Ever since the National Institute of Health established its "Back to Sleep" campaign in 1992, which encouraged parents to sleep babies on their backs to avoid the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, flat head syndrome, technically known as positional plagiocephaly or brachycephaly, has become more common. Why? Newborns' skulls are extremely soft and malleable, and the backs of their heads can flatten easily as a result of the time they spend sleeping.
A baby with flat head syndrome may not have a glaringly obvious flat head. If your baby faces the same way every time he or she sleeps, has even slight flat spots at the back or side of the head, slight bulges in the forehead, or uneven ears (one ear may appear more forward than the other), he or she may have positional plagiocephaly, which basically means the baby's head is not the usual, symmetrical shape that it should be.
Finding that your baby has a flat head can be a scary thing for parents, who naturally want their baby to be perfectly formed. But the good news is, there are many ways to prevent flat head syndrome. One is to ensure your baby has plenty of "tummy time" - place your baby on his or her tummy in infant play areas, and put your baby upright in an ExerSaucer when playing and eating. Your baby may squirm because he or she prefers to lie down, so start slowly. Even 5 or 10 minutes at a time can make a big difference.
If your baby's head does look misshapen, then don't panic. If tummy time or turning your baby's head to the other side when he or she is sleeping has not helped the problem, then see your doctor immediately about a baby helmet. Most cases of flat head syndrome are easily treatable with a cranial remolding helmet, but the window of opportunity for treatment is small, so don't wait to act if you're concerned. Helmets can be used on babies aged 3 to 18 months, and treatment usually works best if started by 4 months, when the skull is most malleable.
A baby helmet can do wonders to correct the shape of a baby's head. These helmets are made of ultra light, state-of-the-art orthotic materials, and they help guide a baby's head into a more rounded, even shape by providing a controlled tunnel for growth. Helmets are generally worn 23 hours daily for 3 to 4 months, depending on the severity of the problem, and are designed to provide maximum comfort to the baby.
If you embark on baby helmet treatment for flat head syndrome, be sure to choose an orthotist who's conveniently located, because the helmet generally needs to be checked and adjusted every 10 to 14 days. And if you're worried about the look of the helmet, don't: baby helmets are cute, and come in a variety of colorful designs. A baby helmet is short, pain-free therapy that will have a positive result to last a lifetime.
Author Resource:-
Splint Arts provides orthopedic appliances to treat a variety of conditions, including baby flat head syndrome, also known as positional plagiocephaly. Visit www.SplintArts.com to purchase a baby helmet or other orthopedic device.
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