Babies sleep for long hours and have soft skulls, making them prone to developing flat heads if they lie on one side for extended periods. Paediatric specialist Dr. Benny Ho shares how parents can use sleeping positions to improve flat head syndrome, how to assess its severity, and treatment methods.
Baby's head shape has become flattened. Adjusting sleeping position can help reduce the severity.
If the baby's flat head is not severe, parents will often adjust the baby's sleeping position to improve the head shape. Dr. Benny also believes that if the flat head condition is not severe and the baby is less than four months old, their sleeping position can indeed be used to alleviate the condition and prevent it from worsening.
Some special new baby pillows can be used to adjust the baby's head position while sleeping, so that a flattened area is no longer under pressure. However, after four months of age, babies begin to turn their heads while sleeping, and even begin to roll over, at which point the pillow can no longer help with the flat head. Furthermore, Dr. Benny also reminds parents not to let babies sleep on their sides or stomachs to avoid accidental suffocation.
Whether treatment is necessary is determined by the cranial index.
As for the severity of flat head syndrome, Dr Benny explained: “Generally, we use the Cephalic Index (CI) to assess this. The Cephalic Index refers to the ratio between the maximum width and the maximum length of the skull—that is, the ratio of the maximum width to the maximum length multiplied by 100.If the CI value reaches 81% or above, this indicates a flat head condition; if it exceeds 90%, treatment is recommended.” Currently, the most effective treatment for flat head syndrome is the use of a cranial remodelling helmet.
Plagiocephaly generally does not affect brain development and growth.
Dr. Benny also pointed out that unless the flat head is very severe, plagiocephaly generally has little impact on brain development and growth. Medical literature records that very severe cases of flat head syndrome can affect the neck muscles, temporomandibular joint movement, and are even related to sleep apnoea and developmental delays, but these are, of course, very rare cases. Generally, flat head syndrome primarily affects appearance, including face shape, asymmetry of the left and right sides of the face, abnormal proportions of the forehead and face, and the position of the ears.
The golden period for improving head shape is before one year old, with better results achieved.
Many parents believe that simply adjusting their baby's sleeping position on their own can improve flat head syndrome. However, Dr. Benny also reminds mums and dads that if the flat head is severe and the baby's muscle development is normal, the ideal time to start helmet orthotic treatment is between four and six months old. Receiving treatment before the age of one can also yield ideal results, but after the age of one, the effectiveness of the treatment will depend on the severity of the flat head, as well as the condition of the fontanelle and cranial sutures.
Some parents may worry that their child might feel uncomfortable wearing a corrective helmet for a long period, but manufacturers also use very lightweight and comfortable materials to make corrective helmets, and generally, the treatment will not be ineffective due to the child feeling uncomfortable.
Source: Yahoo Parenting (27 September 2024): https://tinyurl.com/mv6zesf6
