Positional plagiocephaly—the flattening of a baby’s head due to constant pressure—is a problem that, ideally, shouldn’t exist because it’s incredibly easy to prevent. The key to avoiding this deformation is “physio-education”, which is not only affordable, but also has a drastic and positive impact on our babies’ health.
1. The Risk of Excessive Time on the Back
Since the recommendation in the 1990s for babies to sleep on their backs to prevent sudden infant death, head deformities and flattening increased significantly. The confusion arose because, out of fear, parents began leaving babies on their backs 24 hours a day.
The problem is simple: during the first year of life, the head grows very quickly, and because it is soft, it grows where it encounters the least resistance. If pressure is always applied to the same area, that area does not develop properly.
The main recommendation, in place since the late 1990s, is:
Sleep on the back, play on the tummy.
2. The Gift of “Tummy Time”
Babies should spend short periods on their tummy while awake, supervised, and accompanied—ideally starting from the very first day of life.
What do we achieve with tummy time?
• Prevention of deformities: You avoid excessive pressure on the same area of the head.
• Better Motor Development: Babies who spend more time on their tummy have much better overall development. It stimulates the cervical musculature, as the baby makes an effort to lift their gaze and connect with the world.
• Neurological Stimulation: Being on the tummy also helps prevent developmental issues that are correlated with plagiocephaly.
If tummy time hasn’t been practiced, the baby may complain at first, but this is simply due to lack of training. Consistency helps train the baby.
3. Other Ways to Avoid Excessive Pressure
In addition to playing on the tummy, babywearing or carrying the baby in your arms is an excellent way to reduce time spent in supported positions and to provide vestibular stimulation. A more “non-conformist” or restless baby—one who doesn’t want to stay in a single position—also has a protective factor against flattening, because they move more.
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