What is Plagiocephaly?

Deformational Plagiocephaly or Positional Plagiocephaly is a mis-shaped head. It is also known as Baby Flat Head Syndrome, Positional Molding, Occipital Flatness or you may have heard it referred to as a 'flat spot'. It occurs on babies' heads at the back or side of the head resulting in an abnormal or asymmetrical head shape.

It usually results in an asymmetrical shape of a baby's head. There are three of types of plagiocephaly and they look like this:

Plagiocephaly

Brachycephaly

Scaphocephaly

These are pictures of baby’s head when looking from the top. The ears are on the side and the nose is at the top of each picture.

Normal Head

Plagiocephaly

It is very common, with recent studies quoting that as many as 48% of babies under one year of age will have some degree of flattening or plagiocephaly.

Plagiocephaly is called a 'craniofacial' disorder as it affects the baby's skull (cranium) and also the face (facial) as it creates asymmetries.