Flat Head in Newborns: How to Recognize It?
Flat head in newborns is very common as there is still too little information on this problem.
In this article you will find out how to recognize it to intervene immediately, what are the degrees of severity of plagiocephaly and how it is possible to prevent and cure it.
What is flat head in newborns?
Flat head is one of the most common problems in newborns in the first months of life. In fact, it affects about 1 in 2 newborns within 4 months of the child.
The term “flat head”, however, is commonly used to define all types of postural cranial alterations , that is, changes in the shape of the child's head due to incorrect postures.
In the first months, the baby's skull grows very quickly and is very malleable. It is precisely from these properties that the risk of cranial deformation arises if the baby always maintains the same position. In fact, constant and continuous pressure in the same area of the skull leads to one of the types of flat head in newborns.
Types
It is possible to distinguish 3 types of postural cranial alterations based on the area of flattening of the newborn's head:
- Plagiocephaly : flattening in the posterolateral area;
- Brachycephaly : flattening in the back area;
- Dolichocephaly : flattening in the lateral area.
What causes flat head in newborns?
Flat head in newborns is caused by constant and prolonged pressure in the same area of the head; therefore, the cause is the postural attitudes that lead to its formation.
These can be of 2 types:
- Attitudes unintentionally put into action by parents;
- Attitudes put into practice by the child.
The first case includes the prolonged use of devices such as bouncers, pillows, car seats and all those that hinder the free movements of the neck. In fact, by preventing the child from moving his head in multiple directions, they inevitably lead to the development of a cranial alteration.
In the second case, however, there are usually contractures in the neck and/or back that cause the child to assume the same position continuously. One of the most common cases is myogenic torticollis.
How to recognize the presence of a postural cranial alteration
Unfortunately, most parents only notice the presence of one of the forms of flat head in their newborn when it is already very evident.
It is possible, however, to be able to recognize the onset of the problem right away in order to intervene promptly and resolve it in the best possible way and in the shortest possible time.
View from above
We lay the newborn down and position ourselves at his head.
First of all, it is important to observe the contours of the head starting from the center of the forehead and proceeding clockwise. These should be curved and soft . Furthermore, the right part should be symmetrical to the left part.
Next, we need to evaluate its width and length. Normally, a newborn's head is a little longer, in a ratio of 100 to 78 compared to its width .
Side view
After having assessed the head from above, it is necessary to place the baby first on the right side and then on the left.
We start where the nose ends and the forehead begins, and observe the soft, curved contours of the forehead, the top of the head and the back, down to the neck.
It is important to carefully observe the area behind the neck to ensure that there is no slight flattening (brachycephaly).
Classification of Plagiocephaly Degrees according to Argenta
As for plagiocephaly, it is possible to classify its entity using the Argenta grades which are based on the clinical observation of the newborn's head. The parameters that are evaluated are 3:
- severity of skull asymmetry;
- ear position;
- facial appearance.
The classification provides for 5 grades .