Avoiding the Helmet

[thecatsmeow]

A couple weeks ago we noticed LO prefers holding his head towards the left. We asked about it and got some advice from a nurse. She told us to try and use nursing positions encouraging him to face right, talking to him and making him turn towards us, ect. The hardest part is sleeping. He can seem to be completely out but if I try and lay him down it is like his head is on a spring and to the left it goes and then he wakes if I try and turn it. I do feel we are making some progress, just wondering if anyone has any tips or tricks? Thank you!

[billyhorrible]

Switch sides with diaper changes. If the head normally points south rotate 180 so now it points north.

[Deleted]

-baby wear during the day so there is less pressure on the back of babies head

-switching sides during diaper changes and in the crib
-tummy time every day on your chest and or on a blanket

[thecatsmeow]

Thanks for the responses ladies! I do need to try and baby wear around home more. While I do enjoy it he also does so well not being held sometimes it is easier to set him down and just talk to him while I'm busy. We'll just keep working on it!

[mirage86]

My sister said that her nurses also recommended that she rotate which side of the bed (head/foot) that she placed her baby's head at when she put him down for naps and bedtime. With the sounds they get used to being on a different side, it should encourage them to turn their heads and not stay on just the one side that they are used to.

[ladysif]

What everyone else said. Also, my LO likes looking toward an open window or light source, so placing things strategically helps that way. e.g., playmat, bouncy chair, swing. Also my the chair of my swing (FP snugabunny) can be turned to three different directions without moving the base so that makes it really easy.

[carolyngrace]

I am dealing with the same thing. The doctor said if he doesn't improve in a few weeks he would recommend physical therapy. But he tends to be pretty extreme! I feel like we can get it under control with the recommendations that people have given above.

[Deleted]

Also when I'm sitting next to LO I let her sleep on her side and stomach during the day to limit the amount of hours she is sleeping on her back

[sabrinaml]

C was doing the same thing, he favored one side over the other but would still look the other way occasionally. I took him to my chiropractor and he adjusted him, all better! I recommend a chiropractor before putting LO through physical therapy. Our chiropractor also helped with the spitting up issue. He still spits up, but nothing like before!

[clbehenna]

My niece had this issue, and they had them do neck stretches with her to get her muscles loosened up so she could turn her head more comfortably to the other side. Not sure if that's helpful or not, but maybe something to ask the doc about!

ETA:An exclamation point instead of the random question mark that popped up.

[stinybean]

Jul 25, 2015 9:55:43 GMT -5 Joolschweets said:

I'm paranoid about this. Baby has great head control when propped on my chest or in a carrier bit refuses to lift it while laying on his tummy, even propped with a towel. Just cannot get him to do it! I feel like he always has his head turned one way

LO totally has better head control belly to belly than on her playmat too.

[Deleted]

Jul 25, 2015 9:55:43 GMT -5 Joolschweets said:

I'm paranoid about this. Baby has great head control when propped on my chest or in a carrier bit refuses to lift it while laying on his tummy, even propped with a towel. Just cannot get him to do it! I feel like he always has his head turned one way

How old is your LO? When I looked up baby milestones lifting head and turning it is not a milestone until 2 months and when they say 2 months they mean between 2-3 months. So it just means if your baby is already doing this they are doing it early. Your baby not doing it yet during tummy time is nothing to be worried about.

[shahoi]

Jul 24, 2015 23:23:19 GMT -5 sabrinaml said:

C was doing the same thing, he favored one side over the other but would still look the other way occasionally. I took him to my chiropractor and he adjusted him, all better! I recommend a chiropractor before putting LO through physical therapy. Our chiropractor also helped with the spitting up issue. He still spits up, but nothing like before!

Please explain the chiropractor/spit up issue. I'm curious. O is a spitter upper. Like a lot.

[holliberry28]

Jul 25, 2015 21:35:23 GMT -5 shahoi said:

Jul 24, 2015 23:23:19 GMT -5 sabrinaml said:

C was doing the same thing, he favored one side over the other but would still look the other way occasionally. I took him to my chiropractor and he adjusted him, all better! I recommend a chiropractor before putting LO through physical therapy. Our chiropractor also helped with the spitting up issue. He still spits up, but nothing like before!

Please explain the chiropractor/spit up issue. I'm curious. O is a spitter upper. Like a lot.

+1

[sabrinaml]

My chiropractor adjusted his spine (massaged it). Delivery is very rough on their little bodies so something is almost always out of line. When C was getting adjusted he found a spot that had a lump on it that directly related to his stomach. He adjusted that area and then told me to do an exercise with him before each feeding. Basically I take my thumbs and place them about 1/2 an inch below his ribs and lightly push in and slide down, hold for 5-10 seconds. Pick up your thumbs and move down a little and do it again. Do this down to LOs belly button. You're basically giving him more room in this abdomen by moving things down a little.