Positional plagiocephaly is a very common condition which causes the flattening of a baby’s skull. Some reports suggest it affects around half of all babies under one year old.
Plagiocephaly, or flat head syndrome, is when a baby’s head is flatter on either the front, back or side. Continued pressure on a baby’s skull can cause the head shape to change at the skull plates are still relatively soft.
Until a baby is about one year old, the bones that make up their skull are mouldable and flexible, which means the head can change shape easily.
There are three main types of asymmetrical head shapes under the broad heading of positional plagiocephaly. Babies can have one or two different head shapes combined.
These are the most common types:
This is the most common form, making one side or spot on your baby’s head appear flat.
Signs to look out for:
Brachycephaly is when your baby’s head is wider and shorter than usual.
Symptoms include:
Scaphocephaly describes a head shape that is long and narrow. It can look like a rugby ball.
Signs to look out for:
This head shape can be similar to sagittal craniosynostosis, a rare yet serious condition that often requires surgery. If you’re worried, it’s always a good idea to check with a doctor.
Plagiocephaly happens because of outside pressure on part of the skull. It can occur when the baby is still developing in the womb, though it’s more common once the baby is born. Premature babies are more likely to develop flat heads, as their skulls are softer than full-term babies.
Common causes include:
The Back to Sleep campaign raises awareness about the importance of placing babies on their backs when sleeping to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), or cot death. Since its launch, the campaign has significantly lowered the number of these deaths. However, it’s also been linked to an increase in babies developing flat head spots.
For your baby’s safety, always place them on their back to sleep, even if they have plagiocephaly.
If your baby has a flat head, the first thing to try is repositioning. Until around four to five months old, repositioning and tummy time can help their head shape round out naturally.
Try to make sure your baby isn’t always resting on the same flat spot. Encourage them to turn their head in different directions when they’re lying down, and give them lots of tummy time when they’re awake.
If these techniques do not work, cranial remoulding therapy using a specially designed baby helmet is an effective treatment option.
Learn more about our plagiocephaly treatment.
Backed by clinical research, our cranial remoulding helmet offers excellent results and a pain-free, non-invasive solution to correct your baby’s head shape.
“From the very start, everyone at the London Orthotic Consultancy was professional and friendly. Every step of the way was well-explained and the fitting was quick. It only took Magnus one day to get used to the band, and after that, he wasn’t bothered by it at all. And, most importantly, it worked!”
Maria, Magnus’s mother – Plagiocephaly patient
We’re happy to answer any questions you might have, with no commitment to proceed with treatment.
