Have you ever noticed a flat spot formed at the back of your baby’s head even after using good head support? This common condition is seen in many babies in their early months, known as positional plagiocephaly. It is also known as flat head syndrome, the head of the baby gets flat or we can say there could be some structural asymmetry at some part of the head due to pressure. This condition is mostly seen when infant spend most of their time on their backs, and they may develop flat head syndrome.
Having a baby and taking care of is quite a task, with all the new factors that have to be taken into consideration. Many parents suffer from this issue as a lot of information is out there via, family members, friends, and relatives. What is right and needs to be done is confusing and overwhelming.
Dr. Madhavi Bharadwaj, MBBS, MD pediatrician, and an Allergist (CMC, Vellore), through her Instagram, has shared her opinion by making a video on positional plagiocephaly.
Dr. Madhavi has shared a video via her Insta handle, @bacchon_ki_doctor where she talks about, does infants need pillows. What is a flat head syndrome? She also explains proper sleeping alignment, what are the different methods to protect a baby's head, common myths due to flat heads and what are some effects due to positional plagiocephaly.
She also explains some tips to prevent positional asymmetry in infants like:
The infant sleeps for around 18 to 20 hours, so it's important to frequently change the baby's position.
Allow tummy time to the infant according to their comfort level.
Add skin-to-skin contact as it’s safe for the baby, and no pressure is developed.
If any positional plagiocephaly takes place then it is not something to worry about as the Child’s brain growth does not get affected. But yes, facial asymmetry may develop in some extreme cases or vision disturbance can be noticed.
Positional plagiocephaly is a very common condition that affects infants in the first 2 months of their lifetime 1 out of 5 infants may have this issue due to pressure created on the head. Early diagnosis and prevention are main key factor for positional plagiocephaly.
As Dr. Madhavi suggested "precaution is better than cure, and if a child has it, then treatment plans are available. Infants up to 3 months of age in deformation plagiocephaly can opt for early repositioning, monitored tummy time, or specially designed pillows as treatment of choice. In extreme cases, medical advice can be taken, like helmet therapy. The most crucial part is early detection and taking active steps to ensure your baby’s head shape develops that remains round and doesn’t get flat due to pressure. Being attentive, you can help your child grow safely and comfortably without any deformities.
SOME MORE TIPS ABOUT BABY CARE
References:
“Positional Plagiocephaly (Flat Head Syndrome).” Cleveland Clinic, August 16, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10691-plagiocephaly-flat-head-syndrome.
Evidence-based care of the child with deformational plagiocephaly, part II: Management - Journal of Pediatric Health Care. Accessed October 15, 2024. https://www.jpedhc.org/article/S0891-5245(11)00366-X/fulltext.
