Flat Head Syndrome is a commonly used to refer to the condition when part of a baby’s head becomes flattened due to the effect of the weight of the head pressing against a flat surface or mattress causing the skull bones to deform.
The passage through the birth canal during childbirth can cause a newborn’s head to look pointy or too long. So it’s normal for a baby’s skull, to be a bit oddly shaped during the few days or weeks after birth. But if a baby develops a permanent flat spot, either on one side or the back of the head, it could be flat head syndrome.This problem does not harm brain development or cause any lasting appearance problems.
There are two types of flat head syndromes in babies:
1. Plagiocephaly
Plagiocephaly is a condition that causes a baby’s head to have a flat spot (flat head syndrome) or be misshapen. Its most common form is “positional plagiocephaly”, which happens when a baby’s head develops a flat area due to continued pressure on one side of their head. Positional plagiocephaly typically develops after birth when babies spend time in a position that puts pressure on one part of the skull.
For example because babies spend so much time lying on their back, they may develop a flat spot where their head presses against the mattress.
2. Brachycephaly
This refers to the condition where a baby’s head is disproportionately wide compared to its depth.To compensate for this , the front of the skull sometimes bulge out. It can happen when babies lie for long periods on their backs. Although brachycephaly is less common.
Causes Of Flat Head Syndrome
1. Craniosynostosis
Sometimes a flattened head can be caused by the bony plates of a baby’s skull joining together too early. This is called craniosynostosis. This can pull the baby’s head out of shape and if this happens it may need to be corrected with surgery.
2. Sleep position
This is the most common cause of flattened head. When infants sleep for so many hours on their backs, the head sometimes flattens in that spot that they are lying on.
3. Moulded skull from the womb
Sometimes while a baby is in the womb his head can be moulded. There may not be enough amniotic fluid to cushion the baby, which means his head can become temporarily deformed as he travels down the birth canal. Also a baby can have flattened head if pressure is placed on the baby’s skull by the mother’s pelvis, or as a result of multiple birth a baby’s head can be squashed inside the womb. Many babies from multiple births are born with heads that have some flat spots.
4. Less developed skull
Premature babies are more likely to have a flattened head because their skulls are less developed and softer than those of full-term babies. Also because of their medical needs and extreme fragility after birth which usually requires a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) they spend a lot of time on their backs without being moved or picked up, which increases their risk of having flattened head compared to full term babies.
5. Muscular problems
Babies sometimes have tight muscles in their neck, this may prevent them from turning their head in a particular way. Thereby causing them to always rest their head on the other side, flattening it.
Symptoms Of Flat Head Syndrome
- Flat area on back or one side of the head.
- Bulging on one side of the head.
- One ear more forward than the other.
- Unbalanced look to the face.
- head turned one way most of the time
- head tilted to one side most of the time
- flat spot on back or one side of the head
- bulging on one side of the head
- one ear more forward than the other
- asymmetry of the face
Prevention And Treatment
If your child has a flat head, early prevention and treatment is important. After a child reaches one year of age, then it will be too late to treat it. Mild flattening of the skull will normally correct itself by the end of the first year or possibly two. However, this can be helped by making moves to remove pressure on the affected area of the skull. These include:
- Alternate your baby’s head position each time they sleep. Changing the position of your baby’s head throughout the day so that the rounded side of his head is placed against the mattress. Young babies spend a lot of time asleep and if they are always lying on the same spot a flat spot will develop.
- If your baby appears to have discomfort or cries when they are repositioned, they may have a problem with their neck which you can discuss with your doctor or matron.
- Give your baby tummy time when they’re awake. This means that when your baby is awake minimize the time he spends on his back. This means cuddling them or carrying them in upright positions, using a baby carrier and giving them plenty of supervised tummy time.
- Mould your baby’s head. If you notice your baby has a flat head when he’s born, your mother, or mother in law can help you in moulding his head into shape.
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