If your doctor is concerned that this may be happening, she will refer your baby to a specialist. Craniosynostosis is a rare condition that causes a baby's bones to fuse too early. Very occasionally, there are other reasons for a baby's head to be misshapen. In this case, your GP may refer your baby to a physiotherapist. If your baby has a lot of trouble turning his head in one direction, it may be because the muscles in his neck are tight on one side (torticollis). Any head flattening should improve naturally as your baby gets older and the bones in their head gradually fuse together. If you're still worried, though, or you think the irregular shape is becoming more obvious, take your baby to your GP. Most babies won't require any treatment at all. This treatment is not available on the NHS, so you'd have to pay for it. Helmet therapy is where your baby wears headwear designed to gently return his head to a more rounded shape. There are interventions that can help to adjust the shape of your baby's head. Gradually, you'll see the difference as his head naturally rounds out. More baby expert videosOnce your baby can sit up, the pressure will be off his skull. The bones of your newborns head are not completely grown or fused at birth. If your baby's bottle-fed, alternate feeding him left-handed and right-handed to encourage him to turn his head.įind out how you can encourage your baby to spend more time on his tummy.A flat or misshapen head is easily corrected when a baby is still young. Turning your baby's bed around regularly will also help him to vary the direction in which he looks. Your baby may also need to be treated for secondary symptoms or related conditions.
Try changing the position of his toys, or whatever he loves to look at, from one side to the other.Slowly increase tummy time as your baby gets stronger. Its very common for babies heads to be misshapen, especially after vaginal birth. By three months, you should be able to play with your baby while he's on his front. Do this for just a minute or two at first. As your baby's neck muscles strengthen, you can put him on his tummy.Switch your baby between a sloping chair, a sling and a flat surface so he's not always lying in the same position.This will help to protect him against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).Īs your baby becomes stronger, there are other ways to help his head shape round out: Even if you're concerned about your baby's head shape, always place him on his back to sleep. When to see your pediatrician your babys head shape is still misshapen 2 weeks or more after birth a bulging or swollen spot on your babys head a sunken. This may make his soft skull bones flatten out. Your baby can't move his head easily in the early weeks, which means he'll tend to rest his head in the same position.
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