Torticollis

[Lulu90]

Ladies, I need your help/advice

I've just got back from physio with Luca, which wasn't too positive if I'm honest. She thinks, if anything, his head is getting worse, and if we don't do something drastic now, his head is going to stay a funny shape forever

We do all his exercises/tummy time, I thought it was getting better, but apparently it's still bad. She told me, his car seat is awful, 2 things, he's too big for it and he has no support to keep his head in the middle, but with the support he's way too cramped. She advised me getting the next size maxi cosi, which would be the 'priori'. It says from 12 months so I'm really scared to move him up. I've bought a full support which I can use in it, but I still don't know if it's safe enough. I've called the HV and she's going to come and see us at home. I feel bad questioning the physician but I'm just not sure if that's the right advice to give.

She also said I need to buy a highchair and use the support in that too.

What do you ladies think? I don't know if any of you have experience with torticollis but it's so bloody hard to try and correct it, I feel like we're doing everything we can and to be told it isn't getting any better is so disheartening.

 

[El1en]

Aw I'm sorry lulu. My little girl did have it but we were lucky and her neck just sorted itself out at about 13 weeks. I kept worrying she'd never hold her head up. It has made her slower to do things like roll but at 6 months she can now go from tummy to back.

I'm sorry I don't have any real advice for you. Was Luca born with it or has it developed since birth? Have you been given little exercises?

A friend of mine who is a midwife recommended the Bowen Technique, I spoke to someone who does it but In the end it sorted itself so I didn't have to go

I hope he gets better soon, it's definitely a worry

 

[Mrs CW]

Hi I don't know how old your LO is or have experience of Torticollis but wanted to reply about the car seat. I would say if they're recommending a larger car seat why not look at an extended rear facing seat rather than the priory. A lot of those seats go from birth to 4 years so you can keep him rear facing which is recommended, and he's in a larger seat. There's a lot of choice now and seats for all budgets. Not sure if that's been any help X

 

[Lulu90]

El1en - physician said it would have been from birth but as time goes on it worsens. He's pretty good with tummy time, can hold his head up, he's very strong actually. We just can't even keep his head in the middle, it's always to the right. He can turn it to the left but he won't keep it there and gets super frustrated if we hold it there (physician told us to do this). I've just bought a head support online, one that's very snug and will keep his head in the middle when he's in his pram/car seat. I have been googling and a lot of people have said they've taken their babies to a chiropractor as well as a physician, so it's something I'm looking into as well.

Mrs CW - thank you, I've had a really long browse and you're right, there are loads of 0+ car seats to choose from. Thank you xx

 

[Lulu90]

I meant to add that he's 15 weeks xx

 

[Phoenix85]

Have you looked into getting a sling like a woven wrap and keeping him in that as much as possible?

I also agree with Mrs CW about the car seat. I'm leaning towards the Joie stages for this baby, it's group 0, 1 & 2 and can stay rear facing til 18kilos

 

[Lulu90]

I hadn't even thought about a sling Phoenix85. He's going through a stage where he doesn't even want to be held, he likes to be on the floor, kicking his legs. I'm willing to give anything and everything a go though.

Perhaps I can find a secondhand one. Do you have any recommendations? xx

 

[Nutsyputs]

If a sling is something your not sure your going to
Use for long try your local sling library. They would probably be able to recommended the best one as well.

 

[El1en]

One thing I've remembered helped us... Television... I'd lie her so the TV was in the "wrong" direction and she liked it so started to turn a lot more

 

[Lulu90]

Yeah we've been doing this for about 4 weeks now. He will turn but only for a second or 2 xx

 

[JD.Deedee]

Have you looked into getting a sling like a woven wrap and keeping him in that as much as possible?

I also agree with Mrs CW about the car seat. I'm leaning towards the Joie stages for this baby, it's group 0, 1 & 2 and can stay rear facing til 18kilos

I've currently got that one! Apparently it's not as safe as some others on the market something to do with the sides that I can remember, I was told on the forum from someone who has access to which reports I think it was.. Perhaps with the booster part in it for babies it might be comfy but at the moment my son isn't comfy in that seat at all he's been too big for the booster part since I got it last year.. I can not find any position to get him not stressed out in that seat. He's two and a half now.

 

[Phoenix85]

I'll keep looking into it then


I like woven wraps, but I agree that finding a local sling library would be good.

Also, you could try taking him to a chiropractor, it may help. x

 

[Belfa]

Hi I have no experience of this but my nephew was premature and he could only gave his head to the left and not the right and it took a long while to right itself. I believe they took him to a chiropractor who specialises in babies as it was something to do with the way he was in the womb x

 

[Lulu90]

Thank you ladies.

I've read a lot of positive stories from seeing a chiropractor as well as the physician. I'm going to book an appointment today xx

 

[Starlight1986]

I can recommend the Britax first plus car seat - just like the Maxi cose Priory (I have both) but its rear facing for the first 15 months then can turn front facing and will do them up until 4 months old. A really excellent car seat x

http://www.halfords.com/kids-zone/car-seats/child-car-seats/britax-first-class-plus-child-car-seat-black-thunder?cm_mmc=Google+PLA-_-Car+Seats-_-Child+Car+Seats-_-305901&_$ja=tsid:60494%7Ccgn:GoogleShopping%7Ckw:305901&istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istItemId=xxltlarpi&istBid=tzxw&_$ja=tsid:35522|cid:356615884|agid:24765763084|tid:kwd-53104638619|crid:86548697164|nw:g|rnd:13632129142702826767|dvc:c|adp:1o2&gclid=Cj0KEQiAyIayBRDo4vjdqJrgxZ0BEiQAhOYCYEnKT9mR8ABLmtP8gK6lzjh8qj7J9QD5WZ7F4uZMqOUaAo0R8P8HAQ

 

[Lulu90]

Thank you so much for the recommendation xx

 

[kumber]

I've currently got that one! Apparently it's not as safe as some others on the market something to do with the sides that I can remember, I was told on the forum from someone who has access to which reports I think it was.. Perhaps with the booster part in it for babies it might be comfy but at the moment my son isn't comfy in that seat at all he's been too big for the booster part since I got it last year.. I can not find any position to get him not stressed out in that seat. He's two and a half now.

Just slightly off tangent but to clarify - it's the 2012 discontinued model that had the safety issues, the current carseats have been improved and are safe

 

[Phoenix85]

How are things going? Did you get your appointment yet?

Have to say I love the picture of Luca on your avatar, he's so gorgeous. If I wasn't already pregnant it'd make me super broody lol.

 

[Lulu90]

Hi Phoenix,

Spoke to GP and she doesn't recommend seeing a chiropractor. We're continuing with the exercises and his head is so strong now while doing tummy time. He absolutely hates laying down, he wants to be sat up people watching, which is definitely strengthening his muscles. I'm seeing massive improvements. When I'm changing his bum or he's on his playmat, he still favours the rights side and won't lay on his left, so it's still a work in progress, but I am happy with the progress we have made. Next app is December 7th and I'm really hoping the physio will be pleased with his progress too.

Aww thank you. He's an absolute doll, I'm constantly broody looking at him xx