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PREVENTING BABY'S
HEAD FROM FLATTENING
Pediatricians and child health organizations
agree that healthy babies should be
placed on their backs to sleep for naps
and at nighttime, to reduce the risk of
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But
babies who are always on their backs can
sometimes develop flat spots on their head
(plagiocephaly). Most cases of positional
plagiocephaly can be prevented (and
sometimes corrected) by repositioning your
baby to relieve pressure on the back of the
head. Here are some tips and techniques
from the experts to keep in mind as you
care for your baby:
• Change the location of your baby's crib in
the room, so she has to look in different
directions to see the door, or the window,
or interesting things going on around her.
• When your baby is awake, provide
opportunities for adult-supervised "tummy
time" play. Playing on his tummy helps
take the pressure off the back of his head,
which will help prevent flat spots from
developing. Tummy time play also helps
your baby's head, neck and shoulder
muscles get stronger as part of normal
development.
PRÉVENIR LE RISQUE
D'APLATISSEMENT
DE LA TÊTE DE BÉBÉ
• Try tummy time two or three times a day,
for short periods of time, until your baby
gets used to being on her tummy. Once
your baby begins to enjoy this position,
try longer periods of time or increase the
frequency of tummy time play.
• Help your baby avoid resting his head
in the same position all the time by
frequently changing the direction he lies
in the crib. For example, have your baby's
feet point toward one end of the crib for
a few days, and then change the position
so his feet point toward the other end of
the crib. This will encourage your baby to
turn and look in different directions.
• Try to minimize the amount of time your
baby spends in car seats, carriers and
bouncy seats while awake.
• Lastly, make sure you enjoy lots of "cuddle
time" with your baby by holding her
upright over your shoulder.
For additional information on positional
plagiocephaly and the benefits of tummy
time play for your baby, speak with your
pediatrician or family physician.
National Institute of Health (NIH) Eunice Kennedy
Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development
15
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