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New Guidelines To Curb Infant Flat Head Syndrome

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- More babies are getting flat heads from sleeping on their backs, so the American Academy of Pediatrics is releasing some new guidelines for the problem.

Since doctors recommended that babies sleep on their backs to decrease the risk of SIDS, more infants are getting flat head syndrome.

Experts say to reduce the risk, parents should keep babies off their backs as much as possible during the day.

That means increasing stomach play time, limiting time in the car seat, swing or bouncy seat and turning the child's head each night from left to right in the crib.

In some extreme cases, doctors use a helmet to reshape the head.

"If we know that this child is going to need the helmet anyway because the numbers and the asymmetry is so great. I recommend not waiting because the younger the baby is, the softer the bones are and the faster the bones grow," said Orthotist Rochelle Silberman of Kidi Splints.

The report says the helmets are not dangerous, but researchers say there's no evidence they work any better than changing positions.

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