If the baby is placed in the same position for a long time, for example, with the back of the head on a chair, cot or mat, this can cause the head to flatten.
Positional plagiocephaly is quite common and doesn't cause any health problems. Although the shape of the head may become worse in the first few months of life, it normally corrects itself by the time the child has reached a year old.
There are safety measures you can take to prevent this happening to your baby:
 Reposition your baby 's head so that it lies on the least flattened side.
Let your baby have 'tummy time ' every day to rest the back of the skull. Place your baby on his front and put a rolled up towel underneath your baby's chest and arms for support.
Make sure the crib/cot mattress is firm and made of natural fibre.
If your baby faces one side when in the cot, place a mobile or picture on the other side to encourage your baby to turn their head.
Carry your baby in a baby sling so he can be upright, close to you and can see what 's going on.
Let your baby have plenty of time sitting on your knee or in a baby bouncer, reclining or high chair.
These safety measures will help your child gain good co-ordination skills, posture, balance and head control.
There is an increasing tendency to use a special moulding helmet to treat severe positional plagiocephaly. As yet there is little good scientific evidence to support how effective this method is and most babies ' head shapes will improve naturally in their own time.
Further information:
Sleep on the back, play on the front (FSID - The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths)
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