Is the baby's head shape caused by sleeping? The best time to correct the baby's head shape

When a baby is born, some have defects in their head shape and are not round enough, while others may have a tilted head due to their sleeping posture. These problems can be adjusted through sleeping posture before the baby's head shape is finalized. So when is the best time to start adjusting?

New mothers always pay attention to their baby's every move. In the process of daily care, in addition to the baby's eating, drinking, defecating and urinating, how the baby sleeps is also a major issue that many young mothers pay close attention to: supine, prone, side-lying... Which sleeping position can give the baby a beautiful head shape without any safety risks?

Do babies need pillows?

In many areas, the elderly at home insist on having newborns sleep with various pillows, sleeping with their heads flat, sleeping with their heads fixed, etc. As a result, because of this insistence, many newborns have crooked heads when sleeping.

The human spine has four curves - cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral. These four curves will gradually form as infants grow. Only when the cervical curve is formed, a pillow is needed. The cervical curve will be formed when the child can sit up independently. Therefore, it is recommended to use a pillow only when the child can sit up independently. Regardless of whether you use a pillow or not, it is best to change the sleeping posture {lying flat, left or right side position, prone position (not allowed within 3 months)} frequently to avoid abnormal head shape due to sleeping posture.

The best time to correct baby's head shape

★Most important within 2 months

As the baby grows older, the hardness of the skull increases, the bone sutures close together, and the shape of the head is unlikely to change. At this time, the baby is about 2 months old.

★It is still possible to make adjustments within 3 months

If you find that your baby's head shape is asymmetrical after 2 months, it is still in time to adjust it within 3 months, so parents don't need to be too anxious. Babies over 3 months old have a basically fixed head shape and can have more freedom in their sleeping positions.

★ Closure of fontanelle determines lifelong

Generally speaking, the baby's anterior fontanelle will close when the baby is one to one and a half years old. After the baby's anterior fontanelle closes, the head shape is fixed and it is difficult to change.

What methods are there to help babies shape a perfect head shape?

1. The baby's active head turning helps shape the head

When the baby is lying in bed or in a stroller, parents can consciously train the baby to turn his head more through toys or sounds. If the baby's head is tilted to one side, you can guide him to turn to the other side.

2. Adjust the direction of sleep to correct asymmetrical head shape

When sleeping, try to let the baby sleep on his back, which is safe and conducive to the shaping of the head. The baby is very smart and can judge which side the mother is on based on the smell, and the head will unconsciously turn to that side. If the mother and baby sleep in the same bed, it is recommended that the mother do not sleep on the same side of the baby, but can sleep on the other side; if the baby sleeps in the crib by himself, he should also change the sleeping direction frequently, such as turning his head to sleep, so as to avoid long-term pressure on one side of the baby's head.

3. Lying down more often helps improve the natural shape of your head

After the baby wakes up, let him play on his tummy more. This is very helpful for correcting the head shape. Lying on his tummy more can also increase the baby's exercise, which is conducive to the development of motor skills and can effectively exercise the strength of the neck, back and arms.

4. Hugging more can avoid long-term pressure on the back of the head

Babies are young and spend most of their time sleeping, which causes long-term pressure on the back of their heads. Therefore, it is recommended to hold them more often when feeding or when they are awake, and you can try holding them in different positions and directions. But remember that it is not recommended to hold them upright too early, as this will affect the development of the spine. If the baby can keep his head up and has a strong neck when lying on his stomach, you can hold him upright.

For babies with slightly asymmetrical heads, you can try the above methods to help restore their head shape. If the head shape is seriously deformed, it is recommended to take the child to a professional hospital for treatment. According to research, even if the baby has a slightly asymmetrical head shape when he is young, the situation will continue to improve naturally as the child grows up and will basically not continue until puberty. Therefore, parents do not need to worry too much.

Does the baby need a shaping pillow to shape his head when sleeping?

Many mothers like to use shaping pillows for their babies, but babies at different ages have different needs for pillows. So, do babies really need shaping pillows during infancy? When is the best time to start using shaping pillows? Mothers should learn carefully and stop being "confused mothers".

1. Children under 3 months old should not use shaping pillows

Babies under 3 months old have straight spines, and both lying flat and lying on their sides are correct sleeping positions. As long as the baby's back and the back of the head remain on the same plane for a short time, the skull will not develop abnormally. Using a shaping pillow may hinder the free movement of the baby's head and affect the development of the baby's skull.

2. 3-6 months: The height of the shaping pillow should not exceed 2cm

At this stage, the baby's cervical spine has a physiological curvature. In order to maintain the physiological curvature during sleep, the mother can consider using a shaping pillow for the baby. However, the height of the pillow should not exceed 2cm, otherwise it will affect the development of the spine.

3. 6 months to 1 year old: The height of the shaping pillow should not exceed 4 cm

As the baby grows, the height of the pillow should be adjusted. However, when the baby is under 1 year old, the height of the shaping pillow should not exceed 4cm, otherwise it will affect the baby's breathing and blood circulation in the neck. When the baby is 1 year old, the head has basically taken shape, and you can use an ordinary baby pillow with a height of 6-9cm.