Your baby might have plagiocephaly (sometimes known as flat head) if the side or back of their head appears flat.
This happens because your baby’s head is soft and they may be spending a lot of time lying on their back with their head turned to one side.
Any head flattening should improve by itself as your baby gets older and the bones in their head gradually fuse together. This can happen up to age 5.
Some flattening is normal
Some flattening is a normal part of head shape and will be largely disguised by hair. Your baby’s flattened head will not cause pressure on their brain or developmental problems.
If your baby has a mild case of plagiocephaly, they do not need to see a physiotherapist. The condition will usually improve if you follow the advice on this page.
Only babies with serious cases of plagiocephaly are referred to a physiotherapist. They can teach you neck stretches that may help loosen and strengthen your baby's neck muscles.
Causes of flat head
Your baby’s head is more likely to flatten if your baby:
- spends a lot of time asleep and in the same position
- has tight neck muscles
- spends a lot of time in a car seat - this makes it hard for them to move freely
- was born premature - this means their skull will be softer
How to prevent your baby’s head from flattening
You can help prevent your baby's head from flattening by:
- encouraging your baby to play on their tummy every day
- changing the direction their head is turned each night when they are asleep
Always place your baby on their back to sleep as this reduces the risk of cot death.
Safe sleeping positions to reduce the risk of cot death
How to help correct your baby's head shape
You can help your baby’s head to reshape correctly by encouraging them to do different actions.
For example, if their head is flattened on the right, you can encourage them to spend more time looking to the left by putting a toy on that side.
Do
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turn your baby’s head slightly while they are asleep
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turn your baby’s cot around - they will look to the other direction to see you
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help your baby to prop themselves up by putting their elbows under their shoulders and using a rolled-up towel
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change the side of the head your baby lies on each time you put them down to sleep
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change the side you hold your baby when feeding and carrying
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reduce the time your baby spends in car seats and prams - try using a baby carrier or sling
How long head flattening takes to improve
The condition will usually improve if you follow the advice on this page.
It may take a couple of months before you start to see an improvement. A flat head should not be noticeable by the time your baby is age 2 years. But if your baby had very flat spots, you may still notice some flattening past age 2 years.
There is no evidence to suggest that special headbands or helmets are helpful. These can often be expensive and uncomfortable for your baby to wear
Find out more
Watch a video to find out more about plagiocephaly with Sheila Kiely, Physiotherapy Manager in Sligo University Hospital.
