Newborn Head Shapes: What's Normal?

Many newborns have vaguely irregular heads, sometimes moms and dads are concerned over these slight differences in their babies. Because of these flat spots that are created by either the birthing process when the baby passes through the birth canal or by spending a little too much time in one position. These issues usually even out all on their own and parents can prevent these flat spot by switching around their babies positions more often.

Flat spots are usually caused due to the baby being places on the back to sleep. With the sudden rise of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) most people know the important of putting their child to sleep on their back. This "flattened head" condition is called pladiocephaly to prevent flat spot just ensure your baby gets a lot of tummy time during the day while they are wide away.

Soft spots are also known as fontanel's the main purpose is to give the skull the ability to compress and shift so it can ass freely through the birth canal. Secondly it allows rapid growth of the brain the first year of the child, and thirdly it gives indication of dehydration, the fontanel will become depressed.

Head Shapes:

A normal head shape is 1/3 longer then it is wider.

Brachycephaly: wider then length, back of head is flat

Plagiocephaly: flat on one side

Scaphocephaly: long and narrow

If you notice your baby's skull shape is not improving after positioning the baby after 2 to 4 months you will want to contact the baby's physician to discuss alternative means. Your newborns head shape made need to be fitted with devices such as a helmet or headband to assist with proper shaping. These are very rare cases and very seldom need to take place but in the event your baby's head shape needs this type of treatment usually the treatment takes place over 12 weeks. The actual shape of your baby's head cannot be deemed as normal or not normal but the severity of situation and how long you have been trying to correct the problem is what makes the situation normal or not.

This article is not meant to serve as a diagnosis but as a guide for you to understand the skull shapes and to contact your child's doctor in the event that after repeated changing in positions does not help your newborns head shape.

Sources: Cranial Technologies Inc. http://www.cranialtech.com. 1997. 2009