Prevention of Plagiocephaly
The most common form of plagiocephaly is positional plagiocephaly. When a baby is placed on the mattress with its face up for a long time, it develops positional plagiocephaly due to continuous pressure on a particular area of the head. As babies are incapable of moving their heads in different directions, pressure on a single area leads to the development of a flat spot. Now the question is – How to prevent plagiocephaly in babies? Here is the answer.
Include a fair amount of “tummy time” when your baby is awake. Mothers should make their babies practice to be on their tummy because many babies do not like it. Starting their tummy time right away will help them develop a habit of spending time on their tummy.
Make your baby spend time in other positions like being upright or lying on its side. This will let your baby experience other positions and help discovering the world around it in a different way.
Changing your baby’s position throughout the day will also help in preventing plagiocephaly.
Do not place your baby on a car seat or baby swing for long, as this adds to the time of pressure exerted on the baby’s head.
You can spend more time carrying your baby on a sling throughout the day. Babywearing is a nice way of reducing the amount of time the baby spends on its back. This not only increases the total time you spend with your baby, it will also be a treat for your little one to enjoy your company!
Keep changing the direction of your baby’s head while sleeping. This will prevent the baby from keeping its head tilted in one direction for long.
Place a baby pillow underneath you baby’s head during sleeping. Such pillows distribute the pressure evenly and prevent babies from developing flat heads.
Feed your baby by placing it on both the sides alternatively. This will decrease the time spent in one position and reduce the chances a flat head.
Another form of plagiocephaly is craniosynostosis in which, the joints of the skull close early resulting in improper growth of brain. Surgical treatment is required to treat this birth defect. A baby with a flat spot on the head needs medical attention. Parents must immediately contact a pediatrician if they observe a flat spot developing on their baby’s head. Depending on severity of the condition, doctor will advise a treatment. Severe cases call for cranial orthotic therapy in which the baby is made to wear a plagiocephaly helmet for 23 hours a day for a period of 2-6 months to correct the shape of baby’s head. It is advisable, that parents start practicing the preventive measures for plagiocephaly so that the need for treatment does not arise at all.
List of Digestive Problems in Infants
Darrhea
It is very sad and very surprising, but approximately 450 babies in the United States die due to diarrhea each year. Diarrhea is thus, one of the major digestive problems in infants today. This can be caused due to a number of reasons. The most likely causes are change in diet, antibiotic uses and by certain infections. If the baby is still breast fed, a change in the mothers diet can also lead to diarrhea. Rehydration is said to be the best treatment for diarrhea in babies and can be done at home.
Constipation
Another common digestive problem in infants is Constipation. This digestive problem may develop again, due to change in diet, medication or even behavior. However, constipation can be diagnosed and treated at home easily. Constipation is a situation when the infant has hard bowel movements. High fiber foods and fruits work as good treatment for constipation. However, if your infant is hardly a fe years old or is also suffering from rectal bleeding, consult a doctor immediately.
Vomiting
Vomiting is yet another digestive problem in infants that is highly misunderstood. Most mothers mistake spitting up for vomiting, which is normal in most infants after a meal and in company of a burp. Vomiting in infants is a result of blockage of the stomach or intestinal blockage. In slightly older infants, the cause for vomiting is usually or mostly always an infection that is caused mostly by a virus. However, vomiting is not a serious issue if it happens once due to overeating or reasons alike. But if the intensity is high and happens frequently, it should be shown to a doctor.
Baby Colic
Baby Colic (intense crying of the infant for a said number of hours everyday) is still considered as one of the earliest known digestive problems in infants and said to be a result of abdominal pain. Though most doctors disagree to the fact and their reasons are quite believable too, this is still considered a digestive problem by many. Infants also are said to experience relief after massaging of the abdomen. This topic is still under debate and the doctor’s consultation is a must. The word ‘colic’ too, is derived from the Greek word for intestine.
Pain
Pain, I agree is a very general term. But there are many reasons that may cause these pains. The digestive system (including the intestines) of infants in some cases is underdeveloped. This causes many other problems apart from irregular bowel movements. Digesting certain ingredients becomes a problem like that of lactose intolerance. This may result in pain. Bladder infection and appendicitis are two other reasons that might lead to this pain but these are uncommon.
Now that you know all the digestive problems in infants, you can take proper care of your infant’s digestive health. Please note that this information is not a replacement of a visit to the doctor or his/her consultation. Infants are difficult to check for symptoms and hence, a majority of other digestive problems in children can be checked only by the doctor. Proper advice and suggestions can be given only after proper diagnosis. Infant digestive problems are common but can lead to serious issues if neglected. For this very reason, it is expected that you at least have a slight idea about them.
Plagiocephaly Helmet
The use of a plagiocephaly helmet is recommended by the doctor when the condition does not cure with time, and preventive measures plus other treatment options are also not working well. The helmet has to be worn for a specific period of time suggested by the doctor, and it starts with a small period of time and then proceeds to longer durations (even 23 hours a day). The helmet helps in reshaping the skull back to its normal position and also allows the skull to grow normally. The initial time of helmet use is a trouble for the kid and parents, as the child has to suddenly adjust to continuous use of this new hard thing on his head. The choice of helmets thus plays a crucial role, and one should opt for cute helmets so that the child is attracted to it. Take a look at the plagiocephaly helmet designs below.
Plagiocephaly Helmet Designs
There are lots of designs and patterns available to choose from. When choosing a plain helmet, one should go for bright colors such as pink, green and blue. You can decorate this helmet in your own way by making use of cartoon stickers over it. Or you can just paint the helmet with some attractive designs like that of stars, flowers and angels. These techniques would make the baby love the helmet, and make it seem like his / her friend. The goal is just to make the helmet friendly looking for the kid, and he / she should not cry wearing the helmet.
Plagiocephaly Helmet: Tips
Though the doctors would recommend the best helmet, and would instruct you with all the precautions, make sure certain precautions are followed from your side.
Make sure that the helmet is comfortable for the child, and that his ears and head are well adjusted.
Check the baby’s head skin for any rashes or blisters. If something wrong is noticed, consult the doctor immediately.
The constant use of a helmet leads to sweating, which irritates the baby. To maintain the freshness, shampoo your baby’s head daily and also clean the helmet on a regular basis.
It is best advised to treat plagiocephaly at the earliest, when the baby’s bones are soft and flexible, making it easy to get back to the proper shape. It becomes difficult to treat this problem as the child grows older, and the bones mature. The constant use of a helmet on the small baby’s head makes parents nervous and wonder why this happened to their baby. But this is a wrong attitude, the thing that should be kept in mind is that the helmet is for the baby’s well-being and is only for a specific duration of time.