Flathead Syndrome

Flathead (or flattened head) syndrome occurs when babies sleep in one position and part of their head becomes flattened. Fortunately most cases are easy to treat and with appropriate guidance and intervention the problem will correct itself by the infant's first birthday.

Definition

• Flattened head syndrome is also known as positional plagiocephaly. It occurs in infants and is marked by the back or side of the head being flattened. There will also be little or no hair growth in the area.

Causes

• The most common cause is an infant spending a lot of time lying on his back with his head resting on flat surfaces such as cribs, strollers or car seats. Babies' heads are soft to allow for brain growth, so they are susceptible to taking on a flat shape,

Symptoms

• Most commonly the occiput (back of infant's head) will be flat and the ear on the flattened side will be pushed forward a little. In more severe cases the forehead may be uneven, and there will be visible bulging.

Treatment

• Treatment involves simple sleep repositioning techniques, which encourage babies to change the position of their head while sleeping on their backs and also encourage supervised "tummy time" during the day. In severe cases doctors recommend a custom-made helmet or head band, which applies gentle and constant pressure to the skull.

Facts

• Premature babies are more susceptible to flattened heads, as they have softer skulls than full-term babies. It can occur before birth due to pressure being put on the baby's skull by the mother's pelvis, or by a twin or triplet. The number of cases has gone up since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended putting babies to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of death from SIDS.