'Flat-head syndrome': Mum calls for support for baby's treatment

Nicola Abbey, 35, noticed her son Stanley's head was flat at the back on one side shortly before his eight-week checkup.

The Tilehurst mum she said she was worried the condition might result in her son being bullied or unable to wear bike helmets and glasses.

Ms Abbey said: “If I had a flat head and my mum had a chance to fix it, I would hope that she would get it fixed for me.

“I wouldn’t want him to be bullied over it.”

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Stanley has two conditions: plagiocephaly, when the the head is flattened on one side, causing the forehead and face to bulge a little on the flat side and the ears to misalign; and brachycephaly, when the back of the head becomes flattened, causing the head to widen.

Stanley playing with toys

In most cases the condition does not have any effect on the brain and the head shape will often improve by itself over time, according to the National Health Service.

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Nicola said she has tried everything she can, including holding Stanley for naps rather than having him lie flat and walking with him in a swing instead of in a buggy, but, now seven months old, Stanley’s condition doesn’t seem to have changed.

Stanley's condition plotted on a chart, according to a private assessment his family requested

“If your teeth were crooked you would wear braces to fix your teeth. The same with your head: if it’s changed shape or flattened and there’s a way you can fix it then why not.”

After a private assessment showed Stanley was in the ‘severe’ range of the condition, Nicola set up a fundraising page to buy a specially-designed helmet and several weeks of treatment to realign her son’s head.

The fundraising page continued: "His condition is in the severe spectrum and will not get better on its own. The only way I can help my little boy is to invest in a cranial helmet specially made to fit his head - it will need various appointments to re-adjust accordingly, sadly this is a very expensive treatment. 

"Without this treatment his head will remain flat at the back and ears to be misaligned and could have future difficulties in certain activities."

The mum descried that Stanley will have to wear the helmet for 23 hours a day for between six to seven months.

Adding: "Any help large or small will be greatly appreciated."

The fundraising page has so far raised £100 out of its £2,500 target.