Tummy time is done while your baby is awake. So it’s important to change their position frequently to prevent those flat spots from forming.

They aren’t interested in looking at that pretty pattern on the play mat yet, and they don’t have the neck muscle strength to lift their head to look around. Most very young babies are not big fans of tummy time (except when they’re sleeping, which is not recommended!). At first, a few minutes at a time done several times a day is enough. Starting in the newborn period, we recommend your baby have some “tummy time.” This is time when they are not putting pressure on the back of their head. The fancy medical term for this is “positional plagiocephaly” - or, just call it flathead.įewer cases of SIDS is a great thing, of course! And with some knowledge and a few changes in routine, we can help prevent the head flattening that can result. As a result of spending more time on their backs, babies can develop flattening of one or both sides of their skull. The major tenet of this campaign is putting infants on their backs to sleep. You may have seen a baby wearing a special helmet and wondered what it’s for.Įver since the Safe Sleep Campaign (formerly known as the “Back to Sleep” Campaign) launched in 1994, the rate of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) has decreased by 50%. Doctors’ Notes Back Flat Heads, Tummy Time, & Torticollis If you have an infant, you’ve heard us recommend tummy time and check the head shape of your infant.

How to fix flat head