Abnormal Head Shape (Deformational Plagiocephaly-Brachycephaly) in Infants

1.0 NAPNAP Contact Hour. This continuing education activity is offered at a reduced rate to NAPNAP Members. This continuing education activity rate is $10 for NAPNAP Members. For non-members, this continuing education activity rate is $20. This course is an archived session from NAPNAP's Pediatric Virtual Symposium: 2026 Targeted Topics.

Abnormal Head Shape (Deformational Plagiocephaly-Brachycephaly) in Infants: Established Protocols for Care and Current Evidence-Based Guidelines

This presentation reviews evidence-based guidelines for evaluating and managing infant head shape abnormalities, including deformational plagiocephaly and brachycephaly, emphasizing current consensus standards from the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and American Academy of Pediatrics. This presentation highlights the importance of early recognition, timely referral, and key risk factors such as torticollis, intrauterine positioning, sleep position, and the role of repositioning. It also examines the rise in these conditions following the Back to Sleep campaign and aims to promote more consistent, evidence-based care across clinical disciplines.

Please note that this program is an archived session NAPNAP's Pediatric Virtual Symposium: 2026 Targeted Topics. If you had attended 2026 virtual symposium and earned CE for this session, this course will be a duplicate.

This continuing education activity is administered by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) as an Agency providing continuing education credit. Individuals who complete this program will be awarded 1.0 NAPNAP Contact Hour.

IMPORTANT: This continuing education activity is offered at a reduced rate to NAPNAP Members. You must be logged in using your NAPNAP Username and Password to be recognized as a Member of NAPNAP. If you are a current member of NAPNAP, and you are being asked to purchase this activity at the Non-Member rate, please contact the NAPNAP National Office at (877) 662-7627 to request assistance prior to entering any payment information. 

Participants are forbidden to reproduce, republish, redistribute, or resell this course in any other form. For copyright-related questions, please email your question to: [email protected]

Copyright 2026 © by National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).

Target Audience

Pediatric-focused advanced practice registered nurses

Learning Objectives

  • Identify risk factors for deformational plagiocephaly and brachycephaly, including their relationship with torticollis, intrauterine positioning, and sleep position.
  • Recognize the historical increase in the incidence of plagiocephaly and brachycephaly.
  • Understand the importance of early recognition and treatment, and how age at initiation of treatment impacts treatment outcomes.
  • Describe the core tenets of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) recommendations and guidelines for the treatment of deformational plagiocephaly and brachycephaly.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.00 Contact hours
Course opens: 
11/09/2026
Course expires: 
11/30/2028
Cost:
$20.00
Rating: 
0

 Anna Preisler, BSN, RN 

Available Credit

  • 1.00 Contact hours

Price

Cost:
$20.00
Please login or register to take this course.