Mild flattening of the head usually corrects itself if you use simple measures to take pressure off the affected area of the skull. More severe cases of brachycephaly or plagiocephaly can still be improved over time, but some flattening usually remains.
Is there a cure for brachycephaly and plagiocephaly? No treatment is necessary for mild cases of brachycephaly and plagiocephaly. Your baby’s skull should naturally correct itself over time if you take some simple measures to take pressure off the flattened part of their head and encourage them to try different positions. You may find the following advice helpful:
Do you have to have surgery for brachycephaly? This is known as craniosynostosis. This can pull the baby’s head out of shape and will need to be corrected with surgery (see below). No treatment is necessary for mild cases of brachycephaly and plagiocephaly.
How is the back of a baby’s head flattened? There are two main ways that a baby’s head can become flattened: The head can become flattened at one side, causing the head to look asymmetrical and distorted (for example, so that the ears are not aligned). This is known as plagiocephaly. The whole back of the head can become flattened, causing a widening of the head.
When does the baby’s head correct itself after birth? Plagiocephaly and brachycephaly develop when constant pressure is placed on one side of the baby’s skull . After most births – and the baby’s trip down the birth canal – the head might look elongated for a little while. This usually corrects itself within six weeks after the birth but sometimes part of the skull might become flat
Are there any other treatment options for brachycephaly?
Are there any other treatment options for brachycephaly? Brachycephaly treatment options, including the TiMBand ™ and TiMBandAir ™, are just as effective as treatment for plagiocephaly. If treatment is started early enough and the helmet is worn as prescribed, the brachycephaly helmet can make an impactful and permanent improvement to your baby’s quality of life.
Can a baby with brachycephaly have plagiocephaly? Babies with brachycephaly may have: It might be that your baby has plagiocephaly, which is an asymmetrical head shape that usually involves one side of the head being flatter than the usual. In most cases, babies have a combination of brachycephaly and plagiocephaly.
How does a helmet help an infant with brachycephaly? Brachycephaly Helmet During treatment, parents see a significant improvement in head shape, even just a few weeks into treatment. For an infant with brachycephaly, the TiMBand™ and TiMBandAir™ allow the head to grown and develop in a guided way, improving the overall head shape.
How does brachycephaly affect the back of the head? Brachycephaly is a form of flat head syndrome and is characterised by a flattening at the back of the head, with the width of the head being wider than usual. Unlike plagiocephaly, there is no asymmetry with this condition.