Is your newborn baby's head lopsided? If so, do not be overly concerned. Many newborn babies are born with slightly lopsided heads. There could be two possible causes for this:
1. Their heads are molded unevenly in the birth canal.
2. The head shape is affected by spending too much time in one position.
The two soft areas at the top of your baby's head are called "fontanels." The fontanels are designed to allow a baby's relatively large head to move down the narrow birth canal and to accommodate your baby's rapidly growing brain during the first 12 to 18 months of life.
Too much time in one position can result in an uneven head shape past the time when birth-related lopsidedness evens out. When this occurs it is known as "positional molding."
Positional molding is most common in babies who spend most of their time on their backs in cribs, car seats or infant seats. These sleeping positions are the safest for baby; however, there are some things you can do to keep your baby's head from becoming flat or lopsided while sleeping or resting in a safe position.
When positional molding occurs you will notice it more when you are looking at your baby's head from the top down. The back of the head may look flatter on one side than on the other. The cheekbone on the flat side may protrude, and the ear on the flat side may look pushed forward.
What you can do about positional molding:
o Change direction: First place your baby on its back for sleeping. Then alternate the direction your baby's head faces, or place your baby's head near the foot of the crib one day, the head of the crib the next day. Use these same varying positions in the car seat and other infant seats.
o Hold your baby: To relieve pressure on the head from swings, carriers and infant seats, routinely hold your baby when he or she is awake to help relieve this pressure.
o While you are there to totally supervise place your baby on his or her tummy to play. Be sure the surface is firm. If you leave the room, take your baby with you. Never your baby lying unsupervised to play on its tummy.
o Move the crib occasionally to give your baby the opportunity to turn away from the flattened side of the head to look at you or follow the sounds of movement in the room.
Typically, changing the baby's head position will prevent or treat flat spots. If the lopsidedness does not improve the doctor may prescribe a special headband or molded helmet.
Helmets and headbands are worn continuously during the treatment period except during times of cleaning the helmet and bathing; the devices are most affective from ages 4 months to 12 months.
It is rare that anything more serious is wrong. However, at times two or more of the bony plates in a baby's head fuse prematurely. This is known as craniosynostosis and is usually treated with surgery during infancy.
A similar condition called metopic synostosis causes a pointed forehead. It is also treated with surgery during infancy. Most of all do not spend a lot of time worrying about your baby's head shape. Most babies do not have a long term problem with improper head shape. Be sure to practice the varying head positions and your baby should develop normally and right on time.
Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health problem. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Always consult with your health care provider about any kind of a health problem and especially before beginning any kind of an exercise routine.
Author: Connie Limon, Trilogy Field Representative. Visit: http://smalldogs2.com/NutritionHealthHub and http://www.camelotarticles.com
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. Article written 3-2007.
