You have just noticed that your baby has a flat head. He is probably suffering from a pathology called plagiocephaly. He is not alone! Since the late 1990s, the number of babies with plagiocephaly has dramatically increased . This period corresponds to the deployment of the Health Canada campaign advocating “sleep on the back”, which fortunately succeeded in reducing sudden infant death syndrome.
What is plagiocephaly?
What is plagiocephaly, exactly? In short, it is the flattening of the right or left side of the back of the skull. Depending on the severity levels, which range from moderate to severe, flat head syndrome presents with a flatter half of the skull in the back on one side with a bulging forehead and more advanced ear. But on the other side, the forehead looks flatter and the eye smaller.
How does plagiocephaly happen?
Plagiocephaly can form during pregnancy, during birth or after. At first, it is important to find the cause of the plagiocephaly with a doctor or physiotherapist in pediatrics. The malformation can result from a stiff neck, among others. But flat head syndrome is most often caused by the sleeping position of the newborn, who can spend more than 15 hours a day on his back either in his bed, his car seat or portable swing.
What to do if your baby has flat head syndrom?
The baby’s skull is malleable to allow rapid brain growth in the first months of life. This is why, by intervening early, we can in most cases reshape the shape of the skull by simple measures, such as varying the baby’s sleeping positions, and exercises such as placing it on the stomach for a few minutes, a few times a day, while awake.
Plagiocephaly treatment option: the cranial orthosis (helmet)
Wearing a cranial orthosis can also be recommended by a professional in the case of plagiocephaly and brachycephaly (a dish in the back center of the head). These baby’s helmets are used to redirect the growth of the skull by applying the necessary forces to the required places and provides the necessary clearance to reshape the child’s skull.
Measurement by 3D scan: fast, precise and without constraint
You can now avoid your baby the inconvenience of a long and uncomfortable plaster molding. Thanks to iBrace’s 3D scanning technology, measurements can be taken in seconds, without having to touch the baby’s head. The process is completely safe, due to the structured light without any rays. You get an ultra-precise custom cranial orthosis in one week.
Do not wait!
If a cranial orthosis is prescribed to treat your baby’s plagiocephaly, you can call on CEO Médic for the custom manufacturing of the helmet. The cost of the cranial orthosis is reimbursed by several insurance companies. CEO Médic has many locations on the North Shore, South Shore of Montreal and directly on the Island.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.
