What is flat head syndrome

Flat head syndrome is a flattened head condition that develops in babies when they’re a few months old, usually as a result of them spending a lot of time lying on their back. This is especially true since doctors began recommending putting babies down to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Flat head syndrome is quite common, affecting around 1 in every 5 babies at some point.

Babies that are born early are more likely to get a flattened head. This is because their skulls are softer than in full-term babies.

Lots of time spent in a crib, in car seats, or in carriers or similar seats may lead to a flattened head. But you can do things to help keep your baby’s head from getting flat, such as giving plenty of “cuddle time” by holding your baby upright.

Torticollis , or “wryneck,” can also lead to a flattened head. It’s a problem with your baby’s neck muscles that causes the head to turn to one side. If your baby has torticollis, your doctor may recommend neck exercises to help your baby turn his or her head.

There are 2 main types of flat head syndrome:

1. Plagiocephaly – the head is flattened on 1 side, causing it to look asymmetrical; the ears may be misaligned and the head looks like a parallelogram when seen from above, and sometimes the forehead and face may bulge a little on the flat side
2. Brachycephaly – the back of the head becomes flattened, causing the head to widen, and occasionally the forehead bulges out

In most flat head syndrome cases they aren’t a major cause for concern, as they don’t have any effect on the brain and the head shape will often improve by itself over time.

Your baby won’t experience any pain or other symptoms, or any problems with their general development.

Figure 1. Baby skull anatomy

Footnote: The skull consists of five thin, curved, bony plates that are held together by fibrous material called sutures. These sutures allow a baby’s skull to expand with the growing brain. The sutures gradually harden to join the skull bones together. The spaces where sutures meet are called soft spots or fontanelles.

Figure 2. Flat head syndrome baby

Will my baby’s head shape return to normal?

Mild flattening of the head will usually improve if you use the simple measures described below, although it may be a couple of months before you start to notice an improvement.

Your baby’s head may not return to a completely perfect shape, but by the time they’re 1 or 2 years old any flattening will be barely noticeable.

More severe flat head syndrome cases will also get better over time, although some flattening will usually remain.

The appearance of your child’s head should improve as they become more mobile and their hair grows.

It’s very rare for a child to experience problems such as teasing when they reach school age.

You may consider using a helmet or headband if you’re worried about your child, but it’s not clear whether these always work.

You should also bear in mind the inconvenience, expense and possible discomfort for you and your child.

What causes flat head syndrome?

The skull is made up of plates of bone that strengthen and join together as a child gets older.

A young baby’s skull is still relatively soft and can change shape if there’s constant pressure on a particular part of their head.

Reasons why flat head syndrome may happen in babies include:

• Sleeping on their back – the back or side of a baby’s head can become flattened as a result of always sleeping on their back, but it’s important they do this to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Problems in the womb – pressure can be placed on a baby’s head before it’s born if they’re a bit squashed in the womb or there’s a lack of amniotic fluid to cushion them
• Being born prematurely – premature babies are more likely to develop a flattened head because their skull is softer when they’re born, and they may prefer to rest their head on 1 side at first as they’re not yet able to move their head themselves
• Neck muscle tightness – this can prevent a baby turning their head a particular way, meaning 1 side of their head is placed under more pressure

Occasionally, a flat head syndrome can be caused by the plates of the skull joining together too early. This is known as craniosynostosis.

How to prevent flat head syndrome

A baby’s head position needs to be varied during sleep and when they are awake to avoid them developing flat head syndrome.

These tips can help prevent a flat head syndrome:

• Provide plenty of tummy time while your baby is awake. This means letting your baby lie down on the stomach while you are watching closely. This also helps your baby build strength and motor skills.
• Provide plenty of cuddle time by holding your baby in an upright position.
• Head and cot position for sleep: A young baby will generally stay in the position they are placed for sleep, until they can move themselves. Alternate your baby’s head position when they sleep. Place your baby at alternate ends of the cot to sleep, or change the position of the cot in the room. Babies often like to look at fixed objects like windows or wall murals, so changing their cot position will encourage them to look at things that interest them from different angles.
• Change the direction your baby lies in the crib each night. For example, have your baby’s feet point one way in the crib one night and then switch the direction the next night. Alternate each night after that. This encourages your baby to turn his or her head a different way to look at people or things in the room.
• Change the location of the crib in your baby’s room. This also encourages your baby to turn his or her head in a different direction. Babies usually turn their heads away from the wall, toward the inside of a room.
• If your baby has a flattened head, encourage your baby to turn the rounded side of the head toward the mattress. Use the tips above, such as changing the crib location or the direction your baby lies in the crib.
• Avoid having your baby spend too much time in car seats, carriers, or similar seats. But always put your baby in a car seat when he or she is riding in a car.
• Play time: When your baby is awake and alert, play or interact with them facing you (face time) or place them lying down on their front (tummy time) or on their side from as early as one or two weeks of age. Place rattles or toys (or other people’s faces) that your baby likes to look at in different positions to encourage your baby to turn their head both ways. Even at two weeks of age your baby can follow your voice or eyes (maintain eye contact) and turn their head themselves each way if you support their head in your hands while they are awake and alert.
• Sleeping position: Your baby must always be placed on their back to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or Cot Death). Do not use pillows in the cot for positioning.

If your baby has a flattened head, there are things you can do to help your baby’s head become rounder. Encourage your baby to turn the rounded side of the head toward the mattress. Use the tips above, such as changing the crib location or the direction your baby lies in the crib. Other treatments may include exercises recommended by your doctor or a physiotherapist. If your baby’s head shape does not get better by around 6 months of age, be sure to let your doctor know.

If the flattened head is severe or other treatments haven’t worked, your doctor may recommend treatment such as a custom helmet. The helmet may help correct the shape of your baby’s head. Surgery usually isn’t recommended except in rare cases.

How you can reduce the risk of SIDS?

To help reduce the risk of SIDS, place your baby on his or her back to sleep. Even if your baby has a flattened head, don’t stop placing your baby on his or her back to sleep. Just offer plenty of tummy time and cuddle time, and change your baby’s head position.

Talk with your doctor about how to position your baby so that you don’t increase your baby’s risk of SIDS.

Flat head syndrome signs and symptoms

It is quite common for a newborn baby to have an unusually shaped head. This can be either related to their position in the uterus during pregnancy, or caused by molding (changing shape) during labor, including changes caused by instruments used during delivery. Depending on the cause of the unusual shape, most babies’ heads should go back to a normal shape within about six weeks after birth.

Sometimes a baby’s head does not return to a normal shape, or they may have developed a flattened spot at the back or side of their head. Sometimes a flat spot develops when a baby has limited neck movement and prefers resting their head in one particular position.

How is a flat head syndrome diagnosed?

Flat head syndrome is very common, and can typically be diagnosed with a thorough physical evaluation by a clinician who specializes in treating craniofacial differences. Because flat head syndrome can be confused with craniosynostosis, especially unilateral lambdoid synostosis and unicoronal synostosis, accurate diagnosis by an experienced team is extremely important to managing your child’s condition.

Craniofacial experts will be able to differentiate readily between these conditions. In rare cases, your child’s medical team may use a CT scan to confirm the diagnosis and further evaluate your child’s condition. It is important that cases of craniosynostosis be identified early, as these conditions often require surgical treatment, and if left untreated, may result in elevated intracranial pressure.

Flat head syndrome treatment

The shape of your baby’s head should improve naturally over time as their skull develops and they start moving their head, rolling around and crawling.

To take pressure off the flattened part of your baby’s head:

• give your baby time on their tummy during the day – encourage them to try new positions during play time, but make sure they always sleep on their back as this is safest for them
• switch your baby between a sloping chair, a sling and a flat surface – this ensures there isn’t constant pressure on 1 part of their head
• change the position of toys and mobiles in their cot – this will encourage your baby to turn their head on to the non-flattened side
• alternate the side you hold your baby when feeding and carrying
• reduce the time your baby spends lying on a firm flat surface, such as car seats and prams – try using a sling or front carrier when practical

If treatment is necessary, you may be referred to a specialist clinic where your baby will be treated by a team that may include a pediatrician, plastic surgeon, physiotherapist and orthotist.

If your baby has difficulty turning their head, physiotherapy may help loosen and strengthen their neck muscles. The most common treatment is provided by the physiotherapist who will encourage active movement, and teach parents how to position their baby and do exercises with them to help improve the head shape.

A very small number of babies with flat head syndrome (less than one in 10) have a severe and persistent deformity, and they may need to be treated with helmet therapy.

Corrective surgery may be needed if they have craniosynostosis.

Flat head syndrome helmets, headbands, pillows and mattresses

There are specially designed helmets and headbands that some people claim can help improve the shape of a baby’s skull as they grow.

These devices apply pressure to “bulging” parts of the skull and relieve pressure from other parts, potentially allowing growth in the flatter areas.

Treatment is started when the child’s skull is still soft, usually at around 5 or 6 months old, and the device is worn almost continuously (up to 23 hours a day) for several months.

But these helmets and headbands generally aren’t recommended because:

• there isn’t clear evidence to suggest they work
• they often cause problems such as skin irritation and rashes
• they’re expensive, typically costing around $2,000
• your baby will need to be checked every few weeks to monitor their head growth and make any necessary adjustments
• they may be uncomfortable and distressing for your baby

Some people try special curved mattresses that are designed to distribute the weight of a baby’s head over a larger area so less pressure is placed on a particular point of their skull.

These are cheaper than helmets and headbands, but there’s currently only limited evidence to suggest they may help.

Flat head syndrome helmet

A lightweight helmet is made by an orthotist using 3D images and fitted for your baby. The helmet helps to reshape the skull by taking pressure off the flat area and allowing the skull to grow into the space provided.

Helmet therapy is most effective if treatment starts between six and eight months of age and is completed before 12 months, as this is the time of rapid growth of the skull.

Wearing the helmet doesn’t hurt and babies usually get used to it very quickly. Parents can sometimes feel quite emotional when their baby first wears the helmet. It can be helpful to know this is a common feeling and to remember treatment is temporary and outcomes are normally very good.

When your baby first gets their helmet, it will usually be worn for a two-hours-on/two-hours-off cycle for the first two days. This will allow you to monitor your baby’s skin and give your baby time to get used to the helmet. Following a review around two days after fitting, your baby will start wearing the helmet 23 hours a day. The orthotist will then review your baby about every three weeks.

Caring for your baby during helmet therapy:

• There should be some space in the helmet for your baby’s ears. Make sure their ears sit comfortably in these spaces and the helmet is not twisted.
• When you take the helmet off, check your baby’s skin to make sure there is no rubbing, blisters or broken skin. Mild redness over the high spots of the head is normal.
• You can put sorbolene cream on dry skin or mild rashes. You can buy sorbolene from a chemist or larger supermarkets. If the dry skin or rash does not get better, call your baby’s orthotist.
• Rather than taking the helmet off during hot weather, it is better to dress your baby in light clothing to keep them cool.
• Your baby’s head will become sweaty under the helmet. You should wash their hair daily and clean the inside of the helmet with a soft nailbrush or face washer and warm, soapy water. Rinse the helmet well and towel dry.