Does my baby have flat head? 
Frequently Asked Questions 
How is flat head treated? 
Success Stories
Depending on a baby’s most common sleeping position, the skull takes on a different shape.
Types Of Flat Head Syndrome
Asymmetrical Brachycephaly
- Head is excessively wider and taller than normal with sloped forehead
- Facial asymmetry present (where ears and eyes might appear mis-aligned)
- Combination of plagiocephaly and brachycephaly, top head shape resembles a trapezoid
Brachycephaly
- Tips of ears protrude
- Face appears smaller to size of head
- Widest part of head is just above ears
- Flattened back of head visible from side view and head shape resembles a trapezoid from above
- Head is abnormally wide (in normal head shapes, width is 73-78% of length)
- Head can be high at the back causing a bulging forehead visible from side view
Plagiocephaly
- Head shape resembles a parallelogram from top view
- Facial asymmetry might be present (differing positions of ears, sizes of cheeks, eyes)
- Most common flat head syndrome type, also known as deformational or positional plagiocephaly
- Asymmetrical (misshapen) head shape results from repeated pressure to the same area causing flatness on one side
Scaphocephaly
- Deformity of proportion
- Characterised by a long and narrow head shape caused by constant positioning of the baby on one side
- Premature babies are particularly prone to this as their skulls are fragile and side-lying positions are used in neonatal intensive care for easy access to equipment
More Resources
Does my baby have flat head? Frequently Asked Questions How is flat head treated? Success Stories