Preventing Flat Heads in Babies Who Sleep on Their Backs
Why do some babies develop flat spots on their heads?
For the first 6 months, the safest place for your baby to sleep is on his back, in a crib in your room. Babies who
sleep on their back are much less likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is when an otherwise
healthy baby under one year of age dies suddenly, unexpectedly and for no apparent reason while sleeping. A baby’s
skull is very soft and the bones can be affected by pressure. Babies also have weak neck muscles and usually turn
their heads to one side when placed on their backs. Because of this, your baby’s skull may flatten. The medical term
for this flattening of the head is positional plagiocephaly.
A little bit of flattening goes away on its own. More serious flattening may not completely go away, but it WILL NOT
affect a baby’s brain or development.
Can flat head be prevented?
Most can be prevented. However, it is not always completely preventable. Even by using the sleep positioning described
below, some babies will develop flat parts on the back of their heads. A simple way to help prevent your baby from
getting a flat head is to change their position in the crib each day. Because your baby likes to have something interesting
to look at, they might turn their head to look at their room rather than toward the wall when they’re in their crib. This way
they can also see you come and go.
Here’s how you change your baby’s head position while still giving them the same “view” from their crib:
● One day, place your baby with their head toward the head of the crib.
● The next day, place your baby with their head toward the foot of the crib.
● Alternate your baby’s position every day.
● You can also try putting a mobile on the side of the crib facing the room to encourage your baby to look that way.
What else can I do to prevent my baby from getting a flat head?
Babies should also have supervised “tummy time” when they are awake, for 10 to 15 minutes and at least 3 times a day.
This means you set your baby down to play on their tummy. Not only does tummy time help prevent a flat spot on the
head, it’s important for your baby’s overall physical development.
If your baby still develops flat spots, talk to your family doctor.
https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/pregnancy-and-babies/preventing_flat_heads
What else can I do to help reduce the risk of SIDS?
The most important thing you can do to reduce the risk of SIDS is place your baby on their back to sleep.
● Breast/chest feeding your baby may give some protection against SIDS.
● Give your baby a soother (pacifier) while they sleep.
● Make sure that nobody smokes around your baby.
● Don’t put too many clothes on your baby.
https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/pregnancy-and-babies/safe_sleep_for_babies
Why do some babies develop flat spots on their heads?
For the first 6 months, the safest place for your baby to sleep is on his back, in a crib in your room. Babies who
sleep on their back are much less likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is when an otherwise
healthy baby under one year of age dies suddenly, unexpectedly and for no apparent reason while sleeping. A baby’s
skull is very soft and the bones can be affected by pressure. Babies also have weak neck muscles and usually turn
their heads to one side when placed on their backs. Because of this, your baby’s skull may flatten. The medical term
for this flattening of the head is positional plagiocephaly.
A little bit of flattening goes away on its own. More serious flattening may not completely go away, but it WILL NOT
affect a baby’s brain or development.
Can flat head be prevented?
Most can be prevented. However, it is not always completely preventable. Even by using the sleep positioning described
below, some babies will develop flat parts on the back of their heads. A simple way to help prevent your baby from
getting a flat head is to change their position in the crib each day. Because your baby likes to have something interesting
to look at, they might turn their head to look at their room rather than toward the wall when they’re in their crib. This way
they can also see you come and go.
Here’s how you change your baby’s head position while still giving them the same “view” from their crib:
● One day, place your baby with their head toward the head of the crib.
● The next day, place your baby with their head toward the foot of the crib.
● Alternate your baby’s position every day.
● You can also try putting a mobile on the side of the crib facing the room to encourage your baby to look that way.
What else can I do to prevent my baby from getting a flat head?
Babies should also have supervised “tummy time” when they are awake, for 10 to 15 minutes and at least 3 times a day.
This means you set your baby down to play on their tummy. Not only does tummy time help prevent a flat spot on the
head, it’s important for your baby’s overall physical development.
If your baby still develops flat spots, talk to your family doctor.
https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/pregnancy-and-babies/preventing_flat_heads
What else can I do to help reduce the risk of SIDS?
The most important thing you can do to reduce the risk of SIDS is place your baby on their back to sleep.
● Breast/chest feeding your baby may give some protection against SIDS.
● Give your baby a soother (pacifier) while they sleep.
● Make sure that nobody smokes around your baby.
● Don’t put too many clothes on your baby.
https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/pregnancy-and-babies/safe_sleep_for_babies
