What is Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly)? Flat Head Syndrome
in babies, known as Plagiocephaly, is a condition where the back
or side of baby’s head becomes flat or mis-shapen due to
prolonged pressure on the skull from flat surfaces like cot
mattresses, bassinets or floors, while baby is asleep, or on
their back. A newborn’s skull is very soft, so it’s more likely
to occur in very young babies up to 4 months, but can affect
children up to 12 months. Plagiocephaly can also occur during
birth, when the baby’s head comes under pressure from the birth
canal. It is more common in multiple births, due to lack of
space, and premature babies, as their skulls are very soft and
they spend more time lying down. How do I know if my baby has
Plagiocephaly? Your baby’s head may have a flat spot, or be
lopsided or mis-shapen. How will Flat Head affect my baby?
Plagiocephaly was originally thought not to affect babies,
however recent studies from the Seattle Children’s Research
Institute suggest that it may be a ‘red flag