Keep Your Baby’s Head Round

Baby head’s shape matters.

Not only do they affect the cosmetic appearance but also affect the child's development. Making sure your baby doesn't end up with head shape problems but being aware of a few things you could incorporate into your daily routine.

And this will save a lot of effort, time and intervention later.

Why is it important to keep your baby’s head round?

Since instituted Back to Sleep program, which instructed parents put their child on back for sleeping, there is decline in Sudden Infants Death Syndrome(SIDS), but at the same time, it has increase the incidence of flattening and asymmetry of their heads, which known as positional plagiocephaly.

This is happening because the bay is taking too much time in the same position. The flattening and asymmetry of the baby can happen in the womb as how they position themselves in the uterus. Some babies develop this due to neck muscle weakness, tight or restrictive movement prior to birth.

Changes in the shape of the head doesn't damage the brain but it may result in one side of the facial feature shift more forward then the others.

Besides that, plagiocephaly is closely linked to another condition, torticollis, where the infant's neck muscle is shorten which causes the neck to tilt to one side. Hence, it will affect your baby head rotation movement, and the others mobility like rolling.

Baby with torticollis tends to move the head to one side, and rolling to one side, in the long term, is going to affect visual motor development, gross motor development.

Hence, the earlier that these flattened, asymmetry and neck problems are identified (within 1-2 months of life), the earlier steps can be taken to reverse the problem.

How to keep your baby head round?

Position!

Position technique to encourage the equal distribution for all over the surface of the head. Put your baby back to sleep, and minimize sleeping at the back when your baby is awake, get your baby on tummy, side lying with toys during awake time.

If you have questions regarding your baby head shape and neck problem, please get a consultation from a doctor or paediatric physiotherapists. They will be able to attend to your question and guide you through the best treatment options.

As for a newborn, the earlier the intervention, the better!