Isn't it just the cutest thing ever when babies have tiny little heads? They're so adorable with their round and chubby cheeks. But what happens when your little one develops a flat spot on their head? It doesn't look quite as cute then, does it?
Don't panic – there are plenty of ways to correct baby flat head. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about how baby flat heads develop, why they're becoming more common and how you can prevent or correct them.
Understanding Baby's Skull Growth
Babies' skulls may seem solid but they are actually made up of seven bony plates joined together by soft fibrous tissue called sutures. This design allows for flexibility which is necessary during childbirth.
As the child grows older, these sutures start turning into bone making the skull sturdy and less flexible. Ideally, by one year of age, most babies’ skulls should be fully ossified (turned into bone) with all growth completed.
However, sometimes infants undergo an abnormal growth pattern causing compression on one side of the skull leading to flattened areas due to constant pressure from lying on their back in cribs or car seats (1).
The Significance Of Tummy Time And Its Influence On A Baby's Development
Tummy time also plays a significant role in preventing flat spots as well as delaying flattening that may have already occurred (2).
Tummies time is essential; starting from birth until 6 months old -- given at intervals throughout each day (3-5 times daily) for short periods between playtimes naps this will help promote neck mobility movements like rolling over etc., all designed towards developing gross motor skills which improves cognitive functions later in life"
Make it fun by placing toys within reach but not too easy either! You’ll see them making the effort to pick them up, and this works on their shoulder girdle stability muscles too.
How Do You Know If Your Baby Has Flat Spot?
It’s natural to worry about the appearance of your baby's head, but how do you know for sure if there is an actual problem? A flat spot may appear at one or both sides of the back of your baby’s head.
The flatter surface might be noticed especially when observing from above as compared to a rounder growth (4). Rapidly it becomes more apparent over time with measurement differences between two different parts of her skull noted.
Steps To Correcting Flat Spots On Baby's Head
Fortunately, if caught early enough, infant positional plagiocephaly can be corrected easily (5). Here are some steps you can take to correct flat spots on baby's head:
Reposition
Ensure during nap times that they are laid in various positions rather than exclusively only one position all day long while they’re awake: carrying them facing forward; placing them onto their tummy frequently under supervision etc., utilize each opportunity!
Eliminate Passivity
Try using interesting toys placed around/overhanging mirrors nears where put so they have an incentive towards looking not just lying passively!
Provide Enough Supervision
Since babies need supervision when doing these corrective measures (whether it’s constant monitoring during Tummy Time or sleeping) avoid leaving him unattended since falling over objects nearby would cause immense harm.Therefore its recommended he will secure any necessary structure/carrier required/supervised place First before starting playtime sessions with children without adult presence!
Surgical Intervention
Most cases don’t require surgical intervention/helmet therapy as It requires treatment through reshaping during growth stages given appropriate conditions which should also lower risks associated post operational effect due Invasiveness by traditional methods used previously (6).
In rare cases, specialized helmets may be used for severe cases requiring orthotic procedures/treatments or physical therapy as medically recommended by specialists (7) . This is done when other interventions have not been effective.
How Baby Flat Head Becomes More Common
There has been a rapid increase in the rate of flat spots on baby's heads over the years, and this is due to various reasons.
Firstly , infants sleep for an average of 14-16 hours per day, which means that there are plenty of chances for them to lie down for extended periods Of time, hence increasing possibility of development Flat spots (8).
Another emerging factor rising fast comes from flawed Back-To-Sleep policy which emphasizes putting babies to sleep on their backs because it lowers sudden infant death syndrome risks but leads to uneven pressure points developing skull flattening instead(9).
Additionally, the surge in technology use with cardboard boxes & pads-only based sleeping surfaces promoting unconscious back-to-sleep behavior isn’t Safe anymore since they contribute negatively towards unhealthy head shapes Too.
Take Away
So don't worry! While you should always keep your little one's health and development at heart’s forefront -- but a few simple steps can go a long way in reducing/eliminating chances developing flattened head posture while promoting growth overall--especially through tummy time intervals being encouraged frequently!!