SIDS Campaign Brings Troubling Complication

BOSTON -- Since the Back To Sleep campaign began a decade ago, encouraging infants to be placed on their backs when sleeping, the rate of sudden infant death syndrome has dropped 40 percent.

That's good news, but unfortunately, the practice has also left many infants with a troubling complication.

When little Ryan came into this world, he had a healthy, round head that was full of hair. But after a few months, the back of his head began flattening. In fact, by 5 months, it was as straight and flat as a pancake.

His pediatrician said he had plagiocephaly, a condition that's becoming more common.

"I was just like, 'Oh, God, sounds pretty serious.' Then we went to go see the specialist and he confirmed it," Ryan's mother, Marlene Franklin, said.

Since 1993, when experts began recommending babies be placed on their backs to sleep to decrease the number of crib deaths, there's been a huge jump in the number of babies who develop misshapen heads. Now, it affects about 8 percent of all babies.

While there's no evidence the flattening will have any major health impact, it does raise concern.

"If you have to walk around the rest of your life with a big dent on the back of your head, I think that may affect how you develop psychosocially and how you live your life," said Dr. Gary Rogers, of Boston Children's Hospital.

Fortunately, there is a solution. Ryan's doctor wrote a prescription for a medical helmet that is worn 23 hours a day for a few months. It allows the skull to grow to its normal shape.

But the helmets aren't cheap -- they cost about $2,000. While most insurance companies cover them, Ryan's insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, does not.

When contacted, Blue Cross confirmed they do not routinely cover the treatment, but said their policy is currently under review. They noted, however, that when requests are appealed, the vast majority of them are approved.

"They told me that they consider it to be cosmetic and not medically necessary," Franklin said.

The helmets work best on kids under six months of age. So Ryan's mom paid for it herself. Given the surge in cases, doctors hope the process of getting the helmets covered will be easier.

"It's a fairly easy fix for both insurance companies and parents, and I think it's a dollar well spent," Rogers said.

Rogers said that babies most likely to have head flattening are those born with a tightened muscle on one or both sides of the neck. If you have trouble tilting your baby's head from side to side, see a pediatrician. Exercises may help.

No matter what, experts stress babies should continue to be placed on their backs to sleep.