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Flat heads in babies: what is plagiocephaly?
Extremely malleable, the skull of babies can flatten on the side where it is most often supported. This plagiocephaly has no consequences on their health but the adoption of new habits is essential to allow their head to regain its pretty rounded shape. Without questioning the importance of sleeping on your back.
Definition of flat head
The first months, the fontanelles and the sutures, that is to say the junctions between the 29 bones that make up the baby’s cranial box, are free spaces. It is this mobility that allowed her head to deform when it entered the maternal pelvis, thus making childbirth possible. But this malleable side also has its downside. As his neck is naturally not very muscular, when baby is lying on his back, he easily tends to always sleep with his head turned to the right or to the left. From where a continuous pressure and a possible deformation generally appearing around 1 month – 1 month and a half. Doctors then speak of positional plagiocephaly, better known under the name of “flat head”.
Why does baby have a flat head?
Getting into the habit of putting babies to sleep on their backs has halved the number of sudden deaths. But this measure increased the number of positional plagiocephaly. As toddlers’ necks are naturally not very muscular, when they are lying on their backs, they easily tend to always sleep with their head turned to the right or to the left. From where a continuous pressure, always in the same place, on a very flexible cranial structure, and the possible appearance of a flattening. The risk is even higher for children with congenital torticollis.
In rare cases, plagiocephaly can also be explained by a multiple pregnancy and a lack of space in the uterus. Or a stay in intensive care or neonatology, long-term ventilation and / or the presence of a catheter sometimes limiting the mobility of premature babies.
Is it serious for the health of the baby?
Even very pronounced, positional plagiocephaly has no effect on the child’s cerebral development, it has no impact on his psychomotor capacities.
Avoiding a flat-headed baby: the right things to do
No question of calling into question the merits of sleeping on the back. The fear of seeing plagiocephaly taking hold does not in any way justify exposing infants to the risks associated with lying on their stomach or on their side. maximum support time on a single area of the skull by implementing these recommendations.
- Gently turn baby’s head when he is asleep. No need to invest in head cushion type accessories. Not only has their effectiveness not been evaluated, but above all they go against recommendations aimed at reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome;
- Encourage baby to vary the positions when he is awake: move his bed so that the light does not always come from the same side, install his awakening board sometimes to his left sometimes to his right, let him play on his stomach under surveillance …
- For bottle-fed babies, switch sides from meal to meal;
- Limit the time spent in the deckchair and the rigid-shell seat outside of transport times;
- Prefer the baby carrier to the stroller.
Treat the flat head problem
Help from the physiotherapist or osteopath
If the problem persists, physiotherapy and / or osteopathy sessions may be useful. This treatment is particularly indicated in cases of congenital torticollis limiting the baby’s movements.. Two to three sessions may be enough to allow his neck to regain better mobility.
The flat head helmet
In many countries, especially in the United States, it is common for babies with cranial asymmetry to wear a reshaping helmet. In France, very few pediatricians recommend these particularly expensive prostheses and have not proven their effectiveness. They are also not validated by the medical profession, nor for that matter the corrective bands.