PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

How can we prevent these deformities?

Parents, when we see that our baby’s head is not perfectly round, we get scared and with good reason. At Infocefalia we are convinced that these positional deformities can be corrected in the vast majority of cases if action is taken in time, but nothing can replace good prevention. It is essential that, from the first day of the baby’s life, parents know and understand this problem so that they can prevent it, detect it and treat it as properly and early as possible.

Preventive measures should be applied from the birth of the baby and are as follows:
  • Tummy Time
  • Repositioning (postural changes)
  • Mimos Pillow
  • Neck stretching exercises (when there are torticollis)
  • Regular check-ups in paediatrics

And correction?

When positional head deformities are diagnosed early, these measures may also be sufficient to achieve a complete correction. For this reason, controls with the paediatrician are very important. However, in the most severe cases, if at 6 months of age it has not been corrected using the methods described above, the only solution could be orthopaedic head bands or an orthopaedic helmet. This treatment option can be initiated up to 12 months of age, although the earlier it is applied the greater the success. As the baby gets older, the chances of improvement decrease, meaning that from the age of 18 months, this orthopaedic helmet loses its effectiveness.

Finally there is surgery, but this is only justified in very serious cases and when other treatment options have failed. This situation is rarely reached.

How can we prevent these deformities?

Parents, when we see that our baby’s head is not perfectly round, we get scared and with good reason. At Infocefalia we are convinced that these positional deformities can be corrected in the vast majority of cases if action is taken in time, but nothing can replace good prevention. It is essential that, from the first day of the baby’s life, parents know and understand this problem so that they can prevent it, detect it and treat it as properly and early as possible.

Preventive measures should be applied from the birth of the baby and are as follows:
  • Tummy Time
  • Repositioning (postural changes)
  • Mimos Pillow
  • Neck stretching exercises (when there are torticollis)
  • Regular check-ups in paediatrics

And correction?

When positional head deformities are diagnosed early, these measures may also be sufficient to achieve a complete correction. For this reason, controls with the paediatrician are very important. However, in the most severe cases, if at 6 months of age it has not been corrected using the methods described above, the only solution could be orthopaedic head bands or an orthopaedic helmet. This treatment option can be initiated up to 12 months of age, although the earlier it is applied the greater the success. As the baby gets older, the chances of improvement decrease, meaning that from the age of 18 months, this orthopaedic helmet loses its effectiveness.

Finally there is surgery, but this is only justified in very serious cases and when other treatment options have failed. This situation is rarely reached.

TUMMY TIME

Tummy time is a method of physical activity for newborns that contributes to a better development of motor skills. Practice it only when the child is awake.

It consists of putting the baby in a prone position (on his or her stomach), on the mother’s or father’s chest, in bed or on a comfortable surface, during supervised play time. Any type of game or position where the baby is “face down” will be beneficial both to prevent cranial deformities and to reinforce the baby’s muscular and sensory capacity. The prone position during play is not a risk factor for SIDS.

REPOSITIONING

It consists of combining the supine position (face up) with the lateral positions (i.e. spending a third of the time in each position). On the other hand, if your child tends to always look at the same side of the cot, either because you sleep on that side, or because he or she likes to observe the window or some particular detail, it is advisable to combine the baby’s position as shown in the picture, so that the orientation of the baby’s head is changed.

Repositioning is not only useful for prevention, but is also very important when a positional head deformity is already apparent. The corrective measure is to prevent the baby from resting its head on the affected side of the skull (on the side that is flattened). This relieves the pressure on this area, allowing the flattening to disappear as the baby’s head grows. One technique for getting the baby to rest his head on the affected side is to offer him toys from that side or also to place him in the cot so that the door is on the side where he should turn his head, since they usually seek out noise.

MIMOS PILLOW

Another alternative to prevent or treat positional head deformities is to try to reduce the pressure on the baby’s skull as much as possible.

The Mimos® Pillow is specially designed for the prevention and correction of positional head deformities in babies, especially plagiocephaly and brachycephaly. It is registered as a medical device and complies with European quality and safety standards applicable to these products. Thanks to its design and the materials used for its manufacture, a breathable and spongy product is achieved that manages to distribute the pressure on the skull over a larger area, avoiding points of greater pressure and allowing the normal development of the baby’s head.

 

The result of our in-depth research into these cranial deformities has been the development of Mimos® products. The Mimos® Pillow is inspired by traditional Asian pillows. In this continent, cranial deformities have been known for thousands of years as, according to Chinese tradition, babies should always sleep “on their backs”, one of the well-known causes of positional cranial deformities. In rural China, rice filled pillows are still used today. The Mimos® Pillow is the modern and clinically proven version of a thousand-year-old tradition.

HOW SHOULD IT BE USED?

It is ideal for resting in the cot or pram, but also during playtime when the baby is awake. The baby should be placed in a supine position (face up) and with its head in the pillow cavity. The use of the Mimos pillow should be complementary to physiotherapy treatment and tummy time. Consult with your paediatrician.

Its effectiveness is greater during the first 6 months of life because the skull is especially malleable during this period and grows at a great speed. After 6 months, it is more complicated to correct cranial deformities, but until the cranial fontanelles close, which usually happens at 16-18 months, it is still possible to correct them and, most importantly, prevent them from getting worse.

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NECK EXERCISES

We have already seen that congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is frequently associated with plagiocephaly. For this reason, it is very important to treat this muscular dysfunction as soon as possible, both for prevention and for correction, as we will avoid worsening the cranial deformity by improving the mobility of the baby’s neck.

There are two exercises indicated to treat torticollis. They should be carried out with determination, but without forcing the baby excessively. If you are not sure how to perform them or if you are doing them correctly, ask your paediatrician or a paediatric physiotherapist for help. Ideally, you should perform these exercises 6 to 8 times a day, spending 5 to 10 minutes each time. To follow a daily routine, you can perform them when changing the nappy, for example. These exercises will be easier to perform the younger the baby is, because as they grow, they acquire more strength and more autonomy in terms of head mobility. This is why we recommend that you start these exercises as soon as possible.

 

With one hand on your shoulder, turn the baby’s head until the ear touches the shoulder. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat on both sides.

With one hand on the chest, turn the baby’s head until the chin touches the shoulder. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat on both sides even if the condition is unilateral.