I am Worried that My Baby’s Head is Flat

I am Worried that My Baby’s Head is Flat – What Should I do?

» Give your baby lots of supervised “tummy time”

» If your baby looks in one direction place toys on the opposite side to encourage turning of his/her head

» Vary the position for carrying and feeding your baby

» Change your baby’s position in the cot – sleep with head at different ends each time

» Carry your baby – a sling may be helpful

» Use a specifically designed head support to take the pressure off baby’s soft skull during extended periods of time on back e.g. in cot, car seat, pram, on play mat

In some cases, the misshaped heads do ‘correct’ themselves with time, as the babies start to move and rest in different positions. If you continue to see the flat spot after the baby is six weeks old, then we recommend you seek advice from a healthcare practitioner.

The healthcare practitioner will tell you if your baby requires treatment, and if so, what your options are. If your baby is diagnosed with Flat Head Syndrome, the basic options would include re-positional therapy, physical therapy, and a correctional helmet or band. These, of course, would depend on the severity of the case.

Always seek medical advice about any change in your baby’s head shape.

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Treatment and Prevention

Flat Head Syndrome currently affects 1 in 10 newborn babies in Australia to some degree. It is most common in premature or multiple births, but also affects many babies who spend time lying on their back or favor one side. As well as being a cosmetic problem, it has recently been linked to developmental delays in newborn babies according to a recent study by Dr Matthew Speltz, Clinical Psychologist at the Seattle Children’s Institute.

Does a Head Support Really Help in Preventing Flat Head Syndrome?

Whilst there is no randomised clinical trial that supports the fact that a flat head pillow can help prevent the occurrence of Flat Head Syndrome in a baby, there are an increasing number of people from the medical fraternity as well as parents and carers who vouch for the effectiveness of some of these pillows designed especially for babies less than 6 months old.