Written by Ajanta Biswas
A baby’s head shape often becomes a source of concern for mothers, especially first-time moms. As the skull bones of the baby are soft and flexible during infancy, they tend to change shapes in response to any outward pressure. Thus, if your baby likes to sleep on the left side the head can get slightly flattened on that side. The same can be seen in the other direction or at the back of the head. This can look a bit odd, but you need to know that there is nothing you should worry about.
Our skull is made up of 22 skull bones which remain unattached or loosely attached for the first 2 years. This makes the skull flexible during vaginal delivery and helps the brain to grow properly. After that, gradually the skull bones fuse. So, if you have a vaginal delivery then there are chances that your baby’s head occurs a bit misshapen. This is completely okay, and the shape will get back to normal in a few weeks without any issues. Let’s know more about a baby’s head shape change, its causes and remedies if any.
In This Article
There can be multiple reasons behind the changes in the baby’s head shape. These are.
The bones of the baby’s skull go through a lot of pressure during labor. Vaginal birth can cause changes in your baby’s head in different ways
[Read : Cone Shaped Head In Newborn Babies]
Doctors advise laying your baby on the back while sleeping before they start crawling. But constantly laying on the back will make a flat spot on the back of the baby’s head. This condition is known as Positional Plagiocephaly. Other reasons behind flat spots in babies can include
There is a condition named craniosynostosis in which the skull bones fuse together before time (before 2 years). In this case, the brain does not get enough space to grow further. As a result, various problems can occur including
In the case of craniosynostosis, the head can change into a triangular or flattened or narrow long shape.
This is a birth condition where the baby is born with a neck that is oddly positioned. Most babies born with this condition will have the problem more often on the right side of the neck than on the left side. The causes vary from an abnormal positioning when in the mother’s womb to injuries before birth.
In cases of severe torticollis, the infant may suffer from flattening on one side of the head due to the fact that the baby’s head is constantly positioned to one side and the baby finds it difficult to change the position of the head as a normal baby would.
Pediatricians usually are able to diagnose this condition and provide therapy and exercises to overcome the condition. In severe cases, surgery may be needed.
A misshapen head can easily go back to a normal round shape in one to two weeks with the only exception being birth defects. In most cases, you don’t have to do much to shape your baby’s head. It will automatically go back to normal.
During the routine check-up, your baby’s pediatrician will check the shape of the head and will let you know if there is any problem.
Otherwise, if you find anything unusual about your baby’s head shape then talk to your doctor.
You should be concerned when:
Generally, there is no treatment needed to shape your baby’s head. But you can take a few precautionary steps like:
A change in the baby’s head shape during the first few months is very much common and normal. Don’t worry about it. Try to avoid putting all pressure on one side of the head. Try different sleeping positions for the baby and encourage the baby to move its head. These will cure the misshapen head naturally. Visit your pediatrician regularly to get information about your baby’s proper growth and development and ensure that your baby is on the right track.
[Read : Tummy Time For Babies- A Must Do]
You can reshape your baby’s head by simply changing the sleeping position. The head will naturally shape back to normal once your baby starts sitting or crawling.
There are baby pillows that are made specially to keep your baby’s head round in shape. A mustard seed pillow is also a good option.
A flat head is very common in babies. Almost 50% of the babies get flat heads due to lying on their back for long.
Read Also : What Are The Soft Spots On My Baby’s Head?
Studying English literature has been highly instrumental in creating a love for English and World Literature for this writer. Ajanta has been writing for more than two years. She specializes in creating short and crisp blogs that can create awareness among women about healthy pregnancy and among parents about better parenting.Read more.
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