Plagiocephaly

Originally published in

Since the Back to Sleep campaign in the 1990s, parents have been advised to put babies on their backs, and this has seen a significant decrease in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However, experts have noticed an increase in misshapen heads among babies, a condition known as plagiocephaly, that presents itself as a flat area. Although this can cause concern for parents, doctors explain it’s usually just a cosmetic issue and almost always improves by itself.

So, we ask Dr Puneet Wadhwa, Specialist Pediatrics, City Centre Clinic Ibn Battuta, what the early signs of positional plagiocephaly are. He tells us there are no obvious symptoms associated with the condition other than the flattened appearance of the back of your baby’s head, which may be more flat on one side than the other.

There is no reason for immediate alarm, but a visit to a pediatrician is important to rule out anything more serious. He reassures us: “As the condition is purely cosmetic and mostly heals itself in time, there is no need for parents to panic. However, it is important to rule out other possibilities such as craniosynostois, which is a rare condition that causes parts of the skull bones to be fused together, restricting the growth of the head and also resulting in a flattened head. This is a serious condition and may require surgery, so it’s best to visit a pediatrician for certainty.”

Preventative measures can be taken in order to avert plagiocephaly or to allow the natural re-moulding of the head shape to take place, Dr Wadhwa advises:

Early recognition The younger the child is when plagiocephaly is recognised, the better the chances of improving it. It is harder to improve after 14 months of age.

Tummy time During the day, encourage your baby to lie on their tummy or encourage them to try new positions during playtime. This will help balance the time your baby spends sleeping on their back (which is the safest position).

Repositioning the head To encourage your baby to turn their head onto the non-flattened side, keep changing the position of toys and mobiles in their cot to distract their attention. This will prevent one side becoming more flattened than the other.

Feeding Alternate the side you hold your baby when feeding and carrying. This will prevent pressure on one side of your baby’s head. Experts believe that repositioning therapy will, for the most part, correct the condition. But, as every baby is different, it may need further treatment that could include physiotherapy sessions if it transpires your baby sleeps on one side and they have difficulty turning their head in one direction. Dr Puneet Wadhwa, Specialist Pediatrics. Sat-Thu, 9.30am-9pm.

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