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Why is My Baby's Head Uneven?

Victoria Alberty • May 26, 2023

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Want to avoid helmet head?

Plagiocephaly and brachycephaly is a condition in which a baby’s head develops unevenly. This

will look like a flat spot, flat backside of the head, protruding forehead, or any shape that is not

‘normal’. These issues are quite common, affecting 1 in every 5 babies. Although this condition

is not painful to the baby, it is not optimal for proper motor and brain development.

A young baby’s skull is soft and not completely fused yet. This is because the cranial bones need

to be flexible to endure the birth process. As the baby grows, these bones fuse together by age

2. This means you have a small window of time to make sure your baby’s head develops

optimally.

Here are some reasons why a baby’s head may not form evenly:

- Positioning in the womb

o Baby’s need as much room as possible in the womb to develop the spine and

cranium. Low fluid, poor baby positioning, breech presentation, multiple baby’s

sharing space, or pelvic issues with mom can increase the chances.


- Sleeping on their back

o When a baby spends too much time on their back, this can create flatness. Many

believe the ‘back is best’ sleeping principle. However, this does increase the

likelihood of flat spots.


- Lack of tummy time

o A baby’s cranial bones develop in response to stress. This means the bones

needs to be exercised. As a baby spends time on their tummy, their neck muscles

get stronger and pull on the bones of the skull. This creates optimal head shape

and neck strength.

- Premature birth

o Early born babies may have higher chances of plagiocephaly or brachycephaly

simply because their bones are softer and they may spend less time being held

by mom.

- Torticollis

o Torticollis is a spasm of the neck muscles. This usually forces baby’s head to be

turned in a certain way. Leading to more pressure on one side and less range of

motion in the neck; further perpetuating flat spots.


- Craniosynostosis

o This is a serious condition that needs medical intervention. It is caused by the

cranial bones fusing together too early. Intervention and possible surgery is

needed to correct this in order to let baby’s brain grow appropriately.


The good news!

Chiropractic is an incredibly powerful tool to help baby’s develop proper head shape. Did you

know that pediatric trained chiropractors, like us at Thrive Family Chiropractic are well versed in

plagiocephaly and brachycephaly? We work on cranial bones everyday to ensure that proper

head shape is achieved. Believe it or not, optimal head shape is crucial for proper brain


development. There are specific areas of the brain that are responsible for balance, speech, and

motor skills. If the cranial bones don’t allow for growth of the brain, we can see developmental

issues in those areas. Also, if your baby is struggling with tummy time it will certainly impact the

development of their head and brain.

If you’re noticing that your baby has an unevenly shaped head, we are here to help. Many

babies can experience a tough birthing experience and this can lead to head, neck, and motor

skill delays. Or maybe you want to be preventative and ensure your baby’s head and neck

develop optimally. We are here for you!

Don’t take a chance and wait. Get your baby checked! We are here to answer any questions

and help your baby achieve every milestone with ease.

(562) 386-1415

www.ThriveFamChiro.com

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