What is positional plagiocephaly?

Flat head syndrome means that a baby's head is flat in the back or on one side. It may be caused by how the baby was positioned in the uterus. It can also be affected by the birth process or by the baby's sleep position.

Doctors can diagnose flat head syndrome by looking at the shape of a baby's head.

It may be treated using physical therapy, especially if the flattening is caused by problems with the baby's neck muscles. In severe cases, your doctor may recommend a custom helmet to correct the shape of your baby's head.

When a baby has flat head syndrome, their head is flat in the back or on one side.

It's most often treated by physical therapy, changing your baby's head position, or both. Offering plenty of tummy time and cuddle time can help. So can limiting time in car seats and carriers. If the flattening is severe or other treatments haven't worked, your doctor may recommend a custom helmet.

To help prevent a flattened head:

• Provide plenty of tummy time while your baby is awake. This means letting your baby lie on their stomach while you watch closely. This helps your baby build strength and motor skills.
• Provide plenty of cuddle time by holding your baby in an upright position.
• Change the direction your baby lies in the crib each night. This encourages your baby to turn their head a different way to look at things.
• Change the location of your baby's crib in the room. This also encourages your baby to turn their head to look in a different direction.
• 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 they're riding in a car.
• Do not use infant head-shaping pillows. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that these could be unsafe for your baby.

Doctors can diagnose flat head syndrome by looking at the shape of a baby's head. The doctor will check to make sure that your baby doesn't have some other condition that affects the shape of the head.

There are ways to help your baby's head become rounder. Try moving the crib to a new place. You can also change the direction your baby lies in the crib. These help your baby look a different direction. Do not use head-shaping pillows. They can be unsafe for your baby.

The shape of a newborn's head may be affected by how the baby was positioned in the uterus. It can also be affected by the birth process or by the baby's sleep position.

Flat head syndrome has become more common since doctors began advising that babies sleep on their back to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Lots of time spent in cribs, car seats, carriers, or other seats may lead to a flattened head. Torticollis, or "wryneck," can also lead to a flattened head. It's a problem with your baby's neck muscles. It causes the head to turn to one side. If your baby has torticollis, your doctor may recommend neck exercises. These may help your baby turn their head.

Flat head syndrome means that a baby's head is flat in the back or on one side. Most often, it's from lying on the back or lying with the head to one side for long periods of time. Sometimes a baby's forehead, cheek, or ear may get pushed forward a bit on one side. The condition is also called positional plagiocephaly.

Flat head syndrome doesn't hurt your baby. And in most children it goes away on its own when the child can sit and stand. If some flattening remains, it's usually minor. Most of the time it's covered by hair as your child grows.