Monitoring your baby’s head shape

Sometimes it can be tricky for parents to know whether their baby’s head shape is improving. When you see your baby every day, changes can be very subtle and easy to miss. In contrast, therapists usually see babies every few weeks or months, so changes in head shape are often much more noticeable to them.

Tracking head shape at home can be really helpful for parents of babies with plagiocephaly. It gives you a visual way to notice small changes over time and can provide reassurance that things are moving in the right direction. It can also help guide conversations with your physiotherapist about whether appointments should stay the same, become more frequent, or be spaced out a little more.

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.