It may take 1 or 2 weeks for the swelling to go away. This can make your baby's head look stretched out or lopsided. Pressure inside the birth canal can cause blood to collect under your baby's scalp and cause swelling.
Babies start to shift their weight with head movements and this will be delayed if the baby isn’t turning their head side to side.
The baby may not enjoy being on his or her tummy, even though it’s critical to do so in order to develop shoulder and core strength.
Some bumps can be very large, but they don’t necessarily indicate a major injury. They may have difficulty supporting the shoulder that their head is tipped toward, as it’s uncomfortable to pick their head up away from their shoulder. A bump or bruise (contusion) on their head: This may appear oval in shape and is sometimes referred to as a goose egg. As the baby gets older and grows hair, the shape of the skull can become less noticeable. Babies who develop an abnormal head shape should be evaluated early in infancy to determine if the cause is plagiocephaly - the medical term for flat spots. As a baby’s head control improves, the tipping of the head to one side may become more noticeable.Īs a baby develops, their preference to turn their head in one direction will lead to them wanting to use that hand, as that’s the one they see more. Babies with very mild craniosynostosis might not need surgery. The flattening may be worse in babies who spend a lot of time on their back, or in car seats and swings. Most commonly, a doctor will notice a flattening on the back of the head on one side due to the baby keeping their head turned one way. It tips the head to one shoulder and turns it to the opposite shoulder.