The difference between a child’s navicular head and a child’s long head is usually a difference in etiology and symptomatology. Navicular head is a cranial deformation caused by pathologic changes in the skull, while long head may be caused by the fetal head being squeezed by the birth canal or improper sleeping position, which is a physiologic manifestation. A long head is not necessarily a navicular head. A long head may be caused by the fetal head being squeezed by the birth canal during delivery or by sleeping positions. A long head does not determine whether the child has a deformity, but navicular head is the presence of an increase in the anterior and posterior diameters of the head, called a long head deformity. When a child is born, brain tissue develops relatively quickly, and if 1 or more of the bony seams close prematurely, a navicular head can form. Navicular head may cause some deviation in the shape of the head, with growth in the anterior and posterior diameters of the head, but the head is not necessarily elongated. Navicular head may limit the development of the child’s brain and cause conditions of brain dysfunction. The shape of a child’s head is usually directly related to genetic and nutritional factors. If your child has a long head, it is recommended that you take your child to the hospital in time for a head examination to make a clear diagnosis and treatment under the guidance of your doctor.