• causes

The head of a newborn baby is ¾ the size of an adult's, whereas body length is only ¼. Control of head muscles is not attained until the third month of age. Hence the importance of helping babies to change posture to avoid deformities attributed to positional flattening.

• Large, sleepy babies are more prone to positional deformities.


• First-born babies suffer parents' inexperience.


• Second children may not get as much attention as the first.

Prematurity

• Prematurity is an important factor in post-natal development, and scaphycephaly is more frequent in these cases.


• Post-term born babies are more likely to present plagiocephaly and brachycephaly.

Sex

• Plagiocephaly is twice as frequent in boys than in girls.


• Brachycephaly is twice as frequent in boys than in girls.


• Scaphycephaly affects boys and girls alike.

By type

• Positional plagiocephaly affects the right side more than the left.


• Brachycephaly affects large, sleepy babies more.


• Scaphycephaly is more frequent in premature babies.

Antenatal causes

• Multiple pregnancies.


• Large fetus (macrosoma).


• Post-term fetus.


• Narrow pelvis.


• Lengthy delivery.


• Uterine tumors (miomes...).

Postnatal causes

• Always sleeping on the same side: plagiocephaly.


• Always sleeping face-up: brachycephaly.


• Always sleeping with the head to one side: scaphycephaly.


• Torticollis (wry neck). Treatment to be given as soon as possible.


• Too much time spent badly seated in pushchairs or baby bouncers.