In the majority of cases, it doesn’t affect brain development or growth. Positional plagiocephaly is considered more of a cosmetic issue than a medical one. That can cause them to favor one side, which may lead to plagiocephaly or another skull deformity. Reduced space in the uterus or being in a breech position makes it harder for the baby to twist their neck and move their head. It’s often caused by limited space in the uterus or being in a breech position. This is a condition in which an infant’s neck muscles are stiff or imbalanced. These instruments put pressure on the skull and its malleable bones, which could lead to plagiocephaly. Positional plagiocephaly is more common in premature babies than full-term babies. They are also more likely to have lengthy hospital stays where they spend much of their time lying on their backs. Being pretermīabies born prematurely have softer bones than those born at term. When womb space is tight, a baby’s skull has a greater than normal risk of being compressed. Tummy time can also help your baby to build strength and muscles necessary for rolling over, crawling, sitting up, and, eventually, walking.

As your baby develops more muscle strength and neck control, you can increase the session duration. Start with a few minutes per session, and a few sessions a day. When your baby is awake, place them on their tummy atop a blanket or mat. Your baby may cry when you put them on their tummy, but it’s important to offer several tummy-time sessions a day. Adequate tummy time while you are awake and watching them can help reduce their risk of this condition. Plagiocephaly is more likely the more time your baby spends on their back. A bouncer or baby seat can also help to reduce their risk.

Spending time carrying your baby, either in your arms or a carrier, instead of having them lie down for extended periods of time. To reduce risk of plagiocephaly, give your baby ample tummy time while they are awake. It’s recommended to always put your baby to sleep on their back to reduce risk of sudden infant death (SIDS). Putting your baby to sleep in the same position day after day, for example, on their back or with their head facing right or left, puts consistent pressure on the same parts of the skull.īabies are most at risk of positional plagiocephaly in the first four months of life, before they have the ability to roll over by themselves. There are several possible causes for positional plagiocephaly: Sleeping position It can also run in families and is sometimes a part of inherited disorders.Īccording to a review published in the Indian Journal of Human Genetics, more than 180 syndromes, including Apert syndrome and Crouzon syndrome, can be associated with congenital plagiocephaly. Congenital plagiocephaly is thought to occur by chance during fetal development.

Infant misshapen head