A LITTLE boy with ‘flat head’ syndrome will have a special helmet fitted today in a bid to try and solve the problem.

Jacob Waywell, who is five months old, started to develop the condition, also known as plagiochephaly, around six weeks after he was born.

The syndrome, which affects one in 30 newborn babies, causes flat spots to develop when babies spend too much time with their soft heads resting in the same position.

If untreated it can create problems with vision, hearing, jaw displacement, speech and developmental delays.

Jacob’s parents Jonathan and Amber Waywell, of Cranberry Lane, Darwen, have paid £2,000 for the treatment, which will try and remould his head to the right shape.

Amber, 33, said: “There was no problem when Jacob was born, his head was fine.

“Now it goes to a diagonal point at the back of his head.

“He was sleeping on his back but always with his head to one side.

“It was like that was his comfortable position, so we left him like that not realising what it was doing to him, because nobody tells you about it.”

The family said doctors told them not to worry and that the issue would rectify itself.

Amber said: “It’s a common thing that mothers and fathers are fobbed off by the NHS. They don’t want to recognise it because it’s classed as a cosmetic issue.

“But as well as the physical side effects there is bullying in the playground, not being able to get a bike helmet, and some children who need glasses can’t get them to fit on their head.”

The parents now face a four-month wait to see if the treatment is successful and said that if it is they will apply to the NHS for retrospective funding.