Preventing flat head syndrome is easy: you just need to make sure your baby’s head is not leaning against a hard surface for long periods of time.

Why? A newborn has a soft, rapidly growing skull. This means it will quickly adapt to outside pressure. Long stretches leaning against a car seat, lying in the same position on a firm mattress or tilted to one side in a carrier can make one section of your baby’s skull flatten at the place where their head touches the firm surface.

Happily, flat head syndrome can correct itself with simple repositioning exercises! Keep reading to find out how easy it is to prevent simple flat head syndrome in your newborn.

4 Ways to Prevent Flat Head Syndrome in Your Newborn

Parents and caregivers can prevent flat head syndrome in newborns (known medically as a positional skull deformity) by adding Tummy Time to their little one’s daily routine, alternating sleep positions, avoiding long stretches in car seats and carriers, and alternating sides during feedings. 

The official term for this is active repositioning.

1. Daily Tummy Time

Tummy Time is the most effective preventative measure because it completely removes pressure from the back of the skull while building the neck and shoulder muscles necessary for head control. Luckily for parents, it’s easy and fun!

From 0 to 3 months old, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend at least 30-minutes of Tummy Time per day (not necessarily all at once) by the time the infant is 3 months old. 

You can begin by breaking up this time into shorter sessions, such as 3 to 5 minutes at a time after diaper changing. As your baby grows, you can increase the time. We recommend tracking how much Tummy Time your baby has had (and work up to your goals) using the LAM Tummy Time tracker. 

2. Alternate head positions during safe sleep

While infants must always sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), you can help avoid a flat spot by alternating the direction they face so that each side of their head gets a rest.

One way to do this is to switch which end of the crib you place your baby’s head each night. Because babies naturally turn their heads toward the center of the room (or towards something interesting, like a window), changing their position forces them to turn their head both left and right on different nights. 

Or if your baby naturally sleeps with their head turned to one side, you can gently turn it to the opposite side after they fall asleep.

3. Limit time in car seats and strollers

Car seats and strollers feature rigid backs that hold an infant’s head in one position, which can contribute to flattening the skull.

It’s recommended that you use car seats strictly for vehicle travel. Once you arrive at your destination, take your baby out of the car seat and carry them upright.

Other baby containers, like swings, bouncers and molded floor seats are not recommended for newborns, and should be used for a limited time even for babies over 3 months old (and only if necessary). The absolute best environment for an infant’s physical and cranial development is a flat, open space on the floor.

4. Alternate sides during feeds and carrying

Regardless of whether you bottle-feed or breast-feed, be sure to switch arms regularly. This prevents the baby from always resting the same side of their head against your arm.

When you carry your baby, alternate the hip or shoulder you use to encourage them to look in different directions to see you and the room. 

Types of Flat Head SyndromeInfographic Guide to Flat Head Syndrome in Newborns

There are two primary types of positional flat head syndrome that can be easily remedied by active repositioning:

Flattening on one side of the back of the head

Flattening on one side of the back of the head, called Positional Plagiocephaly, will often cause the ear or forehead on that side to look pushed forward.

Flattening on the entire back of the head

Uniform flattening across the entire back of the head, called Positional Brachycephaly, causes the head to look wider from the front.

Craniosynostosis (Non-Positional Flat Head Syndrome)

There is also another type of flat head syndrome that is not caused by baby’s position. It is a rare congenital condition where the skull bones fuse prematurely. This cannot be prevented through positioning and must be diagnosed by a medical professional.

LAM Flat Head Check Helps You Assess Your Baby’s Head Shape Regularly

Babies grow so quickly! Baby’s one month old developmental milestones include basic, minimal head movements, but remember that their neck muscles are still very weak, so be sure to proceed gently and gradually with Tummy Time and always support their head when carrying them or changing position.

It’s important to check your little one’s head shape regularly to make sure everything is developing smoothly. Use the LAM Flat Head Check to assess your infant’s head shape at any time using your phone. Just take a quick video of your baby’s head and get an instant analysis that meets clinical standards.

The app will catch any flat areas or abnormal development patterns (such as brachycephaly and scaphocephaly), provide severity measurements, and provide recommendations on what can be done (including when you should talk to your doctor).

If you have questions, you can use our pediatric chatbot, LIA, for clarification.

The founders of the Little Angel Medical Child Health App are parents and medical professionals who know what it means to need reassurance about your baby’s progress. Download a free trial today!