Understanding Positional Plagiocephaly

The most problematic interpretations of the term tend to stem from the usual expression “positional” plagiocephaly. This leads to a misunderstanding of social interpretation, leading to the association that cranial deformity is simply the result of lying down and can be remedied by evenly repositioning the child to relieve pressure on the flattened area. Moreover, for infants with positional plagiocephaly, repositioning and stretching are effective techniques in the early stages, before they can move around on their own. However, once the infant begins to roll over on its own, the effect is lost. This is because it is extremely difficult for infants and toddlers during the period of rolling over to stay still in a fixed place without considerable restraint.