Busting Myths About Plagiocephaly Treatment

As a parent, learning that your baby has positional plagiocephaly can be stressful and overwhelming. There’s a lot of conflicting information out there about head-shaping helmets and other treatment options. With so much uncertainty, many families find themselves questioning whether treatment is really necessary.

In this blog, we’re going to debunk some of the most common myths surrounding plagiocephaly and its treatment, helping you make informed decisions for your baby’s well-being.

The Reality:

This is one of the most common misconceptions about positional plagiocephaly. While some mild cases of positional plagiocephaly can improve over time, if observed early within 0-4 months, they can often be treated successfully through repositioning techniques and early intervention by pediatric health professionals, such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, or osteopaths. Techniques like increasing tummy time, adjusting feeding positions, and using repositioning strategies during sleep can encourage natural head shape correction. Regular monitoring during this critical period can help ensure positive results without the need for alternative treatments. 

Many cases of moderate to severe flat spots will not fully resolve without intervention. After 4 months of age, the baby’s skull begins to harden and becomes less malleable, making repositioning techniques significantly less effective. Additionally, as babies become more mobile during this stage—rolling, sitting, and exploring—it becomes harder to consistently implement repositioning techniques, further limiting their effectiveness in achieving head shape correction without helmet intervention. This  is why early detection, ideally within the first few months, is critical. It allows for repositioning strategies, tummy time, or professional guidance to work more effectively before alternative interventions, like a cranial remodeling orthoses (helmet), become necessary.

Babies with conditions such as torticollis or those born prematurely are at a higher risk of developing flat spots due to their limited ability to move their heads freely. When combined with spending extended time lying on their backs or in reclined positions, their malleable skulls become especially prone to flattening.

Without timely intervention, untreated plagiocephaly can lead to persistent asymmetry and, in some cases, affect facial features as well. In either case—whether mild, moderate, or severe—some form of intervention is necessary, as the head shape will not simply round out on its own without action.

What You Can Do:

Addressing head shape concerns early can make a significant difference in achieving positive outcomes for your baby. Depending on your child’s age, different steps can be taken to support their head shape development effectively. Here’s how you can take action based on your baby’s age and needs.

• For Babies Under 4 Months: Repositioning techniques and consulting pediatric health professionals, such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, or osteopaths, can often help improve or prevent mild cases of plagiocephaly during this critical window.

• For Babies 4 Months and Older: If concerns persist or the baby is older, booking a free head shape assessment with us can help evaluate the severity of the asymmetry and identify the most effective treatment options.

No matter your baby’s age, timely action is essential. Whether it’s early repositioning or a professional assessment, taking proactive steps ensures the best chance for your baby to achieve a symmetrical head shape. Our free assessment for babies 4-18 months of age offers a tailored approach to guide you toward the most effective solution for your little one.

The Reality:

While flat head syndrome might seem like a cosmetic issue at first, untreated plagiocephaly can cause more than just an uneven head shape. Moderate-severe cases can lead to complications such as:

• Facial asymmetry - where one side of the face appears different from the other, e.g. smaller eye, bigger cheeks on one side..

• Misaligned ears - which can cause difficulties when wearing glasses in the future and even increase the risk of ear infections on the affected side.

• Potential impact on jaw alignment - which can lead to issues with chewing, speaking or even latching in early infancy.

• Difficulty with helmets fitting for work and sports - An asymmetrical head shape may cause challenges in properly fitting helmets needed for safety in various activities later in life.

• Potential motor milestone delays - Untreated plagiocephaly can sometimes impact motor development, leading to delays in milestones like crawling, rolling, or reaching bilaterally.

Although the brain is not affected by plagiocephaly itself, correcting the head shape early ensures your baby’s overall symmetry and development progress smoothly.

The Reality:

Cranial remodeling helmets, like a ROKband, do not interfere with brain growth or development. In fact, helmets are carefully designed to be worn during a crucial period when your baby’s brain and head are naturally growing. Helmets gently guide the skull into a more symmetrical shape while allowing for proper brain growth.

The brain will always take the path of least resistance—just as it grew around the flat surface your baby was lying on, leading to flattening, the ROKband redirects growth back into the flatter areas, helping to restore symmetry and balance. This redirection is achieved without applying any pressure to the skull; instead, the ROKband creates space for natural growth to occur in the desired areas. By correcting the head shape during this period of rapid growth, the ROKband ensures both cosmetic and functional improvements, supporting the development of a symmetrical head shape that accommodates helmets, glasses, and other essential items in the future.

The FDA-cleared ROKband helmets are lightweight, breathable, and carefully crafted to ensure your baby’s comfort while correcting their head shape.

The Reality:

Another worry is that helmets may interfere with their baby’s ability to reach important motor milestones like tummy time, rolling over, or sitting up. The reality is helmets like ROKband are designed to be lightweight, sleek, and comfortable, allowing babies to engage in all normal activities, including tummy time and play. In severe cases, where one side of the head has more volume, it can become difficult for the baby to turn their head equally to each side. This often leads them to choose the path of least resistance, which can increase or worsen the flattening. In a ROKband the child would feel as though the back of the head is round, this can help the baby turn their head more comfortably and evenly in both directions, which would also support manual therapy progress implemented by pediatric paramedical professionals. This not only helps improve cervical (neck) range of motion but also supports overall motor development.

In fact, by improving head shape early, helmets can prevent future issues with head control, which might otherwise hinder motor development.

The Reality:

There is a  belief that only babies with severe head shape asymmetry need treatment. However, early intervention for mild to moderate cases of plagiocephaly can prevent the condition from worsening over time. This is especially true if your child has a positional preference for looking in one direction, as this could cause the flattening to get worse. Oftentimes, in mild and moderate cases, treatment length can be shorter if started earlier, and can result in long term benefits.

ROKbands are especially effective when treatment is started early, usually around 4-6 months when the skull is still highly malleable and infants are growing more rapidly.

ROKband provides a custom-designed solution to gently guide head growth and prevent more significant asymmetry as your baby develops.

At ROKband, we pride ourselves on offering the most comfortable and effective treatment for infant head shape asymmetry. Our custom-designed ROKbands are crafted from lightweight materials, making them half the weight of traditional helmets, with built-in ventilation to ensure your baby stays cool.

ROKbands are designed to:

• Promote skin-to-skin bonding by ensuring a comfortable fit.

• Allow for uninterrupted tummy time and play.

• Provide visible results within weeks, reducing stress for parents.

Our team of certified orthotists and registered kinesiologists carefully monitor each baby’s progress, adjusting the helmet as needed to ensure optimal results.

Choosing the right treatment for your baby’s plagiocephaly can be a daunting decision, especially with so many myths and misconceptions out there. By understanding the truth behind these common myths, you can make well-informed decisions that support your baby’s healthy growth.

If you’re concerned about your baby’s head shape or wondering if treatment is necessary, don’t hesitate to schedule a free assessment with ROKband. No referral is necessary to book your appointment and our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way.