Happy Melons
Specialist treatment for flat head syndrome
Melons (noun, slang): \ˈme-lənz\ - A humorous and informal term referring to a person's head.
Understanding Flat Head Syndrome in Babies
Flat Head Syndrome, medically known as deformational plagiocephaly, is a condition where a baby’s head develops a flattened area—typically on the back or side—due to prolonged pressure on one part of the skull. While often cosmetic, it can be closely linked to other developmental conditions like torticollis and infantile postural asymmetry.
Torticollis involves tightness or shortening of neck muscles, causing a baby to favour turning their head to one side. This persistent positioning can lead to or worsen flat head syndrome. Similarly, infantile postural asymmetry—where a baby shows uneven posture or movement patterns—can contribute to uneven pressure on the skull, reinforcing the cycle.
These conditions often coexist and influence one another. For example, a baby with torticollis may develop plagiocephaly due to limited head movement, while postural asymmetry may stem from or exacerbate both. Early recognition and gentle interventions like physical therapy, repositioning techniques, and supervised tummy time can help restore balance and promote healthy development.Flat head syndrome occurs when a baby’s head develops a flat spot, often due to pressure on one area.
We track and observe head shape
For parents concerned about flat head syndrome or deformational plagiocephaly in their infants, early monitoring and proactive measures are essential.
By observing head shape from birth and implementing early intervention, many cases of flat head syndrome can be effectively prevented.
Early Intervention for Infant Head Shape
Our Happy Melons Program offers a non-invasive, conservative approach to ensure that your baby’s head grows into its best shape. This program supports healthy growth patterns by assessing, tracking, and guiding corrective actions for flat head prevention and management.
Advanced Paediatric Osteopath (APO)
Our lead practitioner is the only osteopath in Hong Kong with advanced paediatric osteopathy qualifications from Australia, and an alumnus of London's renowned Osteopathic Centre for Children - the gold standard in education for infant and child osteopathic care.
Our Approach
The first six months are crucial for proper skull & spinal development, and starting intervention early - ideally from birth - can significantly reduce the risk of long-term deformation and associated issues.
What is the Happy Melons Program?
The goal of the Happy Melons program is to prevent flat head syndrome and reduce associated issues, such as potential difficulties with feeding, digestive comfort, postural asymmetry, and neck mobility. By detecting early signs of flattening and implementing corrective measures, we aim to support each child’s developmental journey.
Our program includes a series of key steps designed for optimal infant head shape monitoring.
We begin with a comprehensive intake interview, including a detailed pre- and postnatal history, to understand each baby’s unique needs.
From there, we create a personalised monitoring plan. Whenever possible, we encourage mothers to attend this consultation to ensure we gain a complete understanding of the birth experience.
Each session also includes milestone assessments to ensure overall physical and cognitive development is on track.
Non-invasive hands-on therapy are included to promote optimum cranium development, mobility, coordination, and musculoskeletal development.
What to Expect from the Happy Melons Program
Each month, your baby will undergo head shape monitoring, and parents will receive a customised report highlighting growth progress and any recommended actions.
Our programme is led by Benjamin Lai, Hong Kong’s only Advanced Paediatric Osteopath (APO), who is dedicated to helping your baby reach their full developmental potential through proactive monitoring, early intervention, and gentle therapeutic techniques.
Frequently Asked
Questions
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The Happy Melons Program is a proactive, conservative approach to monitoring and guiding your baby’s head shape development. This program focuses on early assessment, regular tracking, and gentle corrective measures to support natural head shape growth, ideally starting from birth to six months of age.
Flat head syndrome, or deformational plagiocephaly, occurs when a flat spot forms on an infant’s head due to prolonged pressure in one area. Early monitoring and intervention are important, as untreated cases can impact head shape, posture, feeding, and even mobility over time.
The first six months of life are critical for skull & spinal development. Starting the program early, ideally at birth, allows for proactive monitoring and intervention, significantly reducing the likelihood of developing Flat Head Syndrome and associated feeding issues, and developmental concerns.
