![]() ![]() Commonly, babies delivered via cesarean section have more rounded heads than those who experience a vaginal birth, as they don’t need to squeeze through a long, narrow birth canal. BirthĪ baby’s birth experience often plays a role in their head shape. However, the most common causes of an irregular head shape are birth, positional head changes, being born prematurely, and congenital disabilities. Many factors go into uneven shaping in a baby’s head. Causes of Uneven Babies’ Head Shapes: When to Worry Most birth-related head shape issues resolve in about one to two weeks after delivery.Īdditionally, in the first few months after delivery, babies’ head shapes continue to change, and babies may develop temporary flat spots from back sleeping or spending long periods in their car seat, stroller or rocker. Additionally, an uneven head is typical for most babies after birth and considered completely normal. Many parents wonder about their babies’ head shapes: when to worry? First, it’s important to note that most babies’ heads round out independently. Is It Normal for a Baby’s Head to Be Uneven? Toddler skulls are fully formed just before they begin to walk and run. They will also enable a baby’s skull to expand throughout infancy while their brain grows rapidly.Ī baby’s skull continues to form until they’re about 9–18 months old. ![]() The sutures meet at two fontanels, where the skull bones are still closing together.įontanels and sutures allow a baby’s large head to move through its mother’s narrow birth canal. One bone in the back of their head called the occipital boneĪt birth, babies’ heads include soft spots called fontanels and flexible spaces called sutures.Two bones at the top of their head called parietal bones.At birth and through infancy, babies have five major bones in their skull: Several factors contribute to a baby’s head shape. The good news is that most babies’ heads will round out on their own, and those who need help have many options from healthcare providers. However, many newborn head shapes appear slightly uneven, depending on their birth experience or how they sat in the uterus.Īfter bringing their sweet baby home, many parents evaluating their baby’s head shape want to know when to worry if a temporary unevenness may become permanent. Treatment for Saethre-Chotzen syndrome focuses on relieving pressure inside the head and correcting the skull and facial deformities.Babies have soft, pliable heads to move through the birth canal. Genetic tests to check for mutations that would indicate this or other syndromes your child may have.Diagnostic imaging, especially CT scans, to check for fluid and pressure inside the skull, fused sutures, or ridges along sutures.X-rays to check for fused (missing) sutures on the sides, back, or other parts of the head, or ridges along these sutures.After examining and measuring your baby’s head, the pediatrician will use other tests to rule out other, similar syndromes that also have skull deformities.Īt Children’s National, the diagnostic tools we may use include: Your baby’s pediatrician may notice the distinctive skull and face shapes of Saethre-Chotzen syndrome at birth. How Is Saethre-Chotzen Syndrome Diagnosed? Partially fused or webbed, or unusually short fingers or toes.Cleft palate (opening in the roof of the mouth).Jaw deformities such as a receding upper jaw or a protruding lower jaw.Uneven facial features because of malformed cheekbones and eye sockets.Bulging, wide-set, and possibly crossed eyes. ![]() Misshapen head: short from front to back, long from top to bottom.Symptoms of Saethre-Chotzen SyndromeĬhildren with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome may have one or more of these symptoms: Gene mutations cause Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, and children inherit this genetic disorder from their parents. This condition is called craniosynostosis. In most cases of Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, the sutures that are closed are the coronal (from ear to ear) and sometimes the lambdoid (across the back of the head). This birth defect causes abnormal development in the head and face, which affect their shape. Saethre-Chotzen syndrome is a rare genetic (present at birth) condition in which certain sutures (joints) between skull bones grow together too early. ![]()
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