Bilateral Head Flattening in Hospitalized Premature Infants.

Asymmetrical headshape in infants has increased markedly since the 1992 recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome by avoiding the prone sleeping position. Cranial molding correlated to restrictive intrauterine environment, birth trauma, torticollis, positioning, lack of full bone mineralization, neurological deficits, and any combination of the above. Nursing interventions to prevent cranial molding include alternative mattress surfaces and repositioning. The research strongly supports repositioning of infants to improve cranial vault symmetry.