Percent of babies affected
Develops during infancy
Percentage increase
The long-term effects
The effects
Importance of early prevention
Before birth
Help prevent Flat Head Syndrome
As you know, babies are fragile; their heads are very soft and malleable during the first months of life and their necks are weak. And like their parents, babies have preferences for how they like to sleep.
During the first six months of life, a baby’s head can develop a flat spot due to constant pressure on a specific area.
What’s the root of the problem?
Babies these days are spending more time than ever on their backs.
Ever since the Back to Sleep program recommended that babies sleep on their backs to avoid Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), babies now spend the majority of their time, both awake and asleep, on their backs.
Whether they are resting in a crib, a carrier, a stroller, a bouncer, a play mat, a car seat, or nestled in the crook of your arm, babies’ heads will be resting in their preferred position, flat against a hard surface.
The more time babies spend lying on their backs—and these days it’s quite a bit— the more likely they are to develop a flat spot where their heads press against the mattress, car seat, or floor.
Medical Ramifications
The long and short term effects of Flat Head syndrome
While it is not necessarily dangerous in itself, Flat Head Syndrome can cause an assortment of medical issues down the line, including cognitive delays, motor delays, and visual impairments, and frequently results in babies developing several problems:
These particular medical conditions can result in a baby developing various other medical problems down the line, which is why it’s so vital to prevent Flat Head Syndrome from occurring in the first place and to attend to it as soon as it evidences.
While working as a mother, neonatologist, and pediatrician, Dr. Scott witnessed first-hand the proliferation of Flat Head Syndrome and its associated medical issues. This inspired her to create the Tortle, a head repositioning beanie that helps to combat Flat Head Syndrome by periodically changing your baby’s head position, and thus preventing her from resting her head on one spot for too long.
Dr. Jane is an advocate for healthy movement and deliberate repositioning of an infant’s head from birth, as these actions are key to healthy development.