What is Plagiocephaly?
Plagiocephaly, often called “flat head syndrome,” is a very common condition in babies where a portion of their head becomes flat or misshapen. Because a newborn’s skull is soft and pliable, constant pressure on one part of the head—usually from lying in the same position—can cause it to flatten.
The Safe to Sleep Campaign in 1994 advocated for infants to sleep on their backs (which reduced SIDS by 94%) and with this a rise in flat heads as infants. Consequently, Paediatric Physiotherapists have seen an increase of plagiocephaly. But parents should take comfort in the fact that simple treatments have been proven to be most effective in an infant’s first six months!
What does plagiocephaly look like?
If you are querying whether your infant may have plagiocephaly, watch for these common indicators:
- Your infant has a flat spot on their head (either on one side, or the entire back of the head);
- Your infant mostly looks to one side;
- There might be hair loss over the spot;
- Your infant tilts their head to one side in sitting; and/or
- Your infant has difficulty breastfeeding on one side.
If any of these apply to your infant, you can mention this to your family doctor or simply self-refer to a Paediatric Physiotherapist. There also might be an associated condition called torticollis, when one side of the neck is tighter than the other.
What can I do at home in the meantime?
Since infants sleep so much in the first few months, and usually on their back, you want to counteract this position by getting lots of tummy time when they are not sleeping! Not only does this get infants off laying on the back of their heads but it also activates the muscles at the back of the skull which play a role in shaping it (thus reducing plagiocephaly). This can be simply playing on the floor, or placing your infant on your chest so they are looking up at you – this not only achieves tummy time but also initiates bonding with your infant!
You should also limit time on their backs in other pieces of equipment; swings, strollers, and car seats.
At home you can look at positioning – do they tend to look towards the door or towards a window? If so can you place them the opposite way in their crib or bassinet to encourage them to look the other way.
For more targeted strategies and treatments, make an appointment with your local Paediatric Physiotherapist!
How physiotherapy can help!
Physiotherapy can help to strengthen the muscles on the back of the skull and the neck to ensure proper alignment and promote a better head shape. They can assess for a condition called torticollis in which one side of the neck is tighter than the other, and can make appropriate referrals to other healthcare professionals if needed. A typical session with a Physiotherapist would include: education on how to position your infant for sleep and feeding, tummy time positions, as well as hands-on techniques by the therapist for strengthening, alignment, and motor skill development.
