Preferred position for babies

A baby has a preferred position when it always lies with its head turned to the same side. This is not desirable, but it is not dangerous. When a baby has a preferred position, this can lead to flattening of the skull. It can also affect motor development.

What exactly is a preferred position?

A preferred position is relatively common. With a preferred position, you will see that the baby lies with their head to one side for a large part of the day and night. If this happens too often and for too long, it can cause a crooked/flat head, also known as plagiocephaly. The baby’s skull is still relatively soft and malleable. If pressure is applied to one side for a large part of the day, this can cause deformation.

Causes of preferred posture

Breech and transverse presentations can affect the tension in the baby’s body, including the neck. This can cause a preferred posture. A difficult delivery, sometimes involving the use of a vacuum pump, can also affect the tension in your baby’s head or neck.

A preferred posture can affect the symmetry of the head. This can lead to plagiocephaly, also known as flat head syndrome or a crooked head/skull. When your baby is lying on their back, the flattening will cause the head to automatically turn towards the flattened area.

A common and easily treatable complaint

In my practice, I see many babies with a preferred posture. This is often caused by tension in the upper neck or at the base of the skull. The cause of this can be, for example, a difficult delivery or birth trauma.

Behandeling van een voorkeurshouding bij een baby

De osteopaat kan met zachte mobiliserende manuele technieken de spanning van de spieren en mobiliteit van de nek verbeteren. De schedel kan zich daarna normaliseren en symmetrisch groeien omdat de baby nu op beide kanten ligt en de druk gelijkmatig verdeeld wordt. Een baby kan al vanaf week 5 behandeld worden en hoe sneller hoe beter.

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