How To Prevent Flat Head In Infants?

You probably have seen adults who have noticeably flat head, either on the side or at the back. Having a flat head is not a disease but rather a result of improper positional sleeping in their infancy. Lets get more deeper into this condition and how to simply avoid developing a flat head for your baby.

Flat Head or medically known as positional plagiocephaly, only occurs in infants due to its soft skull. Newborn babies are prone to this type of condition by sleeping or leaning more time on a particular side or spot on your baby's head. The soft skull will be mold slightly, which forms a "flat" appearance and may also affects hair growth that results to bald spot on your baby's head.

The number of flat head cases are increasing by each day and this has brought attention to most government organizations to orient parents about this condition. The prevention is very simple and won't need any equipment to be successful. All it needs is proper care and guidance to your child.

The more you take good care of your child, the more it avoid having a flat head. Some of the causes why parents lack awareness about this condition are the following:

• busier lifestyle
• depending solely on the nanny

Spending more time in bed, carriers or seats with the head resting back, it will likely develop a flat head on that spot of the head. Every infants are prone to flat head but premature infants do have higher risks as their skulls are much more less developed and softer. Premature infants also spends the majority of their time lying flat until they develop strength. 

If you notice that your infant is starting to develop a flat spot in the head, you need to vary the baby's sleeping position from lying flat, to side to side to reverse the effects of the flattened skull. You may switch the crib positions alternately which also release the pressure on one side of your baby's head. A flat head can still be corrected within its first year but it's unlikely to be molded back beyond the first year as the baby's skull is fully developed and strong.

Also, spend more time carrying your baby out of its crib or bed. Instead of leaving your baby in a crib, try to place the baby on the mothers belly. This exercise will improve strength in neck and back muscles.

If you think your baby already have a flat head, you may consult your pediatrician as immediately as possible for any medical recommendations or treatments.