When a baby spends a lot of time in one position, it can cause the shape of their head to change. This is called a positional skull deformity.
For about 20% of babies, a positional skull deformity occurs when they are in the womb or in the birth canal. More often, it happens in the first 4 to 12 weeks of life. This is when babies are not able to sit up or move on their own. By 6 months of age, many babies become more mobile and can turn their heads on their own more regularly.
A baby’s skull has soft, bony plates that haven’t yet fused together. The bony plates can move a bit, which helps the baby’s head to pass through the birth canal. The plates also allow room for the brain to grow during the first year of life.
There are many things that can cause...
