Flat Head Syndrome, Development in Babies who Sleep on Their Backs
By Ina Woolcott
When babies lay on their backs with their head turned in one position for
prolonged periods of time, day after day, the head can become flat on the
back or on one side. This may result in the baby having a deformed skull
and/or a crooked looking forehead and face, potentially for the rest of
their lives. Parents can help prevent this from happening by continually
changing the position of their infants head, especially important when
babies are very small and aren't able to move a round a lot.
Britain is facing a rise in the number of babies with flattened skulls, a
leading medical expert has warned. Nearly half of infants develop a flat
area to the back or side of their heads, according to the latest published
research, which was based on American infants. This found that up to 48% of
infants under 1 developed the deformity. The reason behind this is thought
to be the very successful movement of preventing cot death, or SIDS by
putting babies on their backs to go to sleep. However, treatment of the
condition flat head syndrome or scientifically known as positional
plagiocephaly, has lead to a big division in the medical profession. Some
experts say that this can cause medical problems, including visual and
muscular difficulties. Others claim that this is purely cosmetic and will
self correct without intervention.
One paediatric cranial osteopath, Philip Owen from Manchester, having
treated thousands of children with the condition in the past 25 years, is
worried that the number of infants developing signs is growing in bounds.
Around 4 in 5 babies whom are treated by Owen have misshapen heads. In 30%
of the cases the problem is moderate to severe, and he reckons that "in
future we will see more cases. It is very sad."
On the other hand another consultant paediatrician, Dr Martin Ward Platt
from Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, claims that parents have nothing
to fear as it is very common for infants to have flat patches on their
heads, it always has been common and that it is a part of the normal
condition since babies are born with very large brains. He insists that
there is no problem, and says that "this is another example of the tendency
to create medical problems out of normality."
Experts stress the importance of following the 'Back to Sleep' campaign
launched in the nineties, as there was a 50% decline in cot deaths in a
year. Other tips to help prevent flat head syndrome are
* Pay close attention to your child's head position ensuring their head is
in as many different positions possible during the day and night
* Carry your baby as much as possible, this includes in a baby sling/front
carrier.
* Lay your baby on their stomachs during 'playtime' as much as possible.
This also encourages them to strengthen neck, back, arm and tummy muscles.
* Laying in a car seat, then being transferred from the car to the pram
still in the car seat in modern prams for long periods of time also adds to
the problem.
* There are special mattresses designed to prevent flat head syndrome from
developing.
Check out the following link: Sleep Curve
Editors comments: my daughter has always slept on her tummy, or her left or
right side alternating since she was new born. She is now 18 months with a
GORGEOUS shaped head. Whilst sleeping on their backs may save lives, there
are other underlying causes to cot death, or SIDS too, such as
breathing in the chemicals put on mattresses whilst on their bellies, e.g.
flame retardants. There is also evidence that vaccinations greatly increase
the risk of cot death/SIDS. I actually have an organic, coconut fibre
mattress for my daughter which has been treated with NO chemicals. This is
just my experience that I wish to share and by no means am I encouraging or
telling parents to place their children on their tummies.
