Why does my baby have a weird head shape?

So many parents envision a very different experience than the one they get with their newborns. Instead of the relaxed, cuddly baby who just eats, sleeps, and poops, do you have a baby who arches, scream, and struggle to feed? Does your baby's head look asymmetrical - long, or tall, or with a flat spot? Is it difficult to emotionally connect, to get enough rest, or do you feel like all your energy is going to just getting another ounce or two on your baby?

A number of factors can cause baby to have these types of asymmetries (officially named torticollis, or the head stuck in one position, and plagiocephaly, which is an unusually shaped head). Baby could have been positioned poorly in utero (which almost always happens with multiples!), or could have experienced some difficulty with their head in neck in coming through the birth canal. Also, lip, tongue &.or cheek tie can create pulling that pulls baby’s head out of balance.

Plagiocephaly was not common until more recently. In the 1990’s, it was estimated that 1/60 births resulted in plagiocephaly, but a study done in 2005 showed that the incidence of plagiocephaly in infants at 7 to 12 weeks of age was estimated to be 46.6%. Of all infants with plagiocephaly, 63.2% were affected on the right side and 78.3% had a mild form. 

Craniosacral therapy is a wonderful tool for promoting ease, balance, and relaxation in babies. We imagine the baby's brain and spinal cord like a jellyfish, which of course is encased in small skull and spinal bones which are not fully fused yet. Putting an ounce of pressure on these small bones (especially where there are ridges or gaps which are not the typical soft spots) with the intention of taking pressure off “the jellyfish” so it can move more easily can have wonderfully relaxing effects in babies. We often see infants who were stuck in one position be able to move their neck and head more easily, and in many cases have even prevented a helmet. .

Text Dr. Erin at (612) 280-6596 to set up a complimentary phone consult to see if craniosacral will benefit your baby.