Hello Made for Mums!
Read with interest your information on Flat Head Syndrome. I had my first born back in 2003 and faced this condition that I previously never heard of. When my daughter Joella was 4 months I became very worried about her flat head (back right of head was very flat). My GP adviced: "it will go away on its own and if not, let her hair grow long to cover it". I was shocked at this poor advice, and saught a second opinion from a Swedish paediatrician on my next trip back to Sweden ( I am Swedish but living in the UK). I was very surprised by what they recommended - to use a baby pillow as that is standard practice in Sweden. These baby pillows are used specifically to prevent and treat Plagiocephaly/ Flat Head Syndrome. Doubtfull at first and with the UK Dept of Health's guideline in the back of my head (advices against pillows for babies under 12 months) I bought a baby pillow and was surprised how comforting my daughter found it. She slept on it every night from then on and after around 3 months her head had grown back in a nice pea round shape (she was then 8 months old). The soft baby pillow had removed the pressure on her head from the flat surface underneath.
I was so impressed I researched the Swedish baby pillow treatment method, spoke to numerous Swedish doctors etc and decided to set up a website informing parents and doctors in the UK along with selling the Swedish type of baby pillow for flat head syndrome. That was all back in 2005. My website, Lilla Kuddis Baby Pillows is still running successfully and an ever increasing number of doctors, peadiatricians, health visitors, Osteopaths etc are now recommending my Swedish Lilla Kuddis baby pillows to their young patients following on from the good result they have seen in their other patients.
In 2006 I had another little girl, Maddie. She used her Lilla Kuddis baby pillow from her first night home and every night since. Hence she always had a beautifully round little head.
Many parents write to us thanking us for the Lilla Kuddis baby pillows and how pleased they are with the improvement of their baby's head.
In 2000 the Swedish Dept of Health changed their guideline in favour of bay pillows saying ALL newborn and babies should use a soft baby pillow to support their head when sleeping. Babies should always sleep on their back with both head and shoulders on the baby pillow.
Flat head syndrome affect nearly half of all babies under 1 year. It is a shame there is so little information in the UK about how to prevent and treat it. For moderate to medium flat head developements, a soft baby pillow along with repositioning and tummy time during daytime play (without the pillow) are an effective trio to prevent and treat flat head syndrome. Helmets is a good option for very severe cases. The vast majority of flat head syndrome cases are not severe.
Hope this information will be as useful to other worried parents as it was to me when I had my little girl.
Anna, mum of Joella & Maddie
www.lillakuddisbabypillows.co.uk
