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7 Tips For Helping Babies with Torticollis and Positional Plagiocephaly Prevention

Ever wonder why a baby would see a chiropractor? The truth is their little necks can have discomfort too. If your baby favors looking to one side over the other, this post is for you. Torticollis (Latin for "twisted neck") occurs when the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles that run on both sides of the neck from the back of the ears to the collarbone become stiff or tight. Approximately 1/250 babies are born with torticollis (making it a common condition), and up to 20% of babies born with torticollis also have hip dysplasia. This usually causes baby’s head to tilt to one side. ❇️ Womb positioning like breech ❇️ C-section ❇️ Use of forceps or vacuum Favoring one side can also cause Positional Plagiocephaly, or “flat head” on that side. 🔆 How Can You Help Prevent Torticollis? Check out these tips from @pathwaysorg: ✅ When holding baby, alternate the sides of our body. ✅ Limit the use of carriers/equipment. ✅ Alternate the direction baby sleeps each night in their crib. ✅ When feeding baby, offer the bottle or breast in a way that encourages baby to turn away from the favored side. ✅ During play, draw baby’s attention with toys and sounds to make them turn in both directions. ✅ Lots of Tummy Time. ✅ When playing with baby, be sure to do the activity/game on both sides of baby so they turn their head.

How Can Chiropractors Help Torticollis? @icpa4kids certified chiropractors are specially trained to GENTLY adjust the neck, work with baby's cranial alignment, and use soft tissue therapy to encourage the normal movement of both spine and soft tissue to help torticollis. We can also show mom and dad how to do easy stretches at home. 💛 Improvement is usually seen within 2-3 months. Want to know if chiropractic care might be right for your little one? Text 214-775-0804 to schedule your complimentary consult! 📚 The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association. 1990 March; 34(1)13 📚 Chiropractic correction of congenital muscular torticollis. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1993 Oct ;16(8):556-9.





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