It's very common for a newborn’s head to be elongated or have an odd shape. Babies' skull bones are soft and easily moulded to help them squeeze through the birth canal during a vaginal delivery.

The gentle pressure that birth puts on your newborn's skull may have resulted in his head looking cone-shaped or elongated. This cone shape will naturally even out after a few days but a baby’s head remains quite soft until both the fontanelles have closed.

The fontanelle at the back of your baby’s head closes at 6 weeks, and the one at the top of your baby’s head usually closes by 18 months. As long as your baby’s head still has soft spots, always lying in the same position can affect its shape. But this is unlikely and uncommon, because babies can turn their heads and sit up by about 6 months.

Their ability to sit up and move their heads takes the pressure of their skull during the day, and helps the head to become naturally rounded on its own. This is why babies heads are usually rounded by the time they are 6 months old.

So your baby’s head is more likely to be misshapen in the first four months, because at this age your baby cannot sit up or hold his head up well on his own. If your baby always sleeps in the same position, his head might flatten out where he sleeps on it. If you put him to sleep on his back, because it's the safest way for him to sleep, his head might become flat at the back of his head. If on the other hand, your baby sleeps with his head to one side, his head might flatten out on that side.

Despite popular belief, there is no proof to suggest that applying pressure on your baby's head during a massage will make it round. This may do more harm than good if too much pressure is applied.

Some mothers use a horseshoe-shaped pillow in the hope that it will help make their baby’s head round. On the contrary, a horseshoe-shaped pillow will keep your baby’s head always in the same position and so might make it more likely to become flat at the back. Even when your baby is old enough to move his head on his own, the horseshoe-shaped pillow will prevent him from turning his head from side to side and keep his head in always the same position.

In some households traditional rai-filled pillows are used. If you choose to use a pillow of any kind, do be cautious because a tear in them may cause the stuffing to come out and pose a choking hazard for your baby.

Try the following to help get your baby’s head round:
Encourage your baby to lie on his side as much as possible. This is best when he is sleeping in the day under your supervision or if he is wide awake or in his pram. Always keep an eye on your baby when he is lying on his side to be sure nothing happens to obstruct his nose and prevent him from breathing properly.
Try changing the position of his toys (or something he loves to look at) from one side of his cot to the other. Or you could try placing black and white pictures on the side of his cot that he doesn’t usually face. This way, when he is awake and lying down, he will turn his head the other way to look at the pictures.
Cut the amount of time your baby spends in an infant carrier or car seat, where his head is in one position.
As your baby develops head control, place him on his tummy for as long as he is ready to stay. By three months you should be able to play with your baby while he's on his front. The longer he is on his tummy, the less pressure there is on his skull.
Carry your baby on alternate shoulders while on the go. Some mums prefer to use a sling and keep changing the position of their baby’s head.
Make sure your baby's head isn't always in the same feeding position. This might put him in the habit of always lying or dozing off to sleep in that position.
If your baby can only turn his head in one direction, speak to your doctor about it and he will advise you on what to do.

You may have also heard about headbands or helmets that are supposed to round out your baby’s skull. This type of head gear applies pressure to the parts of your baby’s head that stick out and reduces pressure from parts that are flattened so that they grow. They may also stop your baby from lying on the flattened part of his head.

There isn’t enough evidence to be sure that a headband or helmet can improve the shape of your baby’s head. And they are usually expensive, not easy to find and can be uncomfortable for your baby. If you do decide to use a helmet, it will have to be custom made for your baby and it should be checked regularly.

Although it isn’t common, there can be other reasons for a baby's head to be odd shaped. Craniosynostosis is a rare condition which causes a baby's bones to fuse too early, and this can cause a misshapen head. If your doctor is concerned that this may be happening, your baby will be referred to a specialist for further investigation.




Culled from: http://www.babycenter.in/x1053598/my-newborns-head-is-an-odd-shape-what-can-i-do-to-make-it-round

Thank you for this. Page bookmarked

Good job OP. When my son was born, he had a bit of mis shapen head. My mom encouraged us to turn him froms side to side every few hours while in his cot under our constant supervission. He slept on his tummy( he had some bad reflux and was always chocking on his own vommit when on his back. so, we were told to put him on his tummy and the vomit just runs down the side of his mouth after that)

When labour cme gushing strongly i couldn't move i js stood there in d FaVOUR room stretched myself wit clenched teeth (when d Dr asked me 2climb d bed i stood shaking my head as in i can't) it took a slap from d Dr on my back 2send me on d bed by den i had unknowingly pressed my Son's head (bk pushing bk)... My frnd do gently use d towel 2 rub his head like shes cleaning his head with towel in her 2hands under 2wks my babys head took a perfect shape.... Tns 2Omugwo