Baby Flat Head Syndrome

Baby Flat Head Syndrome - Treatment & Prevention - Tips & Advice

Common Treatment Methods for Flat Head Syndromes

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Repositioning

Repositioning therapy involves changing your baby’s head position while they sleep, and may also include increased tummy time. In more severe cases, physical therapy may be recommended.

The repositioning method is most effective before your baby is 5 months old, and the younger you start and the more consistent you are, the better. Some children older than 5 months can benefit from repositioning, but this method is not recommended for children older than 1 year. The skull bones rapidly begin fusing together after this point, making the likelihood of repositioning’s success very low.

This method is most effective for mild to moderate cases of flat head syndrome, especially if torticollis is considered a factor.

Sleep Devices

A relatively new innovation in the treatment of cephalic deformities, specialized pillows and “cradles” are now available. The use of sleep devices is most effective in mild to moderate plagiocephaly. They are not as effective in the treatment of brachycephaly or scaphocephaly.

You can find more information and reviews of the most popular sleep devices here on our Baby Flat Head Syndrome blog.

Helmet Therapy and Banding

Helmet therapy and banding work by placing passive pressure on a baby’s skull to encourage a return to normal growth – the idea is simple. Pressure on the skull created the problem, so counter-pressure should be able to relieve it. The skull is given room to grow freely in areas unaffected by cranial deformation, and as a result, the therapy is very effective at re-creating normal head shape.

There are numerous types of cranial bands and helmets available including KidCap, StarBAND and DOC band. The difference in the therapies is minimal. Each device is tailored to the needs of the individual child, and the devices are adjusted frequently as your baby’s head grows. The average baby using this form of therapy requires 4.5 months of helmet or band use, although severe cases may require nearly a year of treatment and possibly more than one helmet, as the baby’s head may outgrow the helmet before therapy is complete. Babies using helmets or bands typically wear the devices for 21-23 hours per day. Consistency is key to successful treatment, so be sure to follow the guidelines of your therapist.

Before moving to helmet and band therapies, parents are encouraged to try repositioning in combination with physical therapy for at least two months.

Some parents also choose to ‘wait-it-out’ in cases of minor cephalic malformation. According to several recent studies, most minor or mild cephalies do resolve within the first few years of a child’s life. More severe cases may not.  Your doctor will be able to explain whether or not your child requires an active treatment plan.

When is Treatment for Flat Head Syndrome Most Effective?

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The effectiveness of treatment methods for plagiocephaly, brachycephaly and scaphocephaly vary based on the age of the baby and the severity of the deformity. The following information should give you an idea of the treatments available for your baby’s case.

Natural Treatment Methods (Tummy Time and Repositioning)

The use of natural treatment methods for cephalic disorders is recommended for babies who are younger than 6 months of age. Repositioning is most effective before 5-6 months of age, essentially before infants begin to move around a lot on their own. The best rule of thumb is, the earlier the better!

Once your baby can get around by scooting, sitting up, or rolling over independently, the most effective natural remedy will be tummy time.  Additionally, doctors recommend limiting the amount of time spends on their backs during the day. General treatment strategies encourage parents to promote daytime activities for infants that do not involve much time spent lying on their backs. By one year of age, natural treatment methods are generally ineffective, since most children are able to crawl or walk by this point.

In 2008, Xia et al conducted a review of existing studies comparing the effectiveness of repositioning therapy vs. cranial orthosis (helmet or band therapy). They reviewed over 3,000 cases and determined that the most effective treatment for positional cranial deformations is helmet or band use, regardless of age or indicators that might suggest a child is better suited for repositioning therapy. The authors did express caution that the number of studies available is small, and the need for further research is necessary as a result of flaws in some of the studies they examined.

Many insurance companies require that parents try repositioning and physical therapy before proceeding to helmet therapy.  The cost of helmeting without insurance support might be too high for many parents to proceed directly to helmeting, even if it would be the most effective treatment method for their child’s case.

Baby Helmet Therapy

A 2011 study on the outcome of cranial molding helmet therapy at various ages determined that the best outcomes were achieved when children began helmet therapy between the ages of 5 and 6 months. The authors of the study suggested that physical therapy alone should not be the first course of treatment in severe cases.

They advocated that helmet therapy in combination with physical therapy be used immediately in severe cases, since study participants with severe cranial deformations who began helmet therapy later did not manage to recover normal head shape. This does not mean that you cannot get good results from using a baby helmet if your infant is older than 6 months, especially if the case is not too severe.

Many parents whose children require helmet therapy are worried about long-term psychological effects. While it is possible that helmeted children recognize that they are somehow different, a 2008 study on the quality of life of children who had undergone helmet therapy discovered that 96% of patients and their families were satisfied with treatment results. Only two families had complaints regarding the treatment.

In one case, pressure spots and hair loss resulted from helmet use, and in another normal head shape was not regained. If you are worried about how your little one will handle helmet therapy if necessary, remember that there are many types of helmets and bands available, and several offer customizable patterns or colors that your child may like.  The key is not to treat your child as if they are any different from other children. Decorating your baby’s helmet also helps other people accept the helmet more easily, and may make the child feel more normal.

The First Comprehensive eBook about Flat Head Syndrome in Babies

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The first comprehensive eBook about flat head syndrome in babies is now available!  When my son was diagnosed with this condition, I found it was impossible to find all the latest information about plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, and torticollis in one place. If I had only had this kind of information when my son was first born, I would have been so much better off.  Since I couldn’t find a book like this, I decided to research and write one!  If your baby has a flat head, this book is for you.

The book contains the following information and much more:

  • What are the different types of flat head syndrome and related conditions – brachycephaly, plagiocephaly, scaphocephaly
  • How to lower your baby’s risk of SIDS
  • Tummy Time – why it’s important, how to do it, activities to make it fun
  • Repositioning techniques
  • Torticollis – what is it and how it is treated
  • Cranial helmets – how to know if your child needs one, reviews of different manufacturers, how to make the transition easier for your baby
  • Insurance companies and how to deal with them regarding coverage of cranial helmets

To purchase this book for just $37 $14.99, click here.

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Baby flat head syndrome product reviews.

Bonus # 3:  Product Review Guide – Product reviews for infant pillows, baby sleep positioners, and all the latest products on the market to help prevent baby flat head syndrome and encourage proper infant development.  Save your hard earned money!  Avoid purchasing products that don’t work!

 

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Repositioning Techniques to Help Flat Head Syndrome in Babies

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Repositioning Tricks to Help Flat Head Syndrome in BabiesRepositioning Techniques for Flat Head Syndrome in Babies

If you have noticed that your baby is developing a flat spot on his or her head, also known as flat head syndrome, you should know this is very common these days and you should not blame yourself or feel guilty.  Some children just seem to be particularly susceptible to this. The medical terms for this condition are plagiocephaly (unilateral flattening) and brachycephaly (bilateral flattening). Flat spots can normally be corrected as long as you take the appropriate measures.  It’s always best to start as early as possible, or as soon as you notice there is a problem.  This article will discuss the various repositioning strategies to prevent flat heads in babies that can help minimize this condition. Some of the strategies may seem a little difficult at first, but after you have persevered the first few times they will become easier.  The most important thing is to be consistent and start early to get the best results.  Repositioning is most effective during the first three to four months of age, and becomes less effective as the baby grows older.

The flattened part of the head occurs when some part of your baby’s head consistently comes into contact with a surface, which causes pressure in the same area.  Infant heads are soft and malleable.  This can be anything from the crib or cot mattress to a car seat or bouncer.  The longer the head is in contact with the surface, the more chance there is for the head to be flattened in that place as babies will generally prefer one side more than the other, particularly if they have another related condition such as torticollis.

Four Strategies for Repositioning

1. Take Advantage of Gravity

The principle behind this method is that the head will always grow in the direction where there is least resistance. This technique is used with your baby when you are laying them down to rest.  You will put them in a position on their side.  You want the area that has the flat spot to be nearest the mattress but not making contact with the mattress in any way. Gravity then encourages the head to grow in a downward direction and fill out the flat spot.  This can be a difficult to method to achieve, especially when they get a little older and start to move around more.  The gravity method can be slow to progress, and needs to be done in consultation with your health care practitioner so you do not increase your baby’s risk of SIDS.

2. No Pressure

This is a simple technique however it can be very difficult to do all of the time.  The idea is that you ensure there is no pressure on any part of the baby’s head at any time.  It is just about impossible to ensure your baby’s head does not touch a solid surface at any point during the day. To be effective, though, you should try to do this as many hours of the day as you are able.

There are many ways to do this. For example, you can carry your baby in a sling, or lay them on their tummy across your knees or on a baby mat and this will take the pressure off the head.  When your infant is old enough, you can use an infant seat or activity center.

It isn’t always possible to keep the pressure off the head, such as when your baby is in a car seat, which is why you can buy specially made devices that cushion your baby’s head around the neck area. This will help to hold the head away from the surface, allowing the head the freedom to start to re-shape itself. Obviously, the more you use these methods the quicker you will see results.

3. Reduced Pressure

This is a variation of the No Pressure technique. The idea is just to use as little pressure as possible on the flat area of the baby’s head.  It can be done any time a baby is resting, for example in a car seat or bouncer, or on the changing table during diaper changes.  You can use a specially made cushion such as the Boppy Noggin Nest, or you can make your own using a cut piece of memory foam.  Be sure not to use any pillows or cushions when your baby is sleeping unless it is done under the guidance of your medical professional.

4. Using Static Pressure

This is quite a difficult plan to implement but many people have had success with it so it is worth mentioning. This applies a very similar principle to wearing a helmet. The goal is to apply pressure to the part of the head that you do NOT want to grow, and relieve the pressure in the area that you want to grow, and therefore fill in the flat spot.  So if the flattened area is in the back right quadrant of the head, you would want the pressure to be in the back left quadrant. It is not going to be as effective as a helmet, because a helmet puts pressure equally all around the baby’s head in the areas where growth needs to be restricted, and static pressure can only put pressure on one other area at a time. However because it is a more active technique, it can be very effective. You must be sure to rotate points of contact so that you do not inadvertently cause flattening in another part of the baby’s head. One way to do this is when you are feeding, holding, or carrying your baby, using your arm to create the static pressure.  When you are playing with your baby, use toys to encourage the baby to look in the direction that will put the static pressure on the correct area.  Once again, please consult your health care practitioner for guidance.

Conclusion

The best approach is to use as many repositioning methods as you can, and use a combination of techniques. The earlier you can start these methods, and the more aggressive you are with ensure the flat spot of your baby’s head does not receive any additional pressure, the more successful you will be.  Please note that some babies will respond better to these methods than others. However many who have used these methods, particularly starting from an early age (under four months), have seen improvement. It is most important to be consistent.

Please share your experiences with repositioning by leaving a comment below. We would love to hear from you!

If you would like updates on the latest news about flat head syndrome, advice from experts, and stories from other parents, as well as our free book about how to do tummy time and make it fun for your baby, please enter your email below.  We promise not to make your information available to anyone else.

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