There is a lot to think about when you are a new parent.
One thing to keep an eye on is the shape of your baby's head.
Babies' skulls start out soft with room for their brains to grow.
It's actually those brains that form the shape of their heads. If it looks like something is off – it could be a sign of a condition called craniosynostosis.
Dr. Jason Pomerantz, UCSF professor of surgery, told KCBS Radio's "As Prescribed" on Thursday it can be often be treated will a small endoscopic procedure and a helmet. "The key this is for us to be able to offer the minimally invasive procedures it's critical that we make the diagnosis early and can do the treatment before a few months of age," he said.
Helmets can also help if a baby's head seems to be more flat on one side.
Dr. Peter Sun, pediatric neurosurgeon at UCSF, said that's becoming a more common practice.
"Since the 'Back to Sleep' campaign to reduce the incidence of SIDS, we see that a lot more," Sun added. "Parents do a very good job, you know, they're very good at following directions to lay on the back of the head, which is good. But, we have to remember we have to lay on both sides of the head."
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