As he naturally pivots his eyes towards the light or any movement in the room, opposite sides of his head will get a break. If your baby's head shape doesn't respond to these adjustments, your pediatrician may recommend a special helmet to help your baby's skull develop more naturally. In very rare cases, your doctor may discuss surgery as an option to reshape a severely misshapen skull.
Babies' heads are very malleable, so anything that puts pressure on the skull can cause flat head syndrome. Twin and other multiples and babies who are large for their gestational age are especially likely to be born with plagiocephaly because of the extra pressure on them during their travel through the birth canal.
The most common causes of the condition include:. If your baby is born with a flat or misshapen skull, it's known as molding. This common condition usually resolves on its own within a few days, although your doctor will note it on your baby's medical record for follow-up. A few common reasons for a misshapen head at birth include:.
Flat head syndrome is often treatable at home by having baby spend as much time as possible off of his back. This includes:. Parents concerned about head shape should make sure their first priority is to prevent SIDS and other sleep disorders.
Back-sleeping may increase the risk of flat head syndrome but it reduces the risk of SIDS, so it's worth the trade-off. Flat head syndrome is most common between the ages of 6 weeks and 2 months old, and almost always resolve completely by age 2, particularly if parents and caregivers regularly work on varying baby's positions when he's awake.
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This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. Flat Head Syndrome Plagiocephaly in Babies. Medically Reviewed by Marvin Resmovits, M. These cases include deformities that have occurred in the womb, during birth, or after the baby is born. After noticing flat head syndrome in their baby, parents are advised to begin repositioning techniques straight away to increase the chances of self-correction.
Providing repositioning therapy is started early enough, mild flat head syndrome can usually be corrected before the bones in the skull harden and become less receptive to repositioning.
In a study published in April , repositioning alongside active physiotherapy achieved acceptable correction in There are, however, instances such as more severe deformities and older ages where repositioning techniques are unsuccessful. At this stage, we recommend making an appointment with a specialist clinician for an assessment and advice regarding further treatment. The head may be wider or taller than usual, and the tips of the ears may stick out.
Finally, positional scaphocephaly is a flattening of both sides of the head. This is quite common in babies who are in the NICU and spend time lying on their side. It can also be caused by the early fusion of the plates of the skull.
A few different situations can lead to flat head syndrome. Some babies, like Henry, have tight neck muscles on one side, which is called torticollis, and that can contribute to a flat spot. Torticollis can develop during pregnancy or delivery, or the muscles may tighten simply because your stubborn kiddo prefers to keep their head to the left or right. If your baby has a flat spot, your doctor will refer you to a physiotherapist, or you can schedule an assessment with a physio yourself.
Your doctor may also refer you to a neurosurgery clinic or craniofacial centre. It typically takes about two to four months to get a rounded, more symmetrical head shape through physiotherapy. Your physiotherapist will not only give you some activities to do with your baby, but also suggest some simple lifestyle changes to treat the flat spot.
Then use an app to make a little photo collage so you can notice changes from one week to the next, because it can be tough to see a difference when you see your baby all the time.
Yes, babies often have a white-hot hate for tummy time, but it really is crucial! She may work with parents and babies to achieve motor-skill milestones—like rolling over—a tiny bit earlier, again to encourage movement and muscle development. While these low-intervention approaches are usually enough to correct a mild flat spot, sometimes a doctor or physio will recommend an appointment with an orthotist to see if a custom-made cranial moulding helmet is required to help shape the skull.
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