06 Jul Have you noticed that baby has a flattened spot on the back of their head

Have you noticed that baby has a flattened spot on the back of their head
Bought a pillow for “flatten head shape” but it isn’t making a difference for baby’s head shape

Plagiocephaly is the medical term used to describe a flattened spot on an infant’s head. This can develop if a baby lies with their head in one position for long periods of time during the first weeks to months of life.
Plagiocephaly is a relatively common condition, with an estimated prevalence between 10-30%. Here at My Favourite Physio, our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists see many babies with Plagiocephaly from 4 weeks old onwards and we are able to help babies effectively correct their flattened head shape.

3 Facts about Plagiocephaly:
1. Plagiocephaly is often accompanied by a preference to look to one side. This is the result of a tight neck muscle that limits baby’s ability to turn their head from side to side. So unless the tight neck muscle is assessed and treated, parents will find that baby will constantly prefer to look to one side and cause their head shape to become flatter on that side. Helmets do not correct the underlying tight neck muscle.

2. Plagiocephaly is best treated through Paediatric Physiotherapy and not by using a pillow “designed for flatten head shape”. Studies have shown that Physiotherapy is the most effective method for treating Plagiocephaly while pillows have been shown to be a high risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It is against guidelines for prevention of SIDS to use a pillow for baby to sleep with.

3. Plagiocephaly is best treated when baby is under 6 months old to get the best outcomes. This is because after 6 months old, most babies would be sitting up and not wanting to spend much time on their back so to try and remould their head shape becomes more challenging. In our experience, babies get the best outcomes when treated at 4-6 weeks old.

If you are concerned about your baby’s head shape or if you have noticed that your baby tends to turn to only one side, ring My Favourite Physio on (02) 9790 4233 or DM us @myfavouritephysio to speak to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists today!