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PREVENTING BABY’S HEAD FROM FLATTENING
PRÉVENIR LE RISQUE D’APLATISSEMENT DE LA TÊTE DU BÉBÉ
VORBEUGENDE MASSNAHMEN GEGEN EINE
ABFLACHUNG DES BABYKOPFES
COME PREVENIRE LE DEFORMAZIONI DEL CRANIO DEL BAMBINO
VOORKOM AFPLATTING VAN BABYHOOFDJE
CÓMO EVITAR LA DEFORMACIÓN CRANEAL DEL BEBÉ
PREVENÇÃO DO ACHATAMENTO DA CABEÇA DO BEBÉ
FÖRHINDRA ATT SPÄDBARNET FÅR PLATT HUVUD
VAUVAN VINOKALLOISUUDEN ESTÄMINEN
SÅDAN FORHINDRER DU, AT BARNETS HOVED BLIVER FLADT
UNNGÅ AT BARNET UTVIKLER SKJEVT HODE
ZAPOBIEGANIE SPŁASZCZENIU GŁÓWKI DZIECKA
ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΕΣ ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΜΗΝ ΑΠΟΚΤΗΣΕΙ ΕΠΙΠΕΔΟ ΣΧΗΜΑ ΤΟ ΚΕΦΑΛΙ
ΤΟΥ ΜΩΡΟΥ
PREVENCE ZPLOŠTĚNÍ HLAVIČKY DÍTĚTE
PREDCHÁDZANIE SPLOŠTENIU HLAVIČKY DIEŤAŤA
A LAPOSFEJŰSÉG KIALAKULÁSÁNAK MEGELŐZÉSE A BABÁNÁL
Pediatricians and child health organizations agree
that healthy babies should be placed on their backs
to sleep for naps and at nighttime, to reduce the risk
of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But babies
who are always on their backs can sometimes develop
flat spots on their head (plagiocephaly). Most cases
of positional plagiocephaly can be prevented (and
sometimes corrected) by repositioning your baby to
relieve pressure on the back of the head. Here are some
tips and techniques from the experts to keep in mind as
you care for your baby:
• Change the location of your baby’s sleeper or crib in
the room, so she has to look in different directions
to see the door, or the window, or interesting things
going on around her.
• When your baby is awake, provide opportunities for
adult-supervised “tummy time” play. Playing on his
tummy helps take the pressure off the back of
his head, which will help prevent flat spots
from developing.
• Tummy time play also helps your baby’s head,
neck and shoulder muscles get stronger as part of
normal development.
• Try tummy time two or three times a day, for short
periods of time, until your baby gets used to being
on her tummy. Once your baby begins to enjoy this
position, try longer periods of time or increase the
frequency of tummy time play.
• Help your baby avoid resting his head in the same
position all the time by frequently changing the
direction he lies in the crib.
• For example, have your baby’s feet point toward one
end of the crib for a few days, and then change the
position so his feet point toward the other end of the
crib. This will encourage your baby to turn and look in
different directions.
• Try to minimize the amount of time your baby spends
in car seats, carriers and bouncy seats while awake.
• Lastly, make sure you enjoy lots of “cuddle time” with
your baby by holding her upright over your shoulder.
For additional information on positional plagiocephaly
and the benefits of tummy time play for your baby,
speak with your pediatrician or family physician.
National Institute of Health (NIH) Eunice Kennedy Shriver
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
