Cranial asymmetry: how to correct baby’s crooked head

You may have noticed that, in the first few months of life, some babies tend to have one side of their head different from the other. A study carried out by the Harvard Medical School proved that 12% of newborns actually have this deformity. In Brazil, this means that, among the 2.9 million babies born in 2008 (date of the last survey by the Ministry of Health), about 350,000 had positional plagiocephaly, better known as cranial asymmetry. The moment it is identified, the problem can scare parents, but experts say that this deformity is usually caused by simple posture defects in the baby.

According to Gerd Schreen, specialist in the subject and founder of CranialCare, in São Paulo, in the first months of life the child’s brain develops at a very high speed and quickly needs more space. “It literally pushes the bones out. If, at this stage, or even still inside the mother’s uterus, there is an obstacle in a certain region, that part will grow less than the others, thus appearing the flattening of the head”, explains the doctor. If the pregnancy is a twin, the incidence of asymmetry reaches 54%. There are also occurrences during childbirth, early fitting in the maternal pelvis or if there is little amniotic fluid during pregnancy. “What do these situations have in common? Somehow there is a limitation of space so that the baby’s head can grow freely.”

If the problem is identified early on – the treatment should be done between 3 and 14 months of the baby’s life – it can be reversed easily.

When to see a doctor

Your baby may also have so-called congenital torticollis, a condition where the head rests much more heavily on one side of the head. “Look at the photos she took in the first few months of her life. If the baby always appears looking the same way in the photos, you should look for a specialist to verify that there is no imbalance of forces in the neck muscles. The treatment generally involves motor physiotherapy to stretch and strengthen the cervical muscles and should be developed in parallel with the treatment of the cranial asymmetry”, advises Gerd. In the most severe asymmetries, it may be necessary to use a cranial orthosis, also informally called a little helmet. “It is made-to-measure and touches the regions that should not grow anymore. With this, it prevents support where there is flattening, shaping the natural growth of the skull. Usually, the problem resolves itself in three or four months.”

Keep an eye

Some simple recommendations help identify and treat positional plagiocephaly.

1. Look at the baby from top to bottom

That way, it will be easier to identify if there is any change in the skull. Generally, the ear and forehead on the flat side are “pushed” forward a little. The face can also be affected, with one cheek fuller than the other. In some cases, the entire back of the head is flattened, raising the top a little and widening it.

2. Vary the positions he stays in

Alternate, whenever possible, the position in which the baby usually sleeps, sucks or sits. A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that the little one should stay face down for about 30 to 60 minutes a day to help prevent or regress cranial deformations, but only while he is awake.

3. Exercise on it

Take advantage of the diaper change and place one of your hands on the top of the child’s chest and with the other move her little head – very carefully – so that her chin rests on her shoulder. This movement must be done to the right and to the left, with ten seconds permanence.

4. Set the cradle location

He must be in a position where the little one feels forced to look in the opposite direction to the flattened head, to see people in the room or mobiles, for example.

5. Care for the baby seat

Its excessive use, as well as that of the stroller, can trigger the problem. “There are children who even sleep the whole night in them and are fitted, without mobility and resting on the same region of the head”, says Gerd.