Why do some Babies have Flat Heads?

Why do some babies have flat heads? What can a parent do to prevent a flat head in their baby?

An infant’s head is very moldable until approximately 18 months old. That means that the skull bones take on the shape of what gives it the most pressure. The bones are not soft, they are moldable, or influenced by pressure over a long period of time. Babies that spend a lot of time on their back can develop a flatness on the back of their head, or on the sides of their head if they spend a lot of time on one side instead of the other. Since babies spend a lot of time laying down and do not have very good control over their head, the point of maximal pressure on a baby’s head is most likely the back part of it.

The shape of the skull does not affect brain function or future intelligence. It is purely cosmetic. However, there is an infrequent medical condition called craniosynostosis that can cause a similar problem with the head. It is a result of an early fusion of the skull bones and will interfere with brain growth. If you are concerned with the shape of your baby’s head, please make an appointment with your pediatric office.

Things you can do to prevent a flat head that results from persistent pressure:

* change your baby’s sleep position so their head does not have pressure on the flat area
* do exercises with your baby on their stomach, showing them pictures of human faces, so they will lift up on their arms & lift their head (this also strengthens the arms & shoulders)
* hold your baby upright against your chest, keeping your baby’s head away from laying on your arm
* if all else fails and the flatness is severe, there are craniofacial clinics that will fit your baby with a helmet that puts pressure of the opposite sides of the flatness and not on the flatness itself. This is something that must be prescribed by your doctor.

In the long run, unless the flatness on your baby’s head is from craniosynostosis, the shape of your baby’s head will not be noticed or be a problem when they get older when their hair is completely in & covering the area.