Preventing a flat head
When babies sleep, they should be on their back (see Sleeping safely). But if your baby always lies on the same spot on their head, they may end up having a “flat head.” It’s because the bones of their skull are still soft. The medical term for this phenomenon is “positional plagiocephaly.”
Therefore, it’s important that your baby doesn’t always lie on the same spot on their head to avoid creating a flat area. A slight flattening of the head may improve on its own. A more pronounced flatness may be permanent, but it will not harm your baby’s brain development.
By varying your baby’s position throughout the day (e.g., sitting in their little chair, in your arms, on the floor on their stomach and back, in the baby carrier), you avoid having their head always resting on the same spot.
Babies focus their gaze on what interests them (e.g., your face, the window). When you change your baby’s position, they may turn their head to continue watching you or the object they’re interested in. That way, their head won’t stay resting on the same spot.
When they’re awake and under supervision, it’s important for babies to spend time on their stomach. From their very first days of life, lay your baby on their tummy. You can lay them on a flat surface, on your stomach, or on your arm. Start with a few minutes, several times a day, for as long as they feel comfortable. Do this until they’re spending at least 60 minutes total per day on their tummy.
Some tips to help prevent or reduce a flat head are shown in the box on the next page.
If you notice that your child has a flat head, turns their head to one side more than the other, or you have questions, talk to your healthcare provider.
Some tips to help prevent or reduce a flat head
- Make sure your baby can turn their head equally in both directions.
- Change your baby’s position in their crib every day (e.g., one day, place your baby’s head at the foot of their crib, then at the head of their crib the next day).
- Regularly move your baby’s rocker, bouncer, or other chair to vary the directions they look towards.
- Switch sides each time you give them a bottle.
- Regularly place your baby on their tummy.
- Limit the amount of time they spend with their head resting on a hard surface (e.g., on a play mat or in their car seat).