Supine and prone head orientation preference in term infants

Head orientation preference in the supine and prone positions was studied in 62 healthy term born infants at three different times within 24 hours after delivery. Head orientation preference was related to: the foetal position, the initial head position when the newborn was lying prone on the abdomen of the mother, the handedness of the parents and the state of the infant (according to Prechtl). Although for the whole group a head orientation preference for the right side was observed, an individual significant head orientation preference was observed in less than 50% of the infants studied. Neither the occurrence nor the direction of head orientation per individual was constant during the observation period. No relationship was found between an infant's head orientation and foetal position, initial head position, handedness of the parents, or the state of the infant. Our data suggest that persistent head orientation preference to one side in a healthy term born infant within 24 hours after delivery is a sign of abnormality. Head orientation to the right should not be considered as a sign of normality.