Understanding Newborn Head Moulding: What Every Parent Should Know
What is Head Moulding?
Head moulding is the natural shaping of a baby’s skull during childbirth. The process occurs because a newborn’s skull is made up of soft, flexible bony plates that can compress and overlap to fit through the a birth canal. This incredible adaptation allows babies to be born safely and reduces the risk of injury during vaginal delivery.
The overlapping and slight reshaping of the skull is called vertex moulding when the baby is in a head-first (vertex) position. It can cause the head to appear cone-shaped, oblong, or slightly uneven right after birth.
Which Cranial Bones Are Involved?
A newborn’s skull is made up of several flat bones that are loosely joined by cranial sutures and soft spots called fontanelles:
Frontal bones – the forehead area
Parietal bones – the sides and top of the skull
Occipital bone – the back of the head
Temporal bones – around the ears
The frontal and occipital bones slide under the parietal bones along the coronal and lambdoid sutures.
This sliding allows the head to elongate in the anteroposterior direction (front to back) while reducing the vertical height.
The fontanelles (soft spots) allow flexibility and protect the brain while these adjustments occur.
During moulding:
Why Does Head Moulding Happen?
Head moulding happens because:
Birth canal compression – The skull adapts to pass through the narrow, curved birth canal.
Soft skull plates – A newborn’s skull is not fully fused, allowing movement at the cranial sutures.
Long or difficult labor – Babies who descend early into the pelvis or experience prolonged labor may have more noticeable moulding.
Fetal position – Head-first (vertex) delivery exerts pressure on specific areas of the skull.
Swelling and bruising – Fluid or minor bleeding in the scalp (caput succedaneum or cephalohematoma) can temporarily distort the shape.
How Long Does It Last?
In most babies, head moulding resolves naturally within a few days to weeks as the bones move back into place.
Slight ridges along the sutures are normal and usually disappear as the skull rounds out.
Newborns’ brains grow rapidly during the first year, gradually closing the sutures as the skull hardens.
Tip: Avoid keeping your baby in the same head position for prolonged periods to prevent flat spots (plagiocephaly).
Treatment and Home Care
When to See a Doctor ?
Don’t panic if your newborn’s head looks a little funny at first. Their skull is built to handle it, and nature has designed a remarkable process to ensure babies are born safely and grow healthily.
Most of the time, no treatment is needed. Here’s what parents can do:
Gentle repositioning – Encourage your baby to turn their head to different sides during sleep and tummy time.
Monitor soft spots (fontanelles) – These are normal and protect the brain. Pulsing or slight sunken areas are usually harmless.
Watch for swelling or bruising – Caput succedaneum and cephalohematomas usually resolve on their own within days to weeks.
Hair loss is normal – Any hair present at birth may fall out in the first months and regrow.
Seek medical advice if you notice:
Persistent or unusual flattening of the head
Fontanelle abnormalities combined with poor feeding, dehydration, or other concerning signs
Suspected birth defects like craniosynostosis (premature fusion of skull sutures)
Unusual swelling, bumps, or bruising that doesn’t improve
You can watch a YouTube video about newborn head moulding below. There are many great visual explanations that show how a baby’s skull adapts during birth — it’s fascinating to see how nature protects your little one!
Resources:
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) – Newborn Head Shape and Moulding
Cleveland Clinic – “Newborn Head Moulding: Causes, Symptoms, and Care”
Clinicalpub -- ''Vertex Birth Molding''
Shunchild -- '' Molding In Newborns: Is Head Shaping Normal?''
