How Osteopathy Can Effectively Treat Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly)

If you have heard of flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly), you may know it’s a condition where a baby’s head becomes flat on one side, often due to pressure. It’s something that can make parents worry, it’s an issue that many babies face. 

The good news is that gentle osteopathy may help ease areas of tension in the skull, and many parents report that their baby’s head shape appears more balanced over time. This treatment doesn’t involve surgery or anything scary, it’s a safe and easy way to help.

In this article, we’ll explain how osteopathy can help fix flat head syndrome, and why it’s a great way to treat and even prevent it. By the end, you’ll know how osteopathy works and why it’s a good choice for your baby’s health.

What is Flat Head Syndrome

Flat head syndrome, also called plagiocephaly, happens when pressure on one part of a baby’s soft skull causes it to flatten. A baby’s skull is still soft and squishy, and if they lie in one position for too long, the pressure can make one side of the head flat. This is common in babies in birth trauma, or who babies who sleep on their backs, which is safe, but can cause their head to flatten if they stay in the same position too much.

It’s not just from sleeping. Babies who spend a lot of time in one position without moving their head can also get flat head syndrome. The good news is that it can be treated with the right care.

How Osteopathy Helps in the Treatment of Flat Head Syndrome

Osteopathy is a natural and non-invasive treatment that focuses on the body’s bones, muscles, and joints.  At Osteopathic Healing Hands, osteopaths use gentle, hands-on techniques to relieve tension in the baby’s skull and guide it into a more natural shape. This isn’t about forcing the bones into position but rather helping the body naturally realign and reduce pressure.

One of the key techniques osteopaths at Osteopathic Healing Hands use is osteopathy in the cranial field, where they apply light pressure to the skull. This helps release tension and promotes movement in the bones, allowing the skull to regain its proper shape.

Most are not aware that craniosacral therapy (CST) traces its roots directly back to osteopathy in the cranial field. In the early 1900s, William Garner Sutherland, DO, expanded Andrew Taylor Still’s osteopathic system to include the cranial bones. Later, in the 1970s, John E. Upledger, DO, further developed this work, formalizing craniosacral therapy as its own modality and helping expand its availability beyond physician-only practice.

Dr. Banik, a fully licensed osteopathic physician (DO), trained for seven years—four years of medical school and three years of residency, including a full year devoted exclusively to hands-on osteopathic manipulation. She went out of her way during those years, flying across the country to study directly with some of the nation’s leading experts in manual manipulation. Now, with 11 years of running her own private practice, she is approaching nearly two decades of experience providing hands-on osteopathic care. This background gives her a unique blend of medical, surgical, and osteopathic diagnostic skills, along with the legal authority to prescribe medication and perform procedures.

Craniosacral therapists (CST practitioners) typically complete specialized manual therapy programs ranging from about 125 to 700 hours. Their training is highly focused on gentle techniques within the craniosacral system but does not include general medical education or licensure for broader diagnosis or treatment.

We have tremendous respect for our local craniosacral therapy practitioners and value our partnership with them. In fact, many families find their way to us because their CST practitioner recommends additional osteopathic care when a child is not progressing as expected. Think of us as the next step—where children come when CST practitioners reach a plateau—so together we can continue helping them move forward.

Osteopaths also focus on the baby’s neck and overall posture, which can be a factor in the development of flat head syndrome. If the baby’s neck muscles are tight (a condition known as torticollis), osteopathy can help release that tension, allowing the baby to turn their head more freely and avoid pressure on one side.

Osteopathy offers a holistic, hands-on approach that may support babies with flat head syndrome by easing tension and encouraging freer movement. It’s a gentle way to encourage healthy development without using harsh methods or invasive equipment.

One study of 424 infants found reduced cranial asymmetry after osteopathic treatments, suggesting osteopathy may be a supportive option. More research is ongoing. (source)

How Long Does Osteopathy Take to Treat Flat Head Syndrome?

Each child is different and needs to be personally evaluated in person to understand severity.  During the evaluation, Dr. Banik will often find and explain about other complications that can be addressed at the same time including torticollis (twisted neck), breastfeeding issues, constipation, and colic.  Thus why we offer complementary discovery visits to ensure each family feels comfortable before proceeding.  

When Can You No Longer Treat Flat Head Syndrome With  Osteopathy?

Many parents wonder if it’s too late to treat flat head syndrome once their baby reaches 12 month old. The answer is no, but Osteopathic Healing Hands May still help until around 18 months. Osteopaths can step in to gently guide the process and relieve any remaining tension.   While it’s generally easier to correct flat head syndrome when babies are younger (since their skull bones are softer), osteopathy can still provide very minor changes up to around 18 months since the bones don’t ever fuse but they come together around 12 months.  

A Common Misconception about Flat Head Syndrome

No, flat head syndrome is not a sign of neglect. It’s a common problem that many parents don’t know happens to lots of babies. Babies’ skulls are soft and can change shape, and this condition often happens because of the birthing process, how babies sleep, or if they lay on one side of their head for too long. It’s just part of birth and/or growing, and it can happen to anyone.

The good news is that flat head syndrome can be treated, and if you catch it early, osteopathy has been shown to help.

Research shows that six osteopathy sessions reduced plagiocephaly severity at 3 months and 1 year, highlighting the importance of early intervention. (source)

How to Prevent Flat Head Syndrome

Prevention is always better than treatment, and there are easy ways to help your baby avoid flat head syndrome. One great way is tummy time. This means placing your baby on their stomach while they’re awake. It helps strengthen their neck muscles and takes pressure off the back of their head.

Another important tip is to change your baby’s sleeping position. While babies should sleep on their backs, changing the direction they lie in their crib can help prevent flat spots. Also, try to limit how long your baby spends in car seats or swings, because these can put pressure on one side of the head for too long.

Helmet Free Solution for Flat Head Syndrome

Some parents might think that helmets are the only way to fix flat head syndrome, but that’s not true. Osteopathy is a gentler way to help. With osteopathy, babies don’t need to wear a helmet. Instead, an osteopath uses gentle techniques to help guide the skull into a more natural shape.

In many cases, osteopathy can help so much that a helmet isn’t needed at all. In more serious cases, a helmet might still be suggested, but osteopathy can often reduce the need for it. It’s a softer, more natural way to treat flat head syndrome.

Does Flat Head Correct Itself in Babies?

Some head shape differences (often called positional flattening) can improve as babies get more mobile and spend time in different positions. Every child is unique, and changes are usually gradual.

At Osteopathic Healing Hands, Payel Banik, dO provides a gentle, physician-led evaluation that looks at neck mobility, feeding and sleeping positions, and areas of musculoskeletal tension. Her light, hands-on techniques are designed to ease tightness, encourage comfortable turning to both sides, and support your baby’s natural growth.

Parents often tell us they notice:

• Easier turning to both sides
  
• Less preference for one head position
  
• More relaxed feeds and sleep—factors that may help reduce ongoing pressure on one area
  

We’re happy to work alongside your pediatrician and common at-home strategies like tummy time, babywearing, and varied positioning.

A study showed that osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) significantly reduced skull asymmetry and occipital flattening in children with deformational plagiocephaly, with no adverse events. (source)

When Is the Best Time to Fix Flat Head Syndrome?

Families tend to have the most options before 12 months, when babies grow quickly and head shape adapts with positioning and mobility. After 12 months, change usually slows, though minor improvements can continue up to about 18 months.

The important thing to remember is that it’s always better to get help sooner. If you notice any signs of flat head syndrome, don’t wait to see an osteopath at Osteopathic Healing Hands early to prevent bigger problems later.

Get Help for Flat Head Syndrome with Osteopathic Healing Hands

If you’re concerned about flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly) and want a safe, gentle, and effective treatment for your baby, Osteopathic Healing Hands is here to help. Our expert osteopaths specialize in non-invasive, hands-on techniques to guide your baby’s skull back into a natural shape.

Book an infant osteopathy appointment to explore safe ways to support your baby’s head shape.

Conclusion

Osteopathy is a safe, gentle, and effective treatment for flat head syndrome. Whether your baby is a few weeks or several months old, osteopathic care at Osteopathic Healing Hands can help guide the skull back into shape without the need for helmets or invasive procedures. The sooner you get help, the better. But even if your baby is older, osteopathy can still help.

If you notice flat head syndrome, osteopathy can help. Getting treatment early will help your baby’s head grow properly. Don’t wait, talk to an osteopath. It will give your baby the best chance for healthy growth.