Parents naturally become concerned if a flat spot begins to form on the back of their baby’s head. It can be scary not knowing whether it will decrease or not. In this case, when you consult a pediatrician clinic that deals with baby helmet treatment, he or she may recommend a helmet for your baby to wear to help gently shape the skull into a rounded shape.

What causes a flat spot on my baby’s head?

Many parents begin to blame themselves when they learn that their baby needs helmet treatment. You may wonder how to prevent the frustrating flat areas on your head from forming, technically called plagiocephaly. The truth is that most babies do not have perfectly shaped heads.

In fact, most adults don’t have perfectly shaped heads either. Small flat areas are normal. If your baby has a large flat spot on their skull, this is usually a result of birth – your baby’s skull may have been irregularly shaped as it passed through the birth canal – or it may have been flattened because they regularly sleep on their back

Your baby’s skull is soft, which  means the skull bones move more easily   than in adulthood  . This allows your baby’s head to pass through the birth canal and allow his brain to grow during infancy. But it also means that constant pressure on the back or side of the head, and always in a fixed direction, can cause permanent malformation.

When does my baby need a helmet?

The shape of your baby’s head does not usually cause brain damage or other developmental problems.

So how do you know if you need to buy a helmet for your baby?

Your doctor will check your baby’s head size and shape at each well-child visit. These visits occur approximately every 2 months during infancy. If your baby has a large flat area that does not improve by about 4 months of age, your doctor may prescribe a helmet. For a helmet to be effective, treatment must begin between the ages of 4 and 6 months. This will allow the helmet to gently shape your baby’s skull as he or she grows. Treatment is generally considered ineffective after age 1 because the skull has begun to fuse together.

What Do You Encounter in Baby Helmet Treatment?

Positional plagiocephaly is actually easy to correct with a helmet. In order for your baby to receive successful treatment results, you must keep the helmet on your baby 23 hours a day during the treatment. Most often, helmets are worn for several months. Your child’s helmet will need regular periodic adjustments to keep up with their growth and changing head shape.

Other treatment options for positional plagiocephaly

Some studies have shown that simple repositioning techniques can be effective. Your doctor may also  recommend physiotherapy to correct additional problems such as infant torticollis , which involves a bent neck. These techniques can help you reposition your baby and give his skull the opportunity to correct flat spots on their own:

• Belly Time – Very Important. Under supervision, place your baby on his/her stomach every day. This gives the back of your child’s head a rest and helps your child strengthen his neck muscles.
• To hug.  Holding your baby isn’t just a great bonding time. It also relieves pressure on the back of your child’s head, which naturally occurs when your baby is sitting in a car seat, swing, or carrier.
• Change direction. Try placing your baby in positions that force him to move away from the flat spot on his head. Breastfeed from both sides. Lay him in his crib in different positions so he will have to turn to see you. You can also try moving his crib occasionally so that no spots on his head are overused or flattened.

In most cases, your baby’s head shape will correct on its own. With time and some effort, your baby’s head will grow and return to normal as they begin to move and do more. Wearing a helmet is also a good way to correct any large imperfections or flat spots on your baby’s head. Ask your doctor if the baby needs helmet treatment and what you can do to fix the flat spot.

You can make an appointment for head structure shape analysis at our clinic.