Is a Baby with a Flat Head Normal?

First published July 2013
Updated January 2026

New parents have a lot to juggle with an infant and sometimes concerns come up over things that are usually completely normal, like head shape. Did you know that approximately half of all infants have flat areas on their head?

The flat areas are caused by pressure on the skull due to laying infants on their backs to sleep. However, the benefit of this greatly outweighs the risk: this position can dramatically reduce the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

In my two decades of practice at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, I have only seen a few cases in which an infant needed further attention to their flat spot, such as a fitting for soft helmets that helps the head to grow into a rounder shape. This type of follow up is very uncommon. You should discuss concerns with your pediatrician, but generally parents should continue to lay their infants on their backs to sleep, as flat spots typically go away as the infant grows.

Some tips for parents to prevent a flat spot, in addition to talking to their pediatrician about their concerns, include:

• Encourage “tummy time” when the baby is awake and strong enough to lift their head
• Keep baby from laying on their back for long periods while awake
• Alternate sides in which you hold your baby when breastfeeding or bottle feeding
• Promote head turning while awake and playing

I recommend that parents should not only see their infant’s pediatrician when questions or concerns arise, but on a regular basis to make sure their child’s health and growth is on track.