I’m worried my baby’s head is flat!
As parents, it's natural to closely monitor your child's development and well-being. Two common conditions that can affect our babies are torticollis and plagiocephaly. While these terms might sound daunting, they are relatively common and can be effectively managed. Check out below on how to avoid any issues with your baby’s noggin.
What is Torticollis and Plagiocephaly?
Torticollis (Latin for twisted collum or neck), is a condition affecting 1-2% Australians that involves the tightening of neck muscles, causing your baby's head to rotate and tilt in a specific direction.
Plagiocephaly (Greek for oblique head), affects 10-30% of Australian babies and results in flattening or abnormal shaping of the head due to prolonged pressure on the skull in one position.
What causes the tightness and flattening of their head?
I know you might be worried, thinking did I cause this? Absolutely not. Torticollis may develop due to a muscular imbalance in the neck. This can simply be a packaging issue of how your baby was nestled in the womb. When the neck is tight, the head can get a little stuck in the same place at rest, potentially causing plagiocephaly. As the bones of the head are still so soft and malleable (for the brain to keep growing!) the back or sides of the head can flatten from the pressure.
Signs and Symptoms: Keep a look out for any of these indicators:
Head tilt: The baby consistently tilts their head to one side.
Limited range of motion: Difficulty turning the head in both directions.
Preference for one side: The baby may prefer to breastfeed or bottle-feed on one
Flattening of the head: One side of the baby's head may appear or feel flattened.
Asymmetry: The ears and eyes may appear uneven.
Tilted head position: The baby may favour one side when lying down.
Here are some tips for management:
Tummy time: Encouraging supervised tummy time or lying on their side helps strengthen neck and shoulder muscles as well as gets baby off the back of their head
Positional changes: Altering the baby's sleeping position can prevent further tightening of the muscles, in the cot it’s important to keep them on their back to reduce SIDS risk but you can gently change which side their head is facing
Supervised contact naps: take a bit of the weight off their skull - we recommend a nap in the carrier (you get to stay active as a bonus!)
Change their environment: switch which end of the cot they sleep in, which side you lay them to change their nappy, which arm you hold them in
What our physios will do to help:
Assess head shape
Release tight muscles of the neck and trunk
Strengthen the neck and trunk muscles
Activate the neck and trunk muscles
Assess and treat vision and tracking of eyes
Check for oral dysfunction and restriction
Educate on home exercises, positioning and furthering natural milestone development
If you notice any concerns related to your baby's head shape or neck movement, don't hesitate to book an appointment with our skilled physiotherapists. Early intervention is crucial, as untreated torticollis may increase the risk of plagiocephaly.