skip to navigation
Pampers® Village a place to grow
  • Home
  • Pregnant
  • New Baby
  • Baby
  • Toddler
  • Pre-school

Development

Expert Q&A:
My baby's head has flattened because he always sleeps on his back. What do we do about this?

0   people commented
on this article
 
0
 
0
Suzanne Dixon
Answered by Suzanne Dixon M.D., M.P.H.
Meet our authors
"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R. Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals. Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women''s health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists.
Read bio Hide bio Hide

Question


We've put my baby to sleep on his back every night since the day we brought him home from the hospital. He likes to sleep on his back now and will not be placed on his side or on his stomach to sleep (I have also tried wedging him on his side, but this does not work). As a result of this, his head has flattened in the rear. Can you please tell me what to do about this and how it will affect the shape of his head as he grows older?

Answer


The bones of the head stay movable throughout infancy, so your son's head shape will continue to change for a while yet. He will eventually roll around in his sleep on his own and the flattening of his head will lessen with time. Be sure he gets lots of tummy time while he is awake and playing. His arm and shoulder strength will increase, he'll see the world from a different perspective, and he'll be encouraged to go after the interesting things that he sees. Carry him with you in a front pack if he is under 4 months, or in a backpack if older. His head will get more even pressure while he's awake and being next to you will reduce his risk of SIDS. The kids with flattened skulls who I worry about are the ones left all day in their cribs, waking and sleeping, without the chance to experience the world from a lot of different vantage points.
ADVERTISEMENT
 
 
0
Member comments

You might also like

Dora® and Diego designs are great for boys and girls

Find out about: Pampers Splashers® Swim Pants for Boys and Girls
Pampers Splashers® Swim Pants for Boys and Girls