Flat head syndrome or plagiocephaly, as it is medically termed, is a commonly noticed problem among most of the children. It occurs during the initial days of birth of the baby. It is a deformity of the skull that the neonates develop when they lie on their back for most time of the day. This deformity it gets cured with time. So, there is hardly anything to worry about. Majority of the cases get cured naturally as the baby grows. There are bleak chances that flat head syndrome can lead to fatal health hazards in the long run. But, it is also a fact that on having of flat head syndrome, the shape of the skull looks odd and gives birth to several myths. Not believing in these myths and getting enough scientific knowledge on the matter is the logical way to look at it.
How to recognize it?
Flat head syndrome is characterized by the appearance of a flat spot at the back of the skull of the baby. Sleeping on back exerts pressure on the particular spot of the soft skull of the tot. This shows up in the form of deformity in the later period. Many children are spotted with such a type of deformed skull right from their birth. In majority of the cases it is due to certain amount of pressure exerted on the skull during birth. Vaginal birth is the chief factor behind it. In most of the cases such a deformity in the skull is visible within six months of the delivery of the child. If you have a premature baby, the chances are more that you will notice flat head syndrome in your tot
When should you be concerned?
In most of the cases flat head syndrome gets resolved by the time the kid learns to sit. Since a sleeping baby exerts more pressure on its head, so when the pressure on the soft skull lessens by the time the tot learns to sit, the deformity automatically gets cured. Thus, it becomes invisible as the baby reaches six months of age. Moreover, the news of relief is that almost all the cases of flat head syndrome are harmless. But it is something to get worried about only when the deformity does not get cured even after six months and persists in the form of a deep flat spot. This is the situation that calls for the advice of the pediatric. However, there are certain forms of extreme head deformity that do not remain confined to a small spots only. It affects the whole of the skull or a considerable part of it. In such a situation, the head can stop growing. This gives way to Caniosynostosis, a medical condition when nervous disorder is witnessed in the kid. Such a situation must be handled by a skilled pediatric neurosurgeon.
Recommendations to prevent flat head syndrome
1. Changing the position of the baby during bedtime
Bedtime is the occasion that gives rise to flat head syndrome. As the kid sleeps in one direction for a prolonged period of time, chances of deformity grows maximum. A wise way to prevent it is by altering the sleeping position of the baby every night. This will exert equal pressure on the skull and arrest localized deformity.
2. Increased tummy time
This is a great way to hasten up the healing of flat head syndrome. Make your baby lie on his tummy for sometime. But ensure that you do not force your baby to sleep on tummy when he is asleep, or else it can bring about adverse effects. Lying on tummy increases the strength of the neck muscles. Consequently, the baby learns to change the position of the head when he falls asleep.
3. Helmet therapy
This is recommended for kids who suffer from severe deformity of the skull. A custom made medical helmet or a head gear is fitted onto the head of the tot for a maximum period of twenty three hours a day. The duration of the therapy can range from two weeks to six months as per the age of the baby and the seriousness of the condition. This helmet will prevent the rubbing of the skull against mattress and pillow and subsequently prevents skull deformity when the baby sleeps throughout the night.
