Baby's head shape: What's normal?
Baby's head shape: What's normal?Many newborns have slightly lopsided heads. Sometimes a baby's head is molded unevenly while passing through the birth canal. In other cases, head shape changes after birth as a result of spending too much time in one position. Although your baby's head shape will probably even out on its own, you can help prevent flat spots — and detect more-serious problems. How position affects head shapeYou'll notice two soft areas at the top of your baby's head where the skull bones haven't yet grown together. These spots, called fontanels, allow a baby's relatively large head to move through the narrow birth canal. They also accommodate your baby's rapidly growing brain during infancy. But because your baby's skull is malleable, too much time in one position can result in an uneven head shape well past the time when birth-related lopsidedness evens out. This is known as positional molding. Positional molding is often most noticeable when you're looking at your baby's head from above. From that view, the back of your baby's head may look flatter on one side than on the other. The cheekbone on the flat side may protrude, and the ear on the flat side may look pushed forward. What you can do about itPositional molding is most common in babies who spend most of their time on their backs in cribs, car seats or infant seats. Although this is the safest position for sleep, there's plenty you can to do to keep your baby's head from becoming flat or lopsided.
Helmets and head shapeVarying a baby's head position is typically enough to prevent or treat flat spots. If the lopsidedness doesn't improve within a few months, your baby's doctor might prescribe a special headband or molded helmet to help shape your baby's head. These devices work by applying gentle but constant pressure in an effort to redirect skull growth. Headbands and helmets are most effective when treatment begins by age 4 to 6 months, when the skull is still malleable and the brain is growing rapidly. The headband or helmet is worn continuously during the treatment period — often about 12 weeks — with time off only to clean the device and the skin underneath. Adjustments to the headband or helmet may be needed every one to two weeks. Correction may be possible for older babies, too, but the headband or helmet may need to be worn longer. Molded helmetIn some cases, a molded helmet may be used to help shape a baby's head. The helmet is worn continuously during the treatment period — which may last for months — with time off only to ...  More-serious causesRarely, two or more of the bony plates in a baby's head fuse prematurely. This rigidity pushes other parts of the head out of shape as the brain expands. This condition, known as craniosynostosis, is typically treated during infancy. To give the brain enough space to grow and develop, the fused bones must be surgically separated. Keep it in perspectiveIf you spend too much time worrying about your baby's head shape, you may miss some of the fun of being a new parent. In a few short months, better head and neck control will help your baby keep pressure more evenly distributed on the skull. Until then, change your baby's position often — and check with your baby's doctor if you're concerned about your baby's head shape. RelatedLast Updated: 2010-01-12 © 1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
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