The first treatment recommended for a child less than 6 months old is frequent repositioning of the baby's head, keeping them off the flat portion of their head as much as possible. "Tummy time," or placing a baby on their stomach when awake, should be increased as much as possible.
The use of infant carriers should be limited; baby front- and backpacks should be used instead.
Positional Plagiocephaly Treatment Options
If your baby has torticollis (a limited range of motion in the neck due to muscle tightness), exercises or a referral to a physical therapist to increase the baby's ability to move their head in all directions will be recommended.
If repositioning does not work, treatment of moderate and severe positional plagiocephaly may include the use of a helmet.
Helmets take advantage of a baby's rapid head growth to improve the shape of the skull. Helmet use is usually started after 6 months of age, and the baby wears the helmet about 23.5 hours a day.
The treatment time varies based on the severity of the plagiocephaly and the age of the child.