HEAD CARE™ INFANT PILLOW

EFFECTIVE PREVENTION

Head Care™ helps protect the natural shape of the child’s head. The pillow has a preventive effect by reducing concentrated pressure from the underlying surface on the baby’s head and increasing the area of contact between the head and the supporting surface.

The back of the head rests in a circular recess, while a flexible and comfortable support roll, sized appropriately for the child, is positioned under the neck. As a result, the baby’s still-malleable skull is no longer exposed to the harmful concentrated pressure exerted by the mattress.

When the Head Care™ orthopaedic pillow for newborns and infants is used, the risk of developing flattening of the head is close to zero.

REDUCTION OF DEFORMITIES

Head Care™ effectively reduces existing mild and moderate head deformities. When the baby’s head is positioned on the pillow, it can develop optimally and grow naturally in the flattened areas, gradually returning to its proper shape.

The pillow provides a large contact surface and helps distribute pressure more evenly.

CORRECT SLEEPING POSITION

The unique design of the pillow, its ergonomic shape and contoured area for the baby’s head allow the Head Care™ orthopaedic pillow to provide optimal sleeping conditions and help maintain the correct lying position. The pillow’s design keeps the baby’s head and spine in an optimal, natural position, reducing concerns about changes in the baby’s position during sleep.

By helping to stabilise the supine sleeping position, the Head Care™ orthopaedic pillow helps prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

SAFETY

Head Care™ pillows are manufactured in the European Union using soft and comfortable cotton that helps regulate moisture and temperature. The outer cover is made of 100% cotton, while the core is made of high-quality polyester, also manufactured in the EU.

Head Care™ pillows are safe and made from materials suitable for use with young children. The materials have been tested for harmful substances and are certified according to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

OPTIMAL HEAD HYGIENE

Head Care™ orthopaedic pillows help ensure optimal hygiene for the baby’s head. The pillows are hypoallergenic, antistatic, free from harmful substances, and resistant to dust mites and fungi.

The pillows are easy to clean. Head Care™ corrective pillows are machine washable.

(The coloured pillowcase should preferably be washed at 30°C. The white pillowcase and the pillow filling can be washed at 60°C.)

RECOMMENDED BY SPECIALISTS

Experts, including paediatricians and rehabilitation specialists, recommend Head Care™ pillows for infants.

Since 1990, there has been a sharp, sixfold increase in the diagnosis of plagiocephaly. This increase has been associated with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics to place healthy infants on their backs for sleep in order to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Sleeping in the supine position can contribute to the development of head deformities, but the risk of SIDS is, of course, a much more serious concern. Because infants should be placed on their backs for sleep from the very first days of life, both during naps and at night, the preventive use of pillows such as Head Care™ is recommended to help prevent the development of head deformities.

(Source: Persing J, James H, Swanson J, Kattwinkel J. Prevention and Management of Positional Skull Deformities in Infants. Pediatrics. Vol. 112, No. 1, July 2003, pp. 199–202.)

HIGH-RISK GROUPS

The Head Care™ pillow is intended for preventive use in all newborns and infants, and particularly for babies who prefer one head position (keeping their head turned in one direction) or who belong to a high-risk group, including:

• premature babies (premature infants have a very soft skull for an extended period, making it particularly susceptible to deformation. Many premature babies spend time in incubators, are connected to a ventilator, and their heads may remain in one position. Prematurity is also frequently associated with dolichocephaly),
• twins or infants from multiple births,
• boys,
• infants with torticollis (torticollis is very commonly associated with plagiocephaly because the infant keeps the head resting on the mattress in the same position and, over time, may increasingly resist attempts to reposition it),
• infants with asymmetric neck muscle tone, hip dysplasia, perinatal clavicle fracture, obstetric brachial plexus palsy, central nervous system disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, or sensory impairments (visual or auditory).

Particular attention should be paid to a strong preference for one head position, and the shape of the baby’s head should be monitored, especially during the first 4 months of life.

Many parents have difficulty repositioning their baby onto the side for sleep, particularly when the baby has become accustomed to sleeping in one position. After around 3 months of age, babies who have become accustomed to sleeping on the flattened side may no longer readily accept a change of position. For this reason, the Head Care™ pillow provides a solution from the very first days of a baby’s life and helps prevent the development of serious deformities.

Positional flattening has become very common over the past several decades following the introduction of the “Back to Sleep” campaign. The campaign, promoted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends placing infants on their backs for sleep in order to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Placing infants on their backs is very important because of the risk of SIDS, but at the same time it may contribute to head deformities. For this reason, we recommend using the Head Care™ pillow.

If any flattening of the head is noticed, a doctor should be consulted for a proper medical diagnosis.