Alder Hey Craniofacial Unit finds Mattress found effective in treating flat head syndrome

November 9, 2011 Chopsy Baby

A mattress designed to cure positional plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) has been proved effective by the Craniofacial Unit at Alder Hey NHS Children’s Foundation Hospital.

The SleepCurve baby mattress, has formed the basis of a study at the unit.

All but one of 40 babies with flat head syndrome taking part responded to treatment with the mattress.

The mattress design allows a baby’s head to move freely, reducing pressure on the head whilst preventing it from being pushed forward on to its chest.

The mattress also takes warm air away from a baby’s body through ‘heat flow channels’ and has a gentle head to foot slope reducing reflux.

The inventor of the SleepCurve Mattress is Paediatric cranial osteopath Philip Owen.

He says: “The SleepCurve® mattress has been designed with babies in mind, striving to provide the most comfort and support, just as any parent does when holding their baby in the crook of their arm. The ergonomics of the SleepCurve® mattress, with its unique moulded curve, supports babies like no other mattress.”

Flat head syndrome is currently the most common head shape deformity, caused by external pressure on the developing skull.

The condition has increased over the last 15 years, corresponding to the change of thought surrounding infant sleeping positions.

The ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign which successfully reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome can increase the pressure on babies’ skulls due to the flat mattresses they sleep on.

As many as 48 per cent of babies under one year of age may be affected by flat head syndrome to some extent.

The study at Alder Hey was led by Christian Duncan who said: “The SleepCurve® mattress is an effective low-cost treatment for positional plagiocephaly, a common condition for which there are few options for families”.

Though the study at the hospital is now complete, the unit still continues to use the mattresses and recommends them to parents through outreach programmes.