WHAT IS Plagiocephaly / Flat-Head Syndrome?

According to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne Plagiocephaly (Play-gee-o-kef-a-lee) is the most common craniofacial problem today, and literally means a misshapen or asymmetrical head shape. It is also known as deformational or positional Plagiocephaly. Plagiocephaly most commonly occurs when baby adopts a favoured head position, and as a result the sides or back of the skull become mis-shapen from constant pressure in that one spot. Plagiocephaly does not affect the functioning of the brain, but can severely affect the physical appearance of a child’s head.

While sleeping infants on their back has dramatically reduced the occurrence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the development of Plagiocephaly has become more common . Due to an increase in SIDS awareness, many infants now spent nearly 100 percent of their time on their backs.

Plagiocephaly can be prevented through:

• continued monitoring of baby’s head position while on back,
• lots of tummy time while baby is awake, which can help in the development of motor skills,
• and use of the Baby-Head-Rest which eliminates the pressure from the skull while baby is on their back, and gives baby the freedom to natural and comfortably move his or her head.

It is important to seek medical advice about any change in your baby’s head shape.

Reducing Plagiocephaly

In the first six weeks after birth, it is not uncommon for baby’s head to appear slightly out of shape from the pressures of birth. This usually resolves by 6 weeks of age. However, because an infant’s skull is soft and malleable, deformities in shape can occur if baby begins to favour certain head positions.

Wearing a specially-made helmet for 22 hours a day can mould the head back into a rounded shape and reverse the effects of Plagiocephaly. This can be a very uncomfortable experience for the baby and expensive. Alternatively, parents can take preventative action by using the Baby-Head-Rest during infant’s sleep in the first four months.

The following advice is recommended to help reduce Plagiocephaly in infants, in conjunction with the Baby-Head-Rest.

1. Sleep baby on back with the Baby-Head-Rest positioned under baby’s head for additional support. WARNING: do not use if baby can roll from front to back at the Baby-Head-Rest then becomes a suffocation hazard. ONLY for use between newborn and 4 months.
2. Alternate baby’s head position frequently, swapping from left to right.
3. As baby becomes more interested in the things around him, encourage baby to look in different directions by sleeping him at different ends of the cot or changing the position of things he likes to look at around the room.
4. While awake, carry or cuddle baby in an upright position, or use a sling.
5. Ensure that baby gets lots of supervised tummy time which is great for not only reducing the pressure on the skull but also aids in the development of neck muscles and motor skills. It might take a little while for baby to get used to, but persevere.
6. Use the Baby-Head-Rest to support baby’s head while sleeping in a cot, or for prolonged periods of time in on back in car seats and prams as well.
7. Alternate holding positions when feeding – hold in left arm for one feed, right arm for the other.

Plagiocephaly is largely preventable with greater education on the issue and by frequent monitoring of head shape with weight, length and other measurements in the first few months after birth.

It is important to seek medical advice about any change in your baby’s head shape.