Your Baby's Head and "Flat Spots"
By Annette Vollan-Kerber, PT, MS, PCS
For various reasons, more babies today have misshapen heads. Greater use of infant devices and car seats, plus the American Academy of Pediatrics successful "Back-to-Sleep" program (to address Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), have all added up to babies spending more hours on their backs. The result is that babies' soft skulls tend to develop flat spots. Other factors contributing to the problem may include intrauterine positioning, multiple / premature births, birth trauma and torticollis (i.e. tightness of neck muscles).
The term plagiocephaly is a Greek derivative meaning "oblique head". The diagnosis of deformational plagiocephaly has significantly increased since 1992. The first line of defense for this is prevention. Parent education on re-positioning techniques during sleep and daily routines (ex. feeding), as well as increasing "tummy time", are important. (Referral to physical therapy may also be indicated if neck tightness is present). These techniques are often successful even after a baby has developed a flat spot to help them "round out" on their own. Close attention to re-positioning and tummy time should continue at least until Baby starts to move independently (ex. roll, crawl).
Although parents may actively implement preventative techniques, some babies' heads continue to remain misshapen. If this occurs, Rehabilitation Medical Supply-affiliated with Children's Care Hospital & School-provides a service to many babies with this condition through cranial remolding. The process involves a custom-fitted helmet that Baby painlessly wears for a few months to reshape the head.
Cranial remolding helmets are a time sensitive treatment and are FDA approved for infants 4-18 months of age. Age 4 to 7 months is ideal for re-shaping as the head is in near continuous growth and the infant is usually in the helmet approximately 2-3 months. From age 8-12 months, the infant is usually in the helmet longer, about 4-5 months. Though most infants have about 80-85% of their head growth by their first birthday, it is possible to effect change after age one, although earlier is usually better.
If you think your baby may need a helmet, contact your doctor or call Rehabilitation Medical Supply (Sioux Falls or Rapid City). Measurement guidelines are used to help define your babies' status, with parent education provided. A helpful website is www.plagiocephly.org. Pediatric physical therapists are also available to address torticollis.
By Annette Vollan-Kerber, PT, MS, PCS
For various reasons, more babies today have misshapen heads. Greater use of infant devices and car seats, plus the American Academy of Pediatrics successful "Back-to-Sleep" program (to address Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), have all added up to babies spending more hours on their backs. The result is that babies' soft skulls tend to develop flat spots. Other factors contributing to the problem may include intrauterine positioning, multiple / premature births, birth trauma and torticollis (i.e. tightness of neck muscles).
The term plagiocephaly is a Greek derivative meaning "oblique head". The diagnosis of deformational plagiocephaly has significantly increased since 1992. The first line of defense for this is prevention. Parent education on re-positioning techniques during sleep and daily routines (ex. feeding), as well as increasing "tummy time", are important. (Referral to physical therapy may also be indicated if neck tightness is present). These techniques are often successful even after a baby has developed a flat spot to help them "round out" on their own. Close attention to re-positioning and tummy time should continue at least until Baby starts to move independently (ex. roll, crawl).
Although parents may actively implement preventative techniques, some babies' heads continue to remain misshapen. If this occurs, Rehabilitation Medical Supply-affiliated with Children's Care Hospital & School-provides a service to many babies with this condition through cranial remolding. The process involves a custom-fitted helmet that Baby painlessly wears for a few months to reshape the head.
Cranial remolding helmets are a time sensitive treatment and are FDA approved for infants 4-18 months of age. Age 4 to 7 months is ideal for re-shaping as the head is in near continuous growth and the infant is usually in the helmet approximately 2-3 months. From age 8-12 months, the infant is usually in the helmet longer, about 4-5 months. Though most infants have about 80-85% of their head growth by their first birthday, it is possible to effect change after age one, although earlier is usually better.
If you think your baby may need a helmet, contact your doctor or call Rehabilitation Medical Supply (Sioux Falls or Rapid City). Measurement guidelines are used to help define your babies' status, with parent education provided. A helpful website is www.plagiocephly.org. Pediatric physical therapists are also available to address torticollis.
