Plagiocephaly is the technical term for wonky heads. The infant skull is made up of a group of pliable bones which are designed to mould, both within the bone (bending) and between bones (overlapping). This allows the head to pass more easily through the birth canal. Normally the baby’s head will return to normal within a few days of birth. If not, there are a range of possible causes of plagiocephaly.
During the birth process the baby’s head may be subject to prolonged squeezing, or to distortion through the use of instruments such as forceps or ventouse. If your baby was engaged in the pelvis before birth, or was squashed by a twin or fibroid, then this may also cause retained moulding.
If your baby’s head changes shape after birth, this is usually positional – due to lying in one position for a long time. Since the ‘back to sleep’ advice came in, there has been a huge increase in positional plagiocephaly. Remember to allow your baby some ‘front to play’ tummy time every day so that they are not always on their back.
It can also result from stiffness in the neck, with the baby preferring to hold their head to one side. This then leads to flattening on the bones on that side of the head. Sometimes there is a torticollis or ‘wry neck’ preventing the infant from turning their head, forcing them to lie in one position. Encourage your baby to look to the ‘difficult’ side by positioning the baby so that all the interesting things require turning that way.
Another possible, but rare, cause is craniosynostosis. This is where the infant skull bones fuse – usually along one join, but sometimes involving more bones. It is important to find out if this is the cause of your baby’s wonky head as it may need surgical treatment.
If you are concerned about the shape of your baby’s head, do ask your GP or Health Visitor for advice. An Osteopath can also assess your baby and advise you on an appropriate course of action. When your baby starts sitting the head shape will often start to resolve naturally, but it does take some time.
A baby pillow can support your baby’s head, though current advice is that you must be present to supervise. Another option is a specially designed mattress which supports the baby’s head without a pillow.
Helmets have been introduced as a treatment for severe plagiocephaly. There is some evidence that they can be helpful. They provide a protective shell for the skull so that the pressure is taken off the bones, allowing the head to return to a more symmetrical shape. Clinics vary as to the latest age that a baby can be fitted with a helmet – somewhere between 9 and 12 months is usual. Please inform yourself about this option – see link below – and discuss it with your GP, Health Visitor or osteopath before you decide.
www.londonorthotics.co.uk has 6 Clinics across the UK