I aspired to do either. For some reason though, there are a lot of books out there on how to have a natural, medication free L&D experience and there’s little to no resources on every option that’s available for first time expecting mothers. I like what Jeanne Faulkner has to say and how she says it.

Pregnancy: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Pregnancy and Birth

This book was very interesting to me because it’s written by a psychologist, Dr. Jane Smart, and while it is by no means a medical book I think there’s something to be said about having a different perspective to all of the emotions that go along with pregnancy. I would recommend getting this book as a companion to Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy: From Doctors Who Are Parents, Too!

The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy

This book is a stitch! If you’re an avid reader and want another book to read that’s related to your pregnancy as a first time mom this is definitely it! Be forewarned that this is not written by a doctor or midwife so you should not think of the advice given in the book at medical, at all. There are over one million copies that have been purchased so I guess you could say that it’s a good book.

Belly Laughs, 10th anniversary edition: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth

Jenny McCarthy’s national best seller is a favorite among most moms-to-be. I haven’t read it but a few of my friends have and they swear by the honesty that McCarthy displays in the book. Booklist reviews, “What’s noble about this book (yes, noble) is that women who find these topics too embarrassing to bring up now have a place to read about them in a frank and open discussion. After all, they’re as real as morning sickness, and McCarthy treats them with a candor that borders on crude but that is refreshing, and, ultimately, necessary. Not to mention funny.”

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth: Updated With New Material

If you want to have an all natural, pain medication free labor and delivery, Ina May Gaskin’s book is the way to go. Laura used this book, along with birthing classes to help her prepare for her first L&D. Ina May is an expert midwife with 30 years of experience.

What to Eat When You’re Pregnant: A Week-by-Week Guide to Support Your Health and Your Baby’s Development

I love when books have clear, concise purposes. Take this book, for example, it’s clear what the goal of the book is. I know what to expect from it and what I will gain by reading it. There’s also 50 recipes for mom to cook from so she can guarantee that she’s getting the best for her developing child. Dr. Mark Hyman says, “New research shows that when you’re eating for two, your diet can have profound affects on your baby. In this smart and easy-to-follow guide–which also features simple and delicious recipes–Dr. Nicole Avena tells moms-to-be how to give their babies a healthy start in life by eating foods that support baby’s development and keep mom feeling nourished and satisfied. A copy of this book should be on every pregnant woman’s bookshelf.”

The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be

You can’t forget Dad! A friend of mine recommended this book to my husband when I was pregnant for the first time. My husband isn’t a reader, he’d rather listen to an audio book, but I skimmed through the pages and from what I read this is an easy read. It’s important for the dad-to-be to be just as knowledgeable to what’s happening to his partner’s body and the child developing inside.

So drop what you’re doing and do a little shopping, or check out your library to see if they have any of these titles. What’s your favorite pregnancy book?

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Bert A.

July 28, 2018July 28, 2018

Here’s everything you wanted to know about your child’s common cold.

I swear, from November until April, at least one of my children has a running nose, green boogers and a chesty cough that just won’t go away. My middle child seems to always have something going on and it started to kind of concern me. What is normal when it comes to the common cold? When should I be concerned as a parent?

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Here’s everything you wanted to know about your child’s common cold.

According to one article, the average number of common colds are as follows:

Babies, toddlers, preschoolers – 7 – 8
School age children – 5 – 6
Teenagers – 1 – 2 (similar to the average adult)

Given that information, I suppose worrying about my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter’s incessant running nose and cough isn’t as abnormal as I assumed. The common cold also lasts for an average of seven days and sometimes longer. Symptoms frequently appear two to three days after exposure.

How are colds contagious?

Colds are airborne viruses that are passed on from one person to the next. Most adults practice good hygiene, know to a cough into their arm (some call it the Dracula cough because you look like Dracula covering your face with a cape) and sneeze into a tissue or their sleeve. Children under the age of seven, on the other hand, don’t know anything about practicing good hygiene. One visit to a church’s nursery and you’ll understand that what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine when it comes to babies and toddlers; if it looks interesting, it must go in the mouth immediately. Preschoolers, God bless them, are just so handsy they can’t help but share every germ that happens to be inhabiting their little bodies. Pair this desire to share life so closely and the fact that their immune systems are so young it only makes sense that our little ones are often frequent victims of the common cold.

What can you do to prevent the spread of the common cold?

If your child has had a fever (100.4°F auxiliary reading) keep them away from close quarters especially if they are young. There’s not much reasoning with a two-year-old, however, I can explain to my five-year-old how to practice good cold habits such as staying away from her peers, covering up her sneezes and coughs, as well as frequent hand washing.
Make certain that your child is washing their hands correctly. We always say to our kids, “Soap them up: tops, bottoms and in-betweens; now let’s sing our ABC’s!”
If there’s green snot pouring out of every crevice of their little face, keep the wee ones at home. It’s just nice for the other parents.

Should I be concerned about my child spiking a fever?

No. Unfortunately, longtime misunderstanding about what a fever’s job is has made most of us terrified of fevers when it comes to our children. A fever is simply the body’s way of fighting off a virus or infection. I think to think of it as a furnace and the immune system is turning up the heat to get rid of those nasty little germs. It’s scary when our children get a fever and frequently the number on the thermometer is scarier than the virus is harmful. Here’s a handy little chart to help you assess when it’s best to call your family doctor.

Do colds go away on their own?

Yes. According to the National Library of Public Health, colds do go away on their own, despite their annoying symptoms – cough, sore throat, runny nose.

Relieving a Common Cold

While the best medicine for the common cold is to allow it to run its course, I’ve found that the more comfortable I can make my child feel they faster they will heal.

Hydrate!
Sleep. If you need to administer pain reducing medicine such as Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen to help your child be comfortable then do it. Your goal is using these kinds of medicines should only be to add physical comfort, not to reduce the fever (see the chart above for a guide)
Hot shower. I think that a hot, steamy shower is great for relieving head congestion. The trick is getting your child to think it’s also a great idea. All three of my children hate showers for some odd reason but at least I can reason with my older kids, right?
Balm Baby Eucalyptus Rub, Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Cough Syrup with Dark Honey (not suitable for children under the age of one-years-old), and when needed Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen (only for children older than 6 months)

How should you sleep when you have a cold?

Prop yourself up on some pillows, this may prove to be challenging for your child because they move around so much. I’d suggest using a wedge pillow like this one. Use a humidifier or vaporizer, be willing to take medication, and stay away from caffeine and alcohol.

I hope this helps you even just a little bit. Remember, I’m not a medical professional so you really shouldn’t take this advice I’m giving you as medical fact. When in doubt contact your physician!

Great Resources

Children and Colds

Common Cold

Should I be worried if my child gets sick frequently?

Ask Dr. Sears: Understanding the Common Cold

Fever and Taking Your Child’s Temperature

The Portable Pediatrician: Everything You Need to Know About Your Child’s Health

Bert A.

May 15, 2018May 16, 2018

Breastfeeding Problems: A Clogged Nipple What?

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Once upon a time when my middle child was still an infant and I was nursing her exclusively, I noticed a persistent burning feeling whenever I wasn’t breastfeeding. It wasn’t the twinge that I usually feel in my nipples when my milk lets down; it was different. It was really painful. It felt like I was in the very early stages of breastfeeding. You remember those days filled with MotherLove Nipple Cream slathered on in between feedings to help heal your cracked nipples, don’t you? Then as soon as my daughter would latch on and start eating the pain would ease.

What is a clogged nipple?

If you haven’t experienced a clogged nipple pore you should be very thankful. If you have then you know what I’m talking about. And if you’re reading this and wondering if that pain you’re experiencing is a clogged nipple pore then by all means, please read on! A clogged nipple pore looks like a white pimple on your nipple. It’s not to be confused with a blood blister that is usually caused by friction from poor latching or positioning. It’s also not thrush, although it does resemble it. Thrush will not feel better after your baby has eaten; thrush burns. A clogged nipple pore will feel ten times better after nursing your baby or pumping.

What causes a clogged nipple pore (aka milk blisters or blebs)?

Clogged nipple pores (aka “milk blisters” or “blebs”) are usually caused by oversupply, pressure on your breast from a tight bra, changes in feeding schedules (baby skips feedings) and stress. If left unattended the clogged pore can lead to mastitis so it’s important that you take action to relieve the pressure. When left unattended a clogged pore can also reduce the milk supply in the affected breast. Prior to actually seeing the clogged pore, I always noticed a reduction of milk while pumping. Then the pain came, I knew what was happening with my milk supply – there was a plug somewhere inside of my nipple.

How can you fix a clogged nipple pore?

So what can you do to fix a clogged nipple pore? It’s really rather simple. Apply a hot (don’t burn yourself though) damp compress to the breast to loosen things up. You can also use a cotton ball that’s been soaked with olive oil to help loosen the skin. Next you’ll want to apply a hot compress to your nipple before your baby nurses. After a few minutes, take the compress off and allow your baby to nurse. Be sure to nurse frequently as this will unclog the pore relieving the pressure.

A lactation consultant once told me that if I could see the bleb’s head (it’s hard and white) I could sterilize a needle or safety pin. To do that she suggested I light a match and hold the tip of the needle into the flame for a while until I knew it was hot. Then place the needle in rubbing alcohol soaking for ten to 15 minutes. One your needle is sterilized, lift the skin of the bleb with the sterilized needle. Do not pierce, lift. The goal is to not give yourself a nipple piercing; if you really want to do that go and find a reputable piercing studio. Moving the hard white substance from the nipple pore should relieve pressure immediately. Then your baby does the rest doing what they do best: nursing.

Our bodies are made wonderfully, don’t you think? Another way of treating a clogged nipple pore is to do the following: Fill a spray bottle with five drops of grapefruit seed extract, ¼ cup of white vinegar and two cups of water. Apply the solution to your breasts one a day. For more information I highly suggest checking out KellyMom. It’s a great resource for all things breastfeeding!

To recap it all:

Causes: Oversupply, nursing bra that is too tight against breasts, changes in baby’s feeding, and/or stress
Symptoms: Reduction in supply, burning sensation when not breastfeeding baby, relief once baby has latched on and is feeding.
Remedies: Hot compress applied to breast before feeding baby, allow baby to latch on properly and feed. Continue to do so until the head of the clogged pore can be seen. Sterilize needle or safety pin and gently lift the head. Allow baby to feed as usual.

Clogged nipple pores are a fairly common problem in breastfeeding and really should not be anything that you worry about. If you have more questions reach out to your doctor or lactation consultant.

Bert A.