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