Did you know that twins are more likely to have positional plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) than singletons? So, it is very possible that one or both of your babies may have a flat head or a flat spot in back.
Makes sense, right? They have less room to move and often get stuck in one position during the later months of gestation.
But, it's not just twins who require physical therapy due to positional plagiocephaly and torticollis.
For a lot of families, torticollis and flat head syndrome lead to helmet wear. About 50% of babies are now dealing with some type of skull asymetry.
Insert cute photo of a baby in a helmet 😊
And without treatment, such as physical therapy, a flat head can affect the symmetry of gross motor skills adversely affecting things like vision and balance.
How we avoided our baby getting a helmet
For us, we were able to skip the helmet, and that was only because we were already seeing a specialist for club foot. The physician diagnosed it very early. As first time parents, we didn’t realize that our daughter would constantly lie with her head looking to the right. A common indicator that torticollis (tight tendon) is present. Looking back, it should have been very obvious, but it wasn't. My best advice is to seek physical therapy as soon as possible and don't let your pediatrician say it's 'okay to wait until the 6 month appointment'. By then it will be too late!
The chances of correction without helmet drop drastically after 4 months old (if treatment hasn't already begun). I recommend to follow Baby Begin on social media. They will be realistic with you about what can be done to avoid a helmet at your baby's particular age & state of plagiocephaly.
Why does your baby have a flat head?
Positional restriction within the womb (higher rates with multiples)
Tight tendons in one side of the neck (torticollis)
Baby is spending too much time on back or in a container. More tummy time please!
Males are more likely to have a flat head than females.
First born
This picture above shows hows the therapist is stretching out the tendon to exercise it/loosen it to allow her head to move more freely from side to side. This reduces the amount of time spent in one single position.
This picture below was taken shortly after our twins were born. You can clearly see the positional discrepancy and torticollis that was present in our Twin A.. We had no idea at the time, though.
If I would have know about organizations like Baby Begin, we likely would have reached out to them as soon as she was born :)
Many times torticollis goes unnoticed until around 6 months, just in time for that lovely flat spot to become concerning. The good news, is you can act on it earlier than 6 months. If you notice a flat spot sooner or that your baby favors one side, pressure your pediatrician for a physical therapy referral.
I see many parents so fearful of helmets, because they believe it will disrupt their child’s sleep...which I 100% relate too as we went through months and now years of therapy, bracing and castings for uni-lateral club foot/talipes. Sleep seems so fleeting as parents, and we grasp really hard to keep a hold on it. Something as big as a helmet would seem pretty daunting when it comes to the sleep/comfort of your baby.
I’m here to tell you that you CAN have a good sleeper even when these types of therapies and devices are required for your child.
Babies may be hotter than usual when sleeping in a helmet As a sleep consultant, I recommend the following as far as sleep environment for baby.
Cool room, 66-70 degrees
Dark, dark room. Use this window blackout option with code tweetdreamzz!
ABC's of sleep- Alone, Back, Crib
Cotton Sleep sack
White noise/Pink noise/Brown noise
Tips to handle your baby's sleep while wearing a helmet.
Can you sleep train while wearing a helmet? You bet you can! 🙌🏼
Healthy sleep habits and routines can start as early as newborn which helps make these BIG changes less disruptive. Download my guide to a better bedtime with your baby here.
This is a step by step sleep guide to optimal sleep routines to foster independent sleep with or without a helmet.
Additional tips to help your baby sleep while wearing a helmet
Practice a bedtime routine every night.
Make sure your baby is getting adequate sleep during the day to ensure they aren't overtired at bedtime.
Practice putting baby down wide awake at bedtime. Drowsiness won't be helpful after newborn phase.
-
Lindsay is a sleep expert and mama to twin girls. Lindsay is a certified pediatric sleep consultant who has coached hundreds of families including 100+ sets of twins & countless singletons. She has worked with families all over to feel confident and comfortable within their sleep routines.
Join her online community here.
Comments