Plagiocephaly

Plagiocephaly is the name for when a baby's head looks flat or misshapen, like it's been squished or pressed on one side. Sometimes this happens because the baby likes to sleep on one side more than the other, or because they spend lots of time in a car seat or swing.

Doctors and parents don't want plagiocephaly to happen because it can cause problems for the baby's brain and eyes as they grow. So they try to prevent it by having the baby sleep on their back and change positions often.

If the plagiocephaly doesn't go away on its own, doctors might suggest wearing a special helmet for a while. This helmet helps shape the baby's head back into a rounder shape. It doesn't hurt the baby and they can still play and move around normally while wearing it.