Fisher-Price BGB17 Manual Del Usuario página 6

Preventing Baby's Head from Flattening
Cómo evitar que la cabeza del bebé se aplane
Pediatricians and child health organizations
agree that healthy babies should be placed
on their backs to sleep for naps and at
nighttime, to reduce the risk of Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But
babies who are always on their backs can
sometimes develop flat spots on their head
(plagiocephaly). Most cases of positional
plagiocephaly can be prevented (and
sometimes corrected) by repositioning your
baby to relieve pressure on the back of the
head. Here are some tips and techniques
from the experts to keep in mind as you
care for your baby:
• Change the location of your baby's
sleeper or crib in the room, so she has
to look in different directions to see the
door, or the window, or interesting things
going on around her.
• When your baby is awake, provide
opportunities for adult-supervised
"tummy time" play. Playing on his tummy
helps take the pressure off the back of
his head, which will help prevent flat
spots from developing. Tummy time play
also helps your baby's head, neck and
shoulder muscles get stronger as part of
normal development.
• Try tummy time two or three times a day,
for short periods of time, until your baby
gets used to being on her tummy. Once
your baby begins to enjoy this position,
try longer periods of time or increase the
frequency of tummy time play.
• Help your baby avoid resting his head
in the same position all the time by
frequently changing the direction he lies
in the crib. For example, have your baby's
feet point toward one end of the crib for
a few days, and then change the position
so his feet point toward the other end of
the crib. This will encourage your baby to
turn and look in different directions.
• Try to minimize the amount of time your
baby spends in car seats, carriers and
bouncy seats while awake.
• Lastly, make sure you enjoy lots of
"cuddle time" with your baby by holding
her upright over your shoulder.
• For additional information on positional
plagiocephaly and the benefits of tummy
time play for your baby, speak with your
pediatrician or family physician.
National Institute of Health (NIH) Eunice Kennedy
Shriver National Institute of Child Health and
Human Development
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