It is one month after using mimos pillow for didi’s plagiocephaly. Time for a quick review!
First day on mimos, he was 5 months old. After a month, Didi liking his mimos!
Sometimes he will roll out of the pillow when falling asleep but thankfully he is able to sleep on it most of the time.
Active baby!
I still try to reposition him although mimos website said it is not needed. But even if he is sleeping on his flat side, I’m not so worried as the pillow helps to spread the pressure evenly (used to sleep late cause I’d reposition him after he slept).
Physically, we don’t see much improvement except it is less pointy at the back. But I am so glad that it isn’t worsening! 😌Went to the orthotist two days back and his plagio measurement has decreased from 14 to 13mm (0mm is a perfect round head). Yay! 🤩Which means the pillow has helped to correct 1 mm!🥳🤩
Slight improvement of 1mm!
I wasn’t hoping for major correction and was just praying that it will not get worse while we wait for the helmet to be ready.
So yep, money well spent!😀 Another one more week of mimos pillow before he starts wearing helmet.
If your child has flat head and you are wondering if it is normal, please take some actions immediately as the golden period to change baby’s head shape is between 4-8 months old!
I started noticing my second born preferred to sleep on his right (LEFT torticollis) when he was 2 months old. I flagged out to the pediatrician and he told me that he had stiff neck. He advised to do neck stretching exercise for 10 seconds x 3 times a day. As he didn’t say it is of concern, I wasn’t actively doing it and over the next 2 months, has resulted in him having flat head (plagiocephaly).
When he was 4 months old, I got panicky when I saw his right head was much flatter to the extend that it affected his facial symmetry (his right forehead started to bulge out more)!
Right forehead bulged and right head flattened.
So during his routine 4 months old checkup at the polyclinic, I highlighted to the doctor and she referred me to KK Hospital. The appointment was 2 weeks later and I was so worried that I made another appointment at a private orthopedist .
At KKH, the paediatrician also said it is mild and only referred me to physiotherapist for him to review if there is a need to do helmet therapy. I found out later that physiotherapist is unable to do referral (only doctors can) and KKH has no helmet therapy so I had to go back to the KKH pediatrician and ask for referral to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).
This has resulted in precious time lost as my son was already almost 5 months old. As of writing, only TTSH (subsidised) and Orthopaedia Singapore (private) do helmet therapy in Singapore.
Meanwhile at the private orthopaedia, we found out that his plagiocephaly was severe (yet 3 doctors told us was mild!), according to the head scan that the orthopedist did. She claimed that PD usually do not place flat head or torticollis as high priority since they don’t affect brain development. Maybe that’s why no doctors ever flag out to us about his plagiocephaly.
Just did his scan.
Looking back, I should have been more active in seeking treatment for his flat head. Deep inside, I was hoping not to do helmet therapy hence I did not actively research on the possible treatments. We might not have needed helmet therapy if I had done something to his torticollis. Argh! If only I could turn back time, I would…
1. Reposition his sleeping position
Since birth, alternate their sleep positions by turning LO’s head to the opposite side. This can allow even distribution of baby’s head weight. Put your baby at opposite ends of the crib each night to encourage baby to face to both directions.
For my flat head baby. I am now repositioning his head diligently such that the rounded side of his head is placed on the mattress instead of the flattened side.
This works best before 4 months old as after that baby will have the strength to move to his preferred side.
2. Alternating sides when handling baby
I made the mistake of always carrying baby on my right arm when feeding and this encourages him to turn to his right even more, making his left neck muscles more tense.
Carrying baby in alternate sides will prevent asymmetry neck muscles tightness and preferred head position.
For my left torticollis case, I need to cradle carry him on my left arm more to force him to look to his left. For upright carry, I need to carry him on my right shoulder so that his head will be force to look to his left.
3. Encourage more tummy time
Tummy time takes pressure off baby’s head and strengthen body and neck muscles.
Head is seldom at center position due to his left torticollisI place toys or stand on his left to encourage him to turn.
4. Do more stretching exercises
This website has very useful exercises which are similar to what was being taught by my physiotherapist. Do take note of whether your child has right (prefers to turn left due to stiff right neck) or left (prefers to turn right due to stiff left neck) torticollis.
Helping him to turn his head to the left
5. Buy mimos pillow
Some mums claimed that mimos pillow helped to correct the flat head. I would have given it a try if my LO was much younger. But sadly, only helmet therapy can help him now.
6. Immediately ask polyclinic for helmet therapy referral
Don’t wait. I should have asked the polyclinic doctor to refer during the 2nd month routine checkup and not listen to them that it is mild and do nothing. The referral process takes some time (1-2 months) and it is best to start helmet therapy early as the later the child starts, the longer the treatment period (some even need 2 helmets as it is so severe!) It is also almost impossible to alter the head shape after 1 year old.
Hope this sharing helps any mummies with flat head babies. I will write another post on the helmet therapy after we have started with it. All the best! 🙂
mamakeng.com 