Baby head misshapen
This is why it’s so important for parents to do something about plagiocephaly when they first notice it. But by a child’s first birthday, their head is almost completely formed, so a helmet can’t help correct your child’s head shape by this time. Helmets have an excellence chance of working until a baby is eight or nine months old. But if you don’t notice or treat flat head syndrome until your baby is about five-months old, he may need to wear a specially made helmet to coax or guide his head back into shape. Repositioning can make a real difference to a baby’s head shape. Repositioning is when parents encourage their baby to lie differently so a certain area on a baby’s head isn’t under constant pressure, which causes flatness. How Can You Help Prevent Flat Spots On the Back of Your Baby’s Head?: Treating Flat Head Syndrome With Repositioning You can encourage tummy time for your baby. Two types of conditions may cause misshapen heads: Positional plagiocephaly is a condition where specific parts of a baby’s head develop a flattened shape. You should also try to make sure your baby doesn’t spend too much time with her head against hard surfaces. a bulging or swollen spot on your babys head. Your pediatrician can determine whether your baby's head shape is caused by a positional skull deformity or an uncommon but more serious condition called craniosynostosis. When should I worry about my baby head shape Let your doctor know immediately if you notice anything unusual or different about your babys head shape, like: your babys head shape is still misshapen 2 weeks or more after birth. It’s also important to limit how much time your baby spends lying on her back during the day. A baby's head shape change usually is related to the position in which they spend the most time. Sometimes an asymmetrical baby head shape (flattening on one side of the head) is due to congenital torticollis, a normally mild condition characterized by limited neck mobility. When to Seek Treatment In rare cases, a malformed, asymmetrical skull might be a danger to a childs developing brain. But, be sure to place your baby’s head on the right side one night, on the left side the next night, and on the middle the next night.
We will recommend a treatment depending on the age of your baby.įor mild cases, you should place your baby on her back when she’s sleeping. However, for moderate or severe plagiocephaly, we recommend that either your baby wear a helmet, or that you reposition your baby (encourage your baby to lie in different positions). With a baby’s skull being so soft at a young age, the weight of the head can result in a misshapen head. Mild cases of plagiocephaly usually don’t need to be treated.