head tilt

Today I noticed that my DD Kamryn has quite the tilt to her head. It seems really uncomfortable when I straighten her out. It just tilts right of to the right like her ear is going towards her shoulder. She doesn't have any flat spots on her head. you can really notice it from the back and feel it when you touch her neck. I alternate nursing positions and switch cribs so they will hopefully look different ways, do any of you BTDT mommies have advice? My bil is a chiropractor , should I let him adjust her?

 

My ds had torticollis {the head tilt due to tightened muscles} I mentioned it to his doctor at his four month appt. and he referred me to a Physical Therapist. They showed me stretches that I could do with my son a few times a day. They worked wonders. By nine months you could hardly tell, and when you could, it was when he was tired. The stretches aren't hard to do at all, but what helped me was having a professional show me how to do them properly. You can ask your ped. if they know the stretches and ask them to teach you. I have no advice on the chiropractor thing, but I wouldn't think that could help because the muscles need to be stretched and strengthed, and it's a process. But you can always ask your ped. Good luck!

 

My DS had torticollis & was referred to Physical Therapy at one month old. The stretches worked GREAT & prevented any further flattening of his head (for us, his head was flat, which LED to his tort). He was out of PT by 3 months old.

I'm not a fan of chiropractors & definitely don't think I'd allow them to touch my infant. Especially since this is most likely a MUSCLE issue, I'd talk to your Ped about getting a PT referral. I'd also do it SOON before it does cause a flat spot or developmental delays.

GL!

 

Oh Maannnnn! I went on Google and now I am freaking out. Good thing we have a doc appointment on Wednesday! My poor little baby girl! I feel so bad that I didn't notice it before, I even looked through my old pics and I can't see it. Does it come on sudden sometimes?

 

QUOTE(prairiemom3 @ Feb 4 2008, 01:20 AM) [snapback]604066[/snapback]
Oh Maannnnn! I went on Google and now I am freaking out. Good thing we have a doc appointment on Wednesday! My poor little baby girl! I feel so bad that I didn't notice it before, I even looked through my old pics and I can't see it. Does it come on sudden sometimes?


i vote yes for chiropractor. your bil will know what to do. if it isn't needed he wont do anything and so its not going to hurt to have him take a look. does he use the "activator" if so it would better than a manual adjustment.
good luck

 

Don't beat yourself up over not noticing it sooner. babies are so scrunched up and there is so much going on,you noticed it now, and are doing something about it. Def. talk to you pedi about he/she will probably want to get evaluation with PT which is good idea. you said you didn't notice that she had it when she was smaller, this either means she has developed it from postioning after being born or the muscles are tightening more on the tilt side making it more noticeable. DS has struggled with torticollis since birth and is finally in what I hope are his last few visits to PT. As PP have said the stretches are easy, the positioning is important and sometimes it resolves quickly.
keep us updated after your appointment and try to not worry.

 

It sounds to me like the possibility of torticolis. My son has this. I would talk to your pediatrician.....you may need to start physical therapy on it. You could have your bil adjust it......I was always too scared to but some people think chiropractors can fix it all so its just your preference.

 

I was worried about the same thing, I brought it up at our 4 month pedi appt this weekend and the pedi checked him, noticed the tilt but said it was very mild. She did show me some stretches to do 3 times a day, so far he doesn't seem too bothered by them. Good luck!

ETA, as far as the chiropractor thing, I"m an OT and my only advice is if you see another profesional make sure they are comfortable working with infants, if you have a PT or chiropractor specializing in infants that's fine, but I don't know that I would let someone who wasn't familiar with the unique physiology of infants work on them.

 

Evan had the same thing and I took him to physio. I didn't find it very helpful, to be honest. They gave me a few tricks, such as positions to hold him to encourage him to self correct. It got better with time, to be honest. I think a chiro is a great idea. Probably the quickest way to fix the problem.