Are there a LOT of babies with flat heads?

[Tiggernut_jadie]

It sounds very like paranoia to me! My DD has a very flat head at the back - I really hadn't noticed until we took her to the paediatrician when she was about 9 months old about her crossed over toes. Whilst there the paed. did a full medical and was expalining waht she was doing to a coiuple of student doctors - when she got o the head she measured it, pointed out the 'flat' heasd and then said - 'But of course she obviously gets this from her mother' Until that point I had no idea that I too was a 'flat-head' - it sure explains why I can never find a hat that suits me!!!!!!

Oh and BTW as I'm now 40 years old I was definatly a front sleeper as a child - I was also bottle fed, my mother worked full time when I was growing up, I climbed trees, went out all day unsupervised from the age of about 6 and my favourite meal as a child was suger sandwiches on white bread with real butter - guess what I'm happy, well adjusted and healthy - go figure!!!!

Seriously - my DD is 5 now - has recently been moved UP a year at school as she's so bright and has no problems! If the worst thing that can happen in her life is that she can't buy a decent hat then I'm happy!!!!!

 

[DawnCt1]

In her defense correct me if I am wrong, I don't think she is talking about leaving a baby in there once in awhile. I used to use ours at grocery stores and while I was eating out once in awhile if dd was sleeping. I think she is talking about babies that are in there all the time at home and out. To create a flat head and bald spots they have to be in there a whole lot. I personally hated the infant carseat it hurt my hands to carry it, but if dd was sleeping and I was out I would leave her in there. There was no need to wake her up she was the most demanding baby!

Also consider the amount of time that infants and babies are spending in day care centers. When I was working, most of the women returning to work did so within the first three months of birth, certainly by 4 months after they had exhausted their FMLA. Their lives are hectic to say the least. The babies are in car seats early in the morning, spend 10 hours a day at day care, return home in a car seat, eat, get played with, get put to bed. There is at least 10 hours in that day, regardless of how 'wonderful' that day care center is, that someone besides the mother is caring for that child. No one knows for sure how long those babies are held, how much tummy time they get, how long they spend in infant seats.

 

[jodifla]

Also consider the amount of time that infants and babies are spending in day care centers. When I was working, most of the women returning to work did so within the first three months of birth, certainly by 4 months after they had exhausted their FMLA. Their lives are hectic to say the least. The babies are in car seats early in the morning, spend 10 hours a day at day care, return home in a car seat, eat, get played with, get put to bed. There is at least 10 hours in that day, regardless of how 'wonderful' that day care center is, that someone besides the mother is caring for that child. No one knows for sure how long those babies are held, how much tummy time they get, how long they spend in infant seats.

But this is not the issue as I see it. At daycare or at home, infants sleep a lot of the time, so they are on their backs a lot of the time. Therefore, we're seeing a lot of flat-headed children, unlike in the past.

And Judy started the whole thing, first by declaring it was a "rant" and they making the sweeping statement that it happens to most children because they are not held enough. Then condemning parents who do not try to hold their children while they are trying to eat dinner.

Kind of a golden rule thing: Don't be judgmental, and people won't be judgmental of you.

 

[Judy from Boise]

How does "it makes me sad" (notice specific use of pro-noun "me") sound judgemental to you ? Is not labeling something a "rant" at the begining shorthand for "I am not completely rational about this" How is it threatening to you personally for my "heart to break" ? Sorry, I said i wasn't going to take the bait, so i shouldn't be responding ....but I don't know you from Adam, so how could my post be judging you ? You do not exist in my world!

 

[jodifla]

How does "it makes me sad" (notice specific use of pro-noun "me") sound judgemental to you ? Is not labeling something a "rant" at the begining shorthand for "I am not completely rational about this" How is it threatening to you personally for my "heart to break" ? Sorry, I said i wasn't going to take the bait, so i shouldn't be responding ....but I don't know you from Adam, so how could my post be judging you ? You do not exist in my world!

Certainly not implying you're judging me. But you are judging people that you encounter who happen to have their babies in a carrier while they eat instead of holding them.

And as far as the party example you gave, when my son was an infant and at a party and was sleeping, I certainly kept him in his carrier in a bedroom. Why would I drag him around an adult party if he wanted to sleep? When he woke up, then he joined the party.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Aiden was in this big hurry to get out up until the time the doctor decided to let him too. Then the saladtongs had to be pulled out! And can I tell you, that little boy is still as stubborn today!

DS decided he wanted to come out face up instead of face down (which I guess is the way the are SUPPOSED to come out). The ob kept reaching in there (OWIE!) and turning him over the right way, but as soon as she let go, he'd roll onto his side and try to come out that way. After about 20 minutes of this, my OB was like "Oh hell,screw it! Hand me the salad tongs!"


Beth--ITA. I have been criticized for holding DS too much,as well as not holding him enough when he was an infant. Go figure!

TOV

 

[katerkat]

My son had plagiocephaly and does have a bald spot, though it's finally growing over. He got plagiocephaly because he had torticollis, and as he did therapy to help his neck muscels, he no longer tilted to the side, which was causing the flat spot.

The bald spot is because he rolled everywhere for 2.5 months and wore out all the hair in a straight line across the back. Now that he's crawling, the hair is recovering.

 

[scubamouse]

OOhhhh a question that can start me on a rant! I think many babies have flat heads because they are never held! My heart breaks when i see babies practically living in their little plastic cages! My DH and i both get sad watching parents sit through an hour long dinner with their baby pacified with little foot nudges to the carrier to keep them from protesting. And i am talking big parties where there are many adults who could take turns holding the child.
I could go on and on (after all this is a rant). Needless to say i think babies can sleep on their backs if during waking hours they are in close contact with something other than a plastic body pacifier.

You rant that you believe most babies have flat heads because they're not held. You presume flat-headed babies only get that way b/c they don't get held. Where in your post do you concede there are exogenous factors for flat-headedness? Where do you provide a qualifier for other reasons for flat heads?

Please! This is not a thread on all possible causes of flat heads! Of course genetics play a role in everything. The OP wondered why/if there has been an increasing trend of flat heads.I stand my my opinion that yes there is an increase, and it is due to overuse (nonmalicious in most cases) of infant carriers!
I am afraid that I am not taking the bait to turn this into a personal fight.

If you had said that at the outset when YOU started the ugliness, you could have spared yourself a lot of people finding what you said offensive. However, you still are attributing most flat-headedness to infant carriers which is still going to anger a lot of the other parents here with flat heads..

Although I admit I am once again saddened by a small percentage of posters on the DIS who love to turn threads ugly

You want to stop 'ugliness'? Stop posting flame baiting rants!

 

[mickeyfan2]

But this is not the issue as I see it. At daycare or at home, infants sleep a lot of the time, so they are on their backs a lot of the time. Therefore, we're seeing a lot of flat-headed children, unlike in the past.

This is exactly what my niece's Dr. said.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I personally think doctors will change it back and forth and there is no right way of doing it.

My doc actually suggested side sleeping--and many years AFTER the start of the back to sleep campaign.