Monitoring your baby’s head shape

It can be difficult to notice changes in your baby’s head shape when you see them every day. Improvements often happen gradually, making them easy to miss. In contrast, your physiotherapist sees your baby less frequently, so changes are often more noticeable over time.

At each appointment, your physiotherapist will monitor your baby’s head shape using a combination of careful observation of specific head landmarks and objective measurements. Between appointments—especially if they are spaced further apart—it can be helpful to keep track of your baby’s head shape at home.

Home tracking gives you a visual way to notice small changes over time and can be reassuring as you see progress. It can also support conversations with your physiotherapist about whether your current appointment schedule and management plan are appropriate or need adjusting.

Western Kids Health is a paediatric physiotherapy clinic located in Western Australia. They have created a handy video showing a simple and safe way parents can track head shape changes at home between appointments. You can find the video here.

It’s important to remember, though, that head shape is only one part of the picture. Even if you notice clear improvement, this doesn’t mean physiotherapy is no longer needed or that appointments should be cancelled. Physiotherapists also assess other key areas before discharge, including neck range of motion, neck strength, overall movement patterns, posture, and your baby’s general development. These factors are important for long-term outcomes and helping prevent the head shape from flattening again.

If you feel your baby’s head shape is improving, that’s great news — but it’s best to discuss this with your physiotherapist rather than stopping appointments on your own. Tracking at home works best as a tool to support shared decision-making with your therapist, not as a replacement for professional review.