How to Tell if Baby Is Getting a Flat Head
Flat head syndrome, as well called positional plagiocephaly, develops in babies because of external pressures on the soft, malleable babe skull. Information technology is more than common now that babies sleep on their backs, every bit recommended by SIDS safety guidelines.
While one in five children are affected by flat head syndrome, parents receive mixed messages virtually whether it has an impact on evolution, and clinicians don't have proficient prove to allay fears.
Our review published this week shows that while not all children displaying a apartment head will experience developmental problems, the syndrome can be used equally a marker of potential developmental filibuster. We make the recommendation that children with apartment head exist assessed for developmental delays.
What is flat head syndrome and why does it develop?
Flat head syndrome presents as a flattened area on the back or side of a infant's head. In severe cases it can affect the alignment of the ears, eyes and jaw. Information technology's typically noticed by the parent up to the fourth month of historic period. Information technology can be nowadays at birth or develop over fourth dimension, upwards to nearly the 18 month mark when the baby's skull bones are harder and fixed in place.
The syndrome develops because of external pressures to the soft, malleable babe skull. It's get more common since 1992, when the SIDS safe sleeping entrada Dorsum to Sleep (now known every bit Safe to Slumber) began. This entrada saved lives, and continues to practice so.
With the demand for rigorous data on whether apartment caput syndrome leads to developmental filibuster, we reviewed existing medical literature to inform clinicians and parents on the land of noesis in this area. There were 19 studies that met our strict quality criteria, in which the children's ages ranged from three months to ten years.
Identifying adventure
Our review shows flat caput syndrome is a mark of developmental delay. Delay can occur in 1 or multiple areas of evolution known equally domains. For children with flat head, delays were observed most unremarkably in the motor domain, controlling muscular activities such every bit walking (gross motor) and holding a spoon (fine motor). The second and third nigh common delays were observed in language and cognition (such as speaking or understanding one'southward own name).
Although we sought to accost whether apartment head leads to delays, or whether delays are causing apartment caput, none of the studies conducted to date are able to answer this question. Thus, given there is a link, but the direction is to exist determined, we make the recommendation that children with flat head be assessed for developmental delays.
Unproblematic developmental milestones should exist met (inside the normal variation). When not met, clinicians (GPs, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses) can use standardised assessment tools to more objectively assess the child's evolution and refer for early intervention if necessary.
Our review institute children with apartment head who had developmental delays on multiple domains (such as motor, learning and cognition), or who had low muscle tone, were a special loftier risk group where intervention and longer-term follow-up would likely be helpful.
Our review found delays were more common in newborn to 2-yr-olds, but delays did persist to preschool and schoolhouse aged children in some cases, although there is less knowledge on the older age groups.
Most children with apartment caput syndrome will be fine
While information technology is difficult to say with confidence what proportion of children with flat head will experience a developmental delay, it is likely most children with flat caput will exist fine in terms of their development.
In the studies included in the review, virtually 10-25% of the children had developmental delays beyond that expected (although the range observed was three-51% depending on the report). Some studies presented this in terms of risk, and reported children with flat caput were upward to ten times more likely to experience developmental delays than children without flat head.
How parents can foreclose or reduce flat head
The benefits of following the SIDS guidelines far outweigh whatever concerns about flat head, given death could effect from non following rubber sleeping recommendations. Babies should be put to slumber on their backs in a house, flat surface area, free of toys, pillows or other items, in a non-smoking environment.
Habitation prevention of flat caput syndrome is possible. Stomach fourth dimension while awake and supervised – a niggling flake every twenty-four hours starting from birth – can help strengthen neck muscles, and provide time off the back and sides of the head. Altering the position of baby while awake (holding, or in a carrier) is as well helpful.
Some children are at heightened risk of flat caput syndrome, such as premature babies, those with a challenging birth, or who have torticollis (also known as wry or twisted neck), so yous should non feel guilty if your child has a apartment head. If concerned at any time, yous should seek advice from a health professional. Since babies receive vaccinations at several time points during their showtime twelvemonth this can be an opportune time to seek cess and advice.
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Source: https://theconversation.com/do-you-need-to-worry-if-your-baby-has-a-flat-head-71794
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