RE: 6 months best age to begin???

[Guest guest]

Here is the article that I was reading. When I got to that part I decided to write the group about it so I have not read it all! Thanks

Jayesh Panchal

405 271 4864

jayesh-panchal@...

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Back to sleep but ... mind my head

Prevent your newborn from having a flat asymmetrical head

Back to Sleep but ... Mind my HeadOver the past few years the incidence of asymmetrical head shapes in infants has increased significantly. Although asymmetrical heads have been present for many centuries, the recent increase has been associated with the "Back to Sleep" campaign to reduce the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. The skull of a newborn child is soft and easily deforms, if left in the same position for prolonged duration. The neck muscles of an infant are weak and they are unable to move their head in the first few months of life. This may be further complicated by torticollis, where the tight neck muscles may prevent the infant or the parent from repositioning the head. The deforming force flattens the occipital skull and like a ball with less air, it preferentially tends to lie in that position. The continuing force not only flattens the occipital region but also pushes the forehead and the ear forward and in extreme cases the cheek bones, jaw joints, and the mandible. This leads to a typical parallelogram shaped head. This abnormality is known by various names: deformational plagiocephaly or plagiocepahly without synostosis. This abnormality has to be differentiated from craniosynostosis where one or more of the skull sutures is closed prematurely. The closed suture restricts the growth of the skull at the site of the premature closure and this leads to an abnormal head shape. Premature closure of sutures can affect the sagittal (between the right and left parietal bones), coronal (between the frontal and parietal bones) or metopic (between the frontal bones) sutures. Craniosynostosis of the occipital or lambdoid sutures is extremely rare. If flattening is noticed in the occipital region in early perinatal life, early preventive therapy can be very helpful.1. Rule out torticollis by checking neck movements.2. Alternate the infant's head position every night while sleeping on its back.3. Change the position of the bed or toys so the infant preferentially looks away and moves their head from the flattened side.4. Place a wedge of foam or a rolled towel underneath the flattened area of the head to keep the pressure off the flattened occipital region.5. A certain amount of tummy time while the infant is awake and observed is recommended for developmental reasons and to help prevent flat spots on the occiput. Continue this therapy diligently until the infant is six months old. If the flattening is noticeable, the infant may need molding helmet therapy after an evaluation by a craniofacial surgeon or a neurosurgeon. Molding helmet therapy is an extremely effective therapy to treat deformational plagiocephaly. The helmet is custom made to the head shape. It is measured along the long diameter of the head and leaves space along the flattened area of the skull. Since the brain and the head grow rapidly in the first year of life the head quickly fills the space and corrects the asymmetry. The helmet is light but has to be worn for 23 hours a day to be effective.The molding helmet therapy is effective only if the skull bones are soft and malleable. The therapy therefore cannot be used if the child is older than a year. The therapy is passive and requires at least three and preferably six months to produce good results. The best time to refer the child for molding therapy is age six months. If you have any questions about children with abnormal head shapes due to deformational plagiocephaly or craniosynostosis please call this number for further information:

Jayesh Panchal

[ Home ] [ Contact Us ] [ Deformational Plagiocephaly ] [ Neonatal Distraction ] [ Links ] [ Neonatal Distraction Pictures ] [ Cleft Craniofacial Team ] [ About Jayesh Panchal ]

Jayesh Panchal

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[Guest guest]

The earlier that helmet treatment is started, the better the chances of good

results. There is no reason that 6 months should be any kind of " magic " age.

4 months is a GREAT age to be starting helmet treatment, I wish I had been

able to start that early with my daughter!

6 months best age to begin???

ok i just read an article stating that 6 months is the best age to

begin wearing the helmet?? Grace is almost 4 months is that a bad

age? I need to stop reading these article they are freaking me out!!

Graces freaked out mom

For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

gracesmom101 wrote:

>

>ok i just read an article stating that 6 months is the best age to

>begin wearing the helmet??

Hello!

Could you please do me a favor and tell me what article you are referring to?

I'm just curious to see that recommendation. Most recommend earlier than later,

4 months of age is not too early for treatment.

Regards,

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[Guest guest]

Here is the article that I was reading. When I got to that part I decided to write the group about it so I have not read it all! Thanks

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

I think the earlier the better- I guess they are saying 6 months is optimal time but who know why was 3 months-which is actually abitearly but we could not have been happier with the timing or the results. Dont worry you are doing the right thing!!

beck