A new laser device is making it easier to design helmets to help treat flattened head syndrome.

The Back to Sleep campaign encourages parents to put babies to sleep on their backs, and as a result, fewer infants are dying of SIDS. However, many more develop a flattened head.

Flattened heads can create problems for eyes, ears and neck muscles, and growth and development.

"They may notice that the baby's head is flat on one side of the back,” said Harry Bright, Orthotist with Coastal Prosthetics and Orthotics in Virginia Beach. “It may be a little flat on the front. If they notice that it's something they need to pay attention to."

Two sets of twins keep the Hendra family hopping. The youngest, Lucas and Autumn, were born weighing exactly the same but Lucas had an odd shaped head.

"I just noticed a flattening on the side of his head and one of his ears was off it just didn't seem right to me,” said mother, Stefanie.

Flat spots can result because parents properly place babies on their backs to sleep, or in Lucas' case, from lack of space in the womb.

Six weeks ago, Lucas was fitted for a plastic and foam helmet that helps remold a baby's head back into shape.

During treatment, a baby's head is measured some 15 times over several months, and it used to involve a tape measure, wood and metal.

Bright has the first device in Virginia that uses a laser to take measurements.

The Starscan is an FDA approved class one laser that takes a three dimensional image of the surface of the baby's head.

“Everything that we took 30-45 minutes to do is now done in less than 2 seconds," said Bright.

Bright says the accuracy of measurements has improved from about plus or minus 3 millimeters to .5 millimeter with the laser.

Friday was Lucas' first time using the new machine. It's a move his mother appreciates.

This wasn't Lucas's problem, but for many babies you can prevent the flattened head from happening by giving a baby plenty of play time on his or her tummy.