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Many parents have questions about the size and shape of their baby's head. Your baby's head will continue to grow and develop over the next 2 years. The following information will give you helpful tips to improve the shape of your baby's head.
Why does my baby's head look different?
If your baby was premature, he/she may have a longer, narrower head and face than a full-term baby. Babies who have received intensive care sometime develop a flat or crooked head. This happens because the bones in your baby's head are still forming. It can also happen in babies who spend a lot of time in one position. Differences in head shape that happen because of positioning are called positional plagiocephaly. In most babies, their head shape improves over time with careful repositioning.
Is there anything I can do to improve head shape?
A crooked or flat head can often be improved with special attention.
- Always place your baby to sleep on his/her back. Sleeping on the back decreases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS, or crib death).
- When awake, put your baby on his/her tummy as often as you can. Tummy time is very important. It helps to make your baby's arms, shoulder, back, and neck muscles stronger.
How can I help my baby get more comfortable on his/her tummy?
If you place your baby on his/her tummy several times every day, he/she will quickly become used to this position. Choose times when your baby is awake, alert and happy.
- Place your baby on his or her tummy on a firm surface; a blanket on the floor works well.
- Place toys within reach to encourage your baby to focus, follow and begin to reach for objects
- Do not leave your baby alone on their tummy until he/she can roll easily both from front to back and back to front.
Other options for tummy time include:
- Placing your baby across your knees while you are sitting;
- Placing your baby on your chest when you are lying down;
What positions are best to use to avoid a flat head?
Newborn babies cannot keep their head on the center position easily. When you place your baby to sleep on his/her back, make sure that the baby's head does not always turn to the same side. Change your baby's head position several times a day. Sometimes the baby should like flat on the back of the head, sometimes the baby's head should lie to the right, and sometimes to the left. Other useful tips include:
- Do not leave your baby in a car seat, infant seat, or swing for extended periods or naps.
- When your baby is awake, use a blanket roll to help keep your baby's head in the position you want. Do not use these rolls when your baby is sleeping, as they might increase the risk of SIDS.
- Allow your baby to spend more time on his/her back and encourage the baby to look straight up.
My baby always turns or tilts his head in one direction - what can I do?
If a baby likes to keep their head turned to one side, or their head always tilts to one side, the neck muscles may be tight on one side. To help stretch the muscle, very gently turn your baby's head from side to side. Also, gently stretch your baby's neck by holding their shoulder in place while gently tilting their head to the other side. You can do these stretches when your baby is on their tummy or their back.
Notice that when your baby wakes up he/she will often turn his/her head to the side to look out of the crib and watch for someone to come through the door. you can also do things to encourage your baby to turn his head and to look at you. To encourage your baby's head to turn to both sides, place him/her in the crib in different directions each day.
- Alternate the direction you hold your baby to encourage turning both ways.
- Move your face or a bright colored toy from side to side to encourage side to side movement.
- Hold you baby in each arm for part of every feeding if you are bottle feeding. Breastfeeding babies have to turn their heads to each side as they nurse from both breasts.
- Routinely rotate your baby's infant seat so that his/her head doesn't always turn the same way to see you.
What can I do if I am still worried about my baby's head shape?
Although it is rare, some babies can have problems that cause or contribute to unusual head shapes. One problem occurs when the bones in the head fuse too early. This is called cranisynostosis. Another problem happens when the neck muscles are too short or stiff. If your baby's head shape remains a concern to you, consider the following:
- Ask a doctor, nurse practitioner, or nurse to evaluate your baby's head shape and movement of the head and neck.
- Ask if a visit with a specialist or if physical or occupational therapy would help your baby.
If repositioning and physical therapy do not improve your baby's head shape, further testing to determine the cause may be needed. Some infants with sever head shape problems benefit from helmet molding head therapy.
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