Does your child have a flat head? Listed below are some explanation why Flat Head Syndrome occurs and when to know your child must see an expert! Kate’s youngsters Finn and Roey had Flat Head Syndrome and Finn was in a helmet for two months. Maintain studying to be taught extra.

What’s Flat Head Syndrome?

“Flat head syndrome” is a situation in infants that impacts the traditional form of their cranium. This may be flattening on one facet (plagiocephaly), a narrowing and elongating of the cranium (scaphocephaly), or flattening of the again of the pinnacle (brachycephaly).

*photograph from www.cranialtech.com

What are the indicators and signs of flat head syndrome?

Child’s head is misshapen as proven within the photograph above
Child could have much less hair within the flattened space
Asymmetrical facial options
Thickening of the neck muscle mass on one facet

The cranium bones in infants are delicate and malleable – which is essential for childbirth and passage by means of the delivery canal. Continued strain on the cranium bones trigger the cranium bones to tackle the form of the strain, inflicting the bones to flatten.

Protected To Sleep Marketing campaign:

After infants are born, they’re positioned on their backs for a lot of the day to sleep (see the Protected to Sleep marketing campaign), which places strain on the cranium bones and causes flattening. Even when your child has a flat cranium, you must nonetheless place them on their again to sleep, as that is the most secure place for child to forestall SIDS (Sudden Toddler Loss of life Syndrome).

Flat heads could be mounted and it’s not value a sleep accident or unintended demise, and potential SIDS. We are able to repair flat heads, we can’t repair sleep accidents!

Torticollis (turning head to 1 facet):

Torticollis is a situation through which child prefers to show their head to 1 facet. This may be from positioning within the womb (it’s widespread in bigger infants) and causes neck muscle mass on one facet to change into tightened.

Typically, infants can also have a chin tilt choice together with the facet choice. This may additionally occur in births of multiples. Turning the pinnacle to 1 facet is usually widespread in youngsters with reflux. You possibly can be taught extra about torticollis right here.

*photograph from www.correctivechiropractic.com

Prematurity

Infants who’re born prematurely have an elevated incidence with Flat Head Syndrome, particularly scaphocephaly. Sometimes these infants spend a number of time within the Neonatal ICU (NICU) and develop this head form from mandatory positioning.

Craniosynostosis

In uncommon circumstances, a situation referred to as craniosynostosis could cause plagiocephaly. It is a situation the place the cranium bones are fused at delivery. Sometimes, surgical procedure is required on this uncommon case.

Are there issues I can do to forestall Flat Head Syndrome?

For essentially the most half, flatness is seen within the first 6 weeks of life, particularly with infants who’ve plagiocephaly. Since more often than not this is because of in-utero positioning, there isn’t a lot we are able to do to forestall it.

Infants additionally spend nearly all of their day on their backs sleeping, which is most secure for them, which additionally contributes to the flatness. Flat Head Syndrome isn’t your fault!

Head positioning gadgets are NOT SAFE, particularly for sleep and shouldn’t be used.

There are some methods you possibly can encourage your child to show their head to the opposite facet throughout awake and supervised time:

Tummy time
- Child will nonetheless want to show their head the identical method, attempt to encourage them with sounds and toys the wrong way
Encourage child to show their head the alternative method throughout awake time
- Place toys and rattles in place to encourage them to show to the alternative facet
- Sit on the alternative facet that child prefers to show their head. Sing to them, learn a e book and encourage them to show their head the opposite method
- Place toys on the alternative facet of automobile seat
Aspect mendacity time
- Inserting child on their facet to alleviate strain on the flattened space
Naps in a child wrap a few times a day to offset strain
Avoiding pointless time in a automobile seat or different child containers
Gently reposition your child’s head whereas sleeping if potential

When ought to I contact a supplier with considerations relating to Flat Head Syndrome?

In the event you discover a flattening or that child is preferring to show their head to 1 facet, you must discuss together with your supplier at a well-check go to.

It might even be a good suggestion to get a second opinion from a pediatric bodily therapist and a cranial orthotics firm who specializes on this space and cranial helmets. The sooner you possibly can deal with, the much less time child will spend in a helmet. A well-known Cranial Applied sciences, who use the DocBand.

Bodily Remedy

It’s at all times a good suggestion to get a referral to a bodily therapist to have a second opinion on the severity of the flatness. PTs can work with you and your baby as early as a couple of weeks previous. That is particularly essential for infants with torticollis and may also help reverse a number of the flatness and forestall additional intervention.