Baby Gear and Flat Spots: How Containers Influence Head Shape
Most people understand how the position that a baby sleeps in can influence flat spots… but not as many recognize the impact that “containers” (ie., car seats, swings, bouncers, etc.) can have on head shape. If you’re concerned about your baby’s head shape, this article can help you make little changes throughout your day to prevent a flat spot from getting worse.
First things first, if you haven’t read this article, which breaks down what truly causes the skull to become misshapen, start there. It’s super helpful to have an understanding of the basic physics of what’s happening when a flat spot develops.
As mentioned in the article, the cause of a flat spot is:
Prolonged contact and pressure over an area of the head in the early months of life when the skull is pliable results in reshaping of the skull.
Most often, we first consider the way that the baby sleeps during naps and nighttime to better understand how a flat spot develops and/or progresses. A baby who sleeps for 10-12 hours plus 3-4 hours of naps a day spends a lot of time on the back of their head!
How can you help prevent a flat spot from worsening during sleep? That’s exactly what we teach in our Head Shape Program for babies who are three months old or younger. You can also implement one or more contact naps a week either in a wrap or snuggled up on your chest.
Let’s Talk Containers
The reality of our time is that families are busy. And advancements in technology and manufacturing have allowed parents to adapt to living productive, efficient lives by offering various “containers” for babies to be safe, comfortable, and present as they do all they need to do in a day; especially parents with older children who have activities outside of the home. An infant may be transported from the bassinet, bouncer, car seat, stroller, swing, and back to the bassinet all in a matter of a few hours. With each container comes more time spent on the back of their heads.
Further, if a baby has difficulty turning their head due to torticollis or general weakness in head or neck control, considerable amounts of pressure are then put on one side of the skull, which can create or increase a flat spot. One of our first suggestions is to prioritize variable positions throughout the day so a baby isn’t containers for more than two cumulative hours per day (reduce that to one hour or less if a flat spot is already present). If you suspect that your baby has tightness on one side of their neck, making it difficult to turn their head, ask your pediatrician about physical therapy for torticollis.
Practical Ways to Reduce Container Use
One. Double down on baby-wearing.
One great solution for getting a baby out of a car seat during errands and outings is to wear them in a baby carrier - at the grocery store, during older sibling’s activities, at play dates, etc. This gets your baby upright with little contact on the back of their head and an opportunity for special bonding.
Note: we are very aware of and sensitive to the fact that baby-wearing can be challenging on a postpartum body - specifically a mom’s back and pelvic floor. Please take care of yourself, prioritize your health and function, and consider seeing a pelvic floor therapist if you have difficulty with baby-wearing - they are full of amazing solutions to help you with your concerns!
Two. Prioritize tummy time for play.
This article is all about how to help your baby engage in - and even enjoy - tummy time. While tummy time won’t correct a flat spot, it will help keep it from worsening. Plus, there are so many benefits for a baby’s strength, vision, cognition, and milestone achievement. It’s well worth the effort!
Three. Offer as much “free space” play as possible.
The best “toy” for a baby is lots of free space to explore and move. This means setting them on a blanket on the floor with plenty of stimulation to the side opposite of the flat spot. You could set up a “play wall” with mirrors, lights, sounds, beads, etc. that can be used whenever you need to set your baby down. If you have the choice between a bouncer/swing or the floor… choose the floor! This allows for full movement of arms and legs to help build strength and coordination in an unrestricted environment.
If you’re concerned about the safety of your baby with pets or older siblings in the area, a playpen is a fabulous option!
Four. Do your best… a flat spot is not the end of the world.
Lastly, it must be said that we understand how busy the life of a young family is, and head shape concerns can easily become all-consuming. The truth about head shape is that flat spots are widely understood to be a cosmetic concern; we have no concrete evidence that suggests that a flat spot leads to neurological or medical issues.
So, be mindful of container usage and reduce it to a realistic level. If you have any concerns about your baby’s head shape, we offer resources to assist with correction depending on your baby’s age. For babies who are three months old and younger, our Head Shape Program is excellent. For kiddos four months and older, we can offer everything you need to know about helmet treatment. It’s our expertise and we are great at what we do!