Flathead, or positional plagiocephaly, occurs when one portion of a baby's head flattens out. The condition may consist of a minor flat spot or a more noticeable flat area that takes up the entire side or back of your baby's head. Babies' skulls are soft and made up of separate bones, making them susceptible to shape changes from pressure or muscular problems. Positional plagiocephaly is usually easy to treat and goes away by the time a baby is a year old, according to KidsHealth. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about your baby's development or growth.
Step 1
Place your baby on his stomach on the floor once his neck muscles are strong enough for him to hold his head up. Flathead is often a result of babies spending too much time lying on their backs.
Step 2
Lay your baby in her crib with her head facing opposite directions to prevent a flat spot from forming on either side of her head.
Step 3
Alternate which way you hold your baby when breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, recommends BabyCenter. Putting constant pressure on the same area of your infant's head while feeding can lead to a flat spot.
Step 4
Talk to your child's doctor about alternating his sleeping position from his back to his side. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing babies on their backs to sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, but your doctor may recommend allowing your infant to lie on his side some of the time if the back of his head starts developing a flat spot.
Step 5
Roll up a towel or blanket to place behind your baby's back to prevent her from rolling over if her doctor recommends putting her to sleep on her side, recommends BabyCenter.
Step 6
Move your baby's crib to different positions in the nursery or move objects that are likely to catch his attention to different areas around the room. If your baby continually turns to look at a particular item or gaze out a window, he could develop a flat spot.
