Plagiocephaly is an increasingly common reason in pediatric physiotherapy consultations.
Since pediatricians recommend that babies always sleep on their backs to avoid sudden death, cases of plagiocephaly have increased exponentially.
Babies, especially in the first months, spend most of their time lying down, resting their little heads on hard surfaces. This continuous pressure can end up flattening the back of the skull, which has not yet fully closed, leading to plagiocephaly.
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Care® solutions for plagiocephaly
plagiocephaly
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Mattresses that prevent plagiocephaly and asphyxia
What is plagiocephaly?
Plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) is a deformity of the baby's skull that consists of an asymmetric lateral flattening at the back of the skull.
It occurs mainly in the first 6 months of life, when the skull is more malleable and the bones of the head (fontanelles) are still not well fused. Plagiocephaly is a condition more common than we think. According to various studies, it affects 47% of babies. Although it is a benign pathology when mild, its knowledge and prevention are important. Moderate or severe plagiocephaly can cause an alteration in the baby's skull with consequences that are not only aesthetic but also visual, mandibular, developmental, etc.
Why does it happen?
The most common is that it is a positional plagiocephaly due to postural causes.
This is due to the fact that babies spend many hours a day in the same position, sleeping on their backs to avoid SIDS and on hard surfaces that exert pressure on the back of the head.In some cases, plagiocephaly can be congenital due to the baby's position in the birth canal or lack of space in the womb. It can also occur when babies are premature, in multiple births, or when births are assisted.
Babies born with congenital torticollis are more likely to develop positional plagiocephaly.
What consequences does it have?
Plagiocephaly is not just an aesthetic issue.
Studies show that it may be related to other health problems that affect the development and growth of babies, at an aesthetic, developmental, and cranial level. Among them:- Visual problems (strabismus, astigmatism...).
- Hearing problems (infections such as otitis media)
- Dental malocclusion (bite problems).
- Cognitive or psychomotor delays in the development of fine and gross motor skills (difficulty in crawling, movement of arms and legs asymmetrically...)
- Language delay or in social skills, etc.
Why is the mattress important?
The mattress on which the baby sleeps must exert the least possible pressure on their head to avoid cranial deformation.
In the first weeks of life, a baby can sleep up to 18 hours a day! And the medical recommendation is that they sleep on their back to avoid the risk of suffocation and sudden death.
At Ecus Kids, we have designed the Care® mattress that reduces pressure on the baby's head by up to 70%, thanks to its foam shaped like small bubbles that provide numerous support points. In this way, we manage to prevent plagiocephaly or help correct it if the baby is already suffering from it.
How can we prevent it?
Most cases of plagiocephaly are mild and can be resolved with simple actions.
In addition to using a mattress that reduces pressure, it is important to limit the time the baby spends on hard surfaces such as the stroller or car seat, practice babywearing, regularly change the position of their head while sleeping, and when they are awake, place them on their stomach and stimulate neck movement with play.If it is suspected that the baby may have plagiocephaly, it is important to see a pediatrician or specialist to perform physiotherapy exercises and outline an appropriate treatment to avoid long-term complications.
The mattresses in the Care® range have been specifically designed to reduce pressure on the baby's head.
Thanks to its foam in the form of small bubbles, the baby's little head never rests in the same way, avoiding excessive and continuous pressure on one side of the head.CRIB MATTRESSES AND BASKETS
Care® solutions for plagiocephaly
Do you want to know more?
If you want to learn more about plagiocephaly, its causes, consequences, and how to prevent it, take a look at our blog. You will find information and tips to care for your baby's little head. We look forward to sharing with you all the information you need!
What is plagiocephaly and how can I tell if my baby has it?
During the first months of life, the skull grows spectacularly, which causes a mismatch between the size of the body and that of the head, making it difficult to detect plagiocephaly. Additionally, they start to have hair, which hides the sinking in the skull from plain sight.
The best way to monitor the development of plagiocephaly is in the shower, when we wash the baby's head and the hair sticks to the skull. We will look from above and from both sides, this way we will better detect any possible asymmetry.
Main causes of plagiocephaly
The skull of babies is very malleable as the cranial bone is not yet formed, which means that any prolonged external pressure or a certain sustained posture can cause a deformity that is noticeable at first glance.
The causes of plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome can occur during pregnancy or childbirth, but the most common is that they originate from prolonged exposure of the baby's head in the same position while sleeping. This is known as positional or postural plagiocephaly.
What consequences does plagiocephaly have?
In addition to the aesthetic deformity, plagiocephaly can also have consequences for the health and development of the baby.
Depending on the severity of the cranial deformity, there may be a risk of hearing problems, visual problems, bite problems, and motor development issues. It has also been observed that children with plagiocephaly may experience delays in cognitive and language development.
Plagiocephaly and other cranial deformities in babies
The shape of a baby's head at birth is a common concern for parents and healthcare professionals. In some cases, newborns may develop cranial deformities, and it is essential to understand the different shapes they can take and their possible causes.
Three of the most common cranial deformities in newborns are plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, and dolichocephaly or scaphocephaly.
Plagiocephaly is not just an aesthetic problem
Plagiocephaly or cranial deformity in babies is not just an aesthetic problem, but if it is not prevented or treated in a timely and appropriate manner, it can lead to a more severe flattening of the head that can have long-term consequences on the health and development of babies.
There are more severe cases of plagiocephaly in babies that have been associated with other health problems. The deformity in the shape of the head can alter the position of the eyes, ears, and jaw, which can cause facial asymmetry.
How to prevent plagiocephaly?
Some of the simplest tips on how to prevent plagiocephaly are: gently moving the baby's head every 2 hours while sleeping; avoiding long hours in the stroller or car seat; stimulating head movement with games and placing them on their stomach while awake; holding them in your arms and practicing babywearing, in addition to a mattress that reduces pressure.
In summary, stimulating the baby's head movement in some way and thus avoiding constant pressure on hard surfaces.
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How to prevent flat head syndrome in newborns?
In addition to the mattress, there are several behaviors that can help prevent positional plagiocephaly in newborns. Here are a series of very useful tips to avoid having the baby always in the same position:
- Tummy Time/ "tummy time": Whenever the baby is awake and under supervision, we will try to place them on their stomach for as long as possible. This practice will encourage the strengthening of the newborn's neck muscles, prompting them to move their head.
What is the best anti-plagiocephaly mattress?
An anti-plagiocephaly mattress is one that is designed to prevent cranial deformation in babies and avoid the appearance of plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome. It can be a good preventive measure against plagiocephaly and help solve the problems arising from plagiocephaly in the medium and long term.
The surface where the baby rests should be a safe, breathable, and adaptable mattress, especially in the areas where it is most needed, avoiding the continuous pressure exerted on the baby's head.
Plagiocephaly: one problem, two solutions
Plagiocephaly affects 47% of babies. At Ecus Kids, we work on the prevention of postural deformations in the skull in newborns and infants through our Care mattress line.
The mattresses in the Care series prevent and correct plagiocephaly, and are certified as health products by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) belonging to the Ministry of Health. These features make it the safest crib mattress for your baby.
Should I be worried about plagiocephaly?
In general, plagiocephaly does not cause pain or discomfort in the baby, but it can affect their physical appearance. While they are a baby, they will not realize that their head has an abnormal shape or that they have facial asymmetry in the position of the ears, for example.
But, as they grow, they may start to compare their appearance with that of other children, feel uncomfortable, be the subject of teasing, and decrease their self-esteem.
April 4: World Plagiocephaly Day
