flathead in babies

by Alanna Peters

A complimentary Tortle beanie was provided to me for review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Are you familiar with Plagiocephaly and Torticollis? They are also known as Flat Head Syndrome. I was surprised to learn that more than a million babies are diagnosed with this condition each year, and that is in the U.S. alone! Plagiocephaly is the flattening of a baby’s skull and Torticollis is a condition when a baby has unbalanced neck muscles. I have noticed more and more babies wearing corrective helmets lately, and now I am beginning to understand why. Every baby is at risk of developing Flat Head Syndrome due to their lack of movement. While lying on the back is the safest position for a baby, it can also lead to flattening of the head. Tummy time is a great way to reposition baby’s head but if your baby is like mine, lying on the stomach is not always the most pleasant position for more than a few minutes at a time!

Thanks to Tortle, there is now another great way to prevent Flat Head Syndrome. The Tortle is an FDA cleared knit beanie that gently positions baby’s head to one side or the other while lying down or sitting. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all babies under 6 months have their heads frequently repositioned, and the Tortle is a great way to do so. Simply place the Tortle beanie on baby’s head with the support roll behind his or her ear. After each feeding, rotate the roll to the other side of the head. You can find out more about the Tortle in this video.

I’m excited to tell you that the Tortle is now available for purchase at Babies R Us and BuyBuy BABY Stores, and online at Target.com. Target.com will carry three Tortle designs; Blue Elephant, Pink Flowers and Solid White. The Tortle beanies are available in medium and large sizes at a suggested retail price of $19.99. Through this new, easy availability, Tortle will have an opportunity to further increase awareness of Flat Head Syndrome and the ease in which it can be prevented or treated!

I gave the Tortle a try and it’s quite easy to use. I did feel like it was a little tight to put on even though my newborn’s head is tiny. I had a hard time getting it all the way down over her ears. I don’t think it was really much harder to put on than a normal beanie though. One downside I found is that the Tortle is not for use overnight. I wear my baby so often that overnight is really the only time she’s lying down! I’m sure that will change as she gets a bit older though. The biggest challenge for me is simply remembering to put it on. (Hello, Mommy Brain!) I definitely feel like it’s worth using though – I’d SO much rather prevent Flat Head Syndrome than treat it!

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My Giveaway: The Tortle!

More than a million babies each year are diagnosed with Flathead Syndrome in the USA. Nearly 48% of all babies 0-6 months old are affected by this condition. Tortle is a comfortable lightweight baby beanie that helps prevent and treat this condition, and that makes it a must have for new babies.

Flat head is not merely a cosmetic condition, but it can also cause varying degrees of developmental delays later in life. Additionally, Tortle helps provent a condition called torticollis, which is when an infant’s neck muscles become tight on one side, causing a neck tilt.

By switching the Tortle from side to side with each feeding, parents alleviate flat spots and neck tightness that newborns often develop, as the Tortle helps keep young infants from lying too long on the same parts of the head. This solution is affordable and stress free. Check out this video that features real moms sharing their experience with the product!

The Tortle is currently on sale for $19.99 at retailers such as Amazon.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Tortle!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

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Disclosure I did not receive any products for review purposes, nor was I paid to participate in this event.

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Preventing Flat Head Syndrome with The Tortle!

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