baby's head is flattening

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Question asked by: KimP Submitted by Anonymous on November 20, 2011
My son's head looks to be flat on one side and not growing in the correct shape. He favors sleeping on the right side of his face and head and no matter what I do he will not turn his head unless he is on his tummy. What can be done or will this eventually round back out?
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Comments

DrGreene

Babies' temporary flat heads

Babies' temporary flat heads became common and SIDS rates plummeted when babies started being put on their backs to sleep.

One of the best ways, Kim, to prevent/treat this early on is to alternate which end of the crib/bassinet/whatever a baby's head is on. Babies will often have a favorite spot to look in the room (often a door) and will try to look that direction from either vantage point.

Tummy time (while awake) also helps a lot. And it usually starts getting better when babies spend most of the their awake time sitting or on their tummies - not on their backs - and rounds out on its own.

There is a less common reason for an unusual head shape that we call "craniosynostosis". Here's an article I wrote about it (and also the more common positional molding from sleep position): http://www.drgreene.com/qa/craniosynostosis

My best to you both!