Positional plagiocephaly has become increasingly common in recent years. It is estimated to affect approximately 30% of healthy babies, and in the case of multiple pregnancies the incidence may be even higher.
This increase began to be observed especially after the recommendation for babies to sleep on their backs became widespread, a fundamental measure for preventing sudden infant death syndrome. Although this recommendation is essential for the baby’s safety, it has also contributed to the more frequent appearance of positional cranial deformities, such as plagiocephaly or brachycephaly.
But faced with this reality, an important question arises: can plagiocephaly influence a baby’s development?
(At the end of this article, you can find the full video in which this topic is analysed in depth.)
What is positional plagiocephaly?
Positional plagiocephaly is a deformity of the baby’s skull, and in some cases also of the face, which occurs when the head remains supported on the same area for long periods of time.
A baby’s skull is very flexible and constantly growing. The brain pushes against the walls of the skull to expand, but if one area remains pressed for a prolonged period against a surface, growth cannot occur in that direction. As a result, the skull expands toward other areas and a characteristic asymmetry appears, often in the shape of a parallelogram.
One of the factors that most favours its appearance is the baby’s preference for always turning the head to the same side. When there is also a cervical restriction or torticollis, the risk of developing plagiocephaly increases.
Is there a relationship between plagiocephaly and development?
For many years, plagiocephaly was considered mainly a cosmetic issue that would correct itself as the child grew. However, more recent research has explored its possible relationship with infant development.
Some studies have observed that babies with moderate or severe plagiocephaly more frequently present certain developmental difficulties, such as:
▪️ delays in motor development during the first months
▪️ poorer coordination and motor control skills at school age
▪️ some differences in cognitive testing
▪️ a greater presence of language difficulties
In studies that have followed children up to 8 or 9 years of age, differences have been found in tests of motor skills, such as manual coordination, strength, agility, or movement control.
Is plagiocephaly the cause?
A key point highlighted by researchers is that a relationship between two phenomena does not necessarily mean that one causes the other.
One of the most widely accepted hypotheses at present is that the process may actually be the other way around.
It is possible that some babies have greater difficulties moving or controlling their bodies right from the beginning. These babies tend to remain in static positions for longer periods, which increases pressure on certain areas of the skull and favours the development of plagiocephaly.
From this perspective, plagiocephaly would not necessarily be the cause of developmental difficulties, but rather a possible early indicator that this baby needs a more careful evaluation of motor development.
The importance of early detection
Beyond the question of origin, what matters is that when plagiocephaly is detected—especially when it is moderate or severe—it is advisable to assess the baby’s motor development.
Paediatric physiotherapy can help to:
▪️ improve cervical mobility
▪️ encourage the baby’s active movement
▪️ guide families on positioning and daily handling
▪️ support early motor development
The goal is not only to improve the shape of the head, but to promote healthy overall development.
Full video
In the following video, the relationship between plagiocephaly, motor development, and cognitive development is analysed in greater detail, along with a review of some of the most relevant studies on this topic.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OmG9RdRtGmA&t=10s
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