This is known as flat head syndrome and there are 2 main types.
Baby flat head one side.
The back of the head might look flatter on one side than on the other.
Researchers found that 47 percent of 440 2 month olds having routine check ups had what doctors call positional plagiocephaly where the back or one side of the head has a flat spot.
Positional molding is generally considered a cosmetic issue.
Flat head syndrome presents as a flattened area on the back or side of a baby s head.
Babies sometimes develop a flattened head when they re a few months old usually as a result of them spending a lot of time lying on their back.
Plagiocephaly the head is flattened on 1 side causing it to look asymmetrical.
In severe cases the forehead might bulge on the side opposite from the flattening and may look uneven.
It s typically noticed by the parent up.
When looking down at the baby s head the ear on the flattened side may look pushed forward.
It makes sense that a baby who spends more time looking in one direction will have a greatly increased chance of developing flat head syndrome positional or deformational plagiocephaly on that side of the back of the head.
Because a baby s skull is malleable a tendency to rest the head in the same position can result in an uneven head shape.
In severe cases it can affect the alignment of the ears eyes and jaw.
The ears may be misaligned and the head looks like a parallelogram when seen from above and sometimes the forehead and face may bulge a little on the flat side.
Plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome is when a baby s head is flat on one side.
Premature babies are especially prone to torticollis.
Torticollis occurs when a tight or shortened muscle on one side of the neck causes the chin to tilt to the other side.
As distressing as this can be to a new parent a flat head is treatable and doesn t mean your baby is in pain or will have any developmental delays.
It s linked to a baby sleeping exclusively on his back as well as spending a lot of time lying in a rocker car seat or swing.
Flat head syndrome or plagiocephaly as the condition is medically known occurs when a flat spot develops on the back or side of a baby s head.
The condition can cause the baby s head to look.
The back of the baby s head is flatter on one side.