If your baby has a preference in having his or her head to a certain side, it becomes worrisome when we see that one side of the head is getting flat. They call this Flat Head Syndrome. I use to wonder what those helmets were for, especially when there were no bicycles in sight. For all I know, it could be a fashion statement (I live in L.A. “Hollywood”, you see it all). My first child always slept on the right side of her head, when she was a baby. My mother and I did everything in our power to have her look to the left. We placed towels under the pillow, we put toys to the left, and even positioned ourselves to the left, to have her look that way. Well, our hard work paid off! Luckily, we did not need a prescription for a custom made helmet.
My husband is a prime example of the Flat Head Syndrome. He laid flat on his head when he was a baby, so now as an adult, he has a flat head. My mom says that it’s a prime sign that he was a stubborn baby. My mother in law said that she tried everything to get him to sleep on the sides of his head, but nothing worked. He would always revert back to his comfortable middle position. So I guess he was a stubborn baby.
My second baby also likes to sleep on the right side of her head. We tried all our methods that we did with our first daughter. Her head looks fine for now, but I do worry that if we let her continue to sleep on her right side, she will end up with a lobsided head. Her pediatrician gave us recommendations, along with some neck stretching exercises with each feeding.
When we went to the ABC Kids Expo in September, we came across a great invention, the Infant Sleep Mat. It was developed by a Scientist and a Board Certified Pediatrician. The Infant Sleep Mat is the solution to those babies that sleep on one side of their head, otherwise known as Flat Head Syndrome. The mat has a gel insert for the head which lets the baby sleep on his or her desired side without getting any flatness.
Our baby has been using the Infant Sleep Mat for about a month. She loves to sleep on it because it is so comfortable (Made with Memory Foam). It has a slight gradual incline, which is good for reflux, and has two side to side adjustable pillows, to keep the baby in place for safety. The cover is machine washable (unvelcro the top and slip it off). The mat also has great portability, as you could travel with it as well. Because of its compact size, you could place it in a medium size luggage bag without any problem.
If you are a parent that worries that your child’s head will be lobsided, I highly suggest getting this mat. My husband only wishes they had this when he was a baby. At his age (thirties), there isn’t even the option of cosmetically fixing it. At least, I am not aware of any head implant surgery. It may be a procedure of the future. All in all, the Infant Sleep Mat gives me the peace of mind that my baby’s head will grow normally.
Price: $49.95
www.infantmat.com
(Disclosure: Product was provided free of charge for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the product. This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)
