‘Flat head’ syndrome, or positional plagiocephaly as it’s less commonly referred to, is an acquired deformity of the skull and is caused by prolonged contact between a surface and an area of the baby’s head. It manifests itself, as one might presume, in a flat area of the baby’s skull.

One of the factors likely to be contributing to the increasing instances of the condition is the arrival of the all-in-one baby transporters (the ones that are first a carrier, then a car-seat) which have meant that it is necessary to disturb baby less often, and therefore allow baby’s head to stay in the same position for long periods of time. Another factor is the advice ‘Back-to-sleep‘, which has managed to reduce instances of SIDS by 40%, but has increased instances of (the much less serious) Flat Head syndrome by a whopping 600%.

Particularly prone are babies born prematurely or with torticollis (which causes the baby’s head and neck to tilt to one side). Many parents worry about the effects of this condition on their baby’s intellectual development, but they needn’t worry - positional plagiocephaly is a purely cosmetic problem. What’s more, it can be both avoided and treated.

Avoidance

Flat head may be best avoided by using a suitable pillow. The one we stock is called the Love Nest and is ideal because it is made from material that moulds to your baby’s head (rather than your baby’s head moulding to the pillow), and has an indentation in the middle so that pressure is distributed.

Further, flat head may be avoided by Tummy Play. Tummy play is exactly what it sound like - playing belly side down - and can be greatly beneficial in the development of baby’s neck and back muscles. We stock a Surfboard Tummy Time Mat that is packed with features to keep them entertained for hours.

Treatment

Treatment of Flat Head syndrome is simple, but controversial. It consists of wearing a hard helmet that gently squeezes the skull into a more rounded shape. The general medical vie, however, is that these are unnecessary as the skull will become more rounded naturally with time - particularly as baby starts to crawl and walk.

PS Interestingly ‘flat head’ is also a term used to describe a person obsessed with Michael Flatley, a song by The Fratellis’, or a type of bolt.