I am a Cranial Osteopath and treat many issues in both adults and also many babies. I have lived and worked off Northcote Road for 30 years . I would like to give an opinion on flat head syndrome for the benefit of all current and would be parents.

The head is a double skinned dome, between the skins develops bone. The bones grow towards each other and eventually become more dense and compact with increased calcium. Where they meet they become joints. The whole dome is a continuum with the spinal cord creating a pear shaped structure with a elongated tail. The whole thing is filled with developing neural cells blood vessels and Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). As a whole it expands and contracts (for life) which creates an increase and decrease in pressure which aids the intake of fresh filtered blood or CSF which then departs due to the same pressure into Cerebral and Dural veins or Sinuses.

Given that this warm fluid soft structure spends copious amounts of time laying down it is likely to flatten on the side where most time is spent. A larger or heavier head will likely flatten more.

Once a child begins to sit or walk more then gravity will change the pressure and the head will more likely begin to become normal.

Placing a helmet for the head to grow into a specific shape will of course produce that perfect head shape to match the perfect teeth.

Personally I would like to think that individualism is more attractive. As a man I have never hear of a member of the male species checking the opposite sex for levels of flat headedness, heaven forbid that the fairer sex is checking out our Sphenoid, Parietal Occipital and Temporal bones. Only Cranial Osteopaths seem do this which is why we are not invited out to many parties.

On a more serious note I am more than happy to answer any individual issues by email. david@theosteopath.net www.theosteopath.netFlat head