How to Tell if Baby Is Getting Flat Head
Flat head syndrome, also called positional plagiocephaly, develops in babies because of external pressures on the soft, malleable baby skull. It is more common at present that babies slumber on their backs, as recommended by SIDS safety guidelines.
While one in five children are affected by apartment caput syndrome, parents receive mixed messages about whether it has an impact on evolution, and clinicians don't have good evidence to abate fears.
Our review published this calendar week shows that while not all children displaying a flat head will experience developmental bug, the syndrome can be used equally a marker of potential developmental delay. Nosotros make the recommendation that children with apartment caput be assessed for developmental delays.
What is apartment head syndrome and why does it develop?
Flat head syndrome presents as a flattened area on the back or side of a baby's head. In severe cases information technology tin can affect the alignment of the ears, optics and jaw. Information technology's typically noticed by the parent upward to the 4th month of age. It tin exist present at birth or develop over time, up to about the 18 month mark when the baby's skull basic are harder and fixed in place.
The syndrome develops because of external pressures to the soft, malleable baby skull. Information technology's become more common since 1992, when the SIDS safe sleeping entrada Back to Sleep (now known as Rubber to Sleep) began. This campaign saved lives, and continues to do and then.
With the need for rigorous data on whether flat caput syndrome leads to developmental filibuster, nosotros reviewed existing medical literature to inform clinicians and parents on the state of knowledge in this area. There were nineteen studies that met our strict quality criteria, in which the children'south ages ranged from iii months to ten years.
Identifying hazard
Our review shows flat head syndrome is a marker of developmental delay. Delay can occur in one or multiple areas of development known as domains. For children with flat head, delays were observed nearly commonly in the motor domain, controlling muscular activities such as walking (gross motor) and belongings a spoon (fine motor). The second and third near common delays were observed in language and cognition (such as speaking or understanding i's own name).
Although we sought to address whether flat caput leads to delays, or whether delays are causing flat head, none of the studies conducted to date are able to reply this question. Thus, given in that location is a link, simply the direction is to exist determined, we make the recommendation that children with flat caput be assessed for developmental delays.
Simple developmental milestones should be met (within the normal variation). When not met, clinicians (GPs, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses) can utilize standardised cess tools to more objectively assess the child's development and refer for early on intervention if necessary.
Our review plant children with flat head who had developmental delays on multiple domains (such as motor, learning and noesis), or who had low muscle tone, were a special loftier risk group where intervention and longer-term follow-up would probable be helpful.
Our review found delays were more mutual in newborn to two-yr-olds, but delays did persist to preschool and school aged children in some cases, although there is less cognition on the older age groups.
Most children with flat head syndrome will be fine
While it is hard to say with conviction what proportion of children with flat caput volition feel a developmental delay, it is likely virtually children with apartment head will be fine in terms of their development.
In the studies included in the review, near 10-25% of the children had developmental delays beyond that expected (although the range observed was 3-51% depending on the study). Some studies presented this in terms of risk, and reported children with flat head were up to 10 times more likely to experience developmental delays than children without flat head.
How parents can foreclose or reduce flat head
The benefits of following the SIDS guidelines far outweigh any concerns about flat head, given decease could result from non following safe sleeping recommendations. Babies should be put to sleep on their backs in a firm, flat area, gratuitous of toys, pillows or other items, in a non-smoking environment.
Home prevention of apartment head syndrome is possible. Tummy time while awake and supervised – a little fleck every solar day starting from birth – can help strengthen neck muscles, and provide time off the back and sides of the head. Altering the position of baby while awake (property, or in a carrier) is also helpful.
Some children are at heightened risk of apartment head syndrome, such as premature babies, those with a challenging birth, or who have torticollis (also known as wry or twisted neck), so you lot should not feel guilty if your child has a flat head. If concerned at any fourth dimension, y'all should seek advice from a health professional person. Since babies receive vaccinations at several fourth dimension points during their first yr this can be an opportune fourth dimension to seek assessment and advice.
Source: https://theconversation.com/do-you-need-to-worry-if-your-baby-has-a-flat-head-71794
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