Does your baby have a misshapen head? Did you know that this is a condition known as Plagiocephaly?  I suspect that if your answer to the 1^st question is ‘yes’, then the answer to the 2^nd question will be ‘no’. My 6 month old baby girl, Amalia, was born with a perfect shaped head and symmetrical facial features. Right from birth she had a preference for lying on her right. At 6 weeks she started to develop a slightly flattened area on the right side of her skull. I brought this up with the health visitor who told me that this was very common and would sort itself out. It didn’t. It got steadily worse. I kept bringing it up with the health visitor, GP and even a paediatrician but was repeatedly told to do nothing and that her head would sort itself. We are now at the stage where my beautiful little girl has a severely misshapen head; misaligned ears; a more swollen right cheek (indicating that her right jaw may be slightly further forward); and the right side of her forehead bulges more than her left (which may impact on her right eye socket). I have finally discovered, through my own research, that she has a condition called plagiocephaly and that not all cases of plagio will resolve themselves without intervention. Although the connection has not been proven, some children who have plagio beyond the age of two also have problems with one or more of the following: eyes, ears, jaw, balance; co-ordination. I think the saddest thing and probably the most important thing to highlight to you is that if caught at an early stage you can cure it through very simple repositioning techniques (see weblinks). Unfortunately, this is too late for Amalia and so we will soon begin helmet therapy (not available on the NHS). We are feeling very positive about our decision as there have been a lot of successes through helmet treatment. 

If you are worried about Plagiocephaly and would like more information then take a look at  groups.msn.com/PlagioUK  and  www.plagiocephalyuk.co.uk and make an informed decision.