Tummy Time

This past week I have noticed that Alexander has started to have a bit of a flat spot on his head. It isn't severe but it is noticeable. Neither Daniel or Eliza had this so it is new territory for me.

I did some reading (Google search) of what to do if your baby has a flat head. One strategy is to turn around the way the baby sleeps. Alexander often looks towards the window when he sleeps so on Sunday I turned around his bassinet so he will hopefully turn his head the other way. It doesn't seem to be changing it at the moment but I will wait and see.

Another strategy is to do tummy time. Tummy time is something I have done with each of my kids since they were in hospital. Daniel loved it and was so content on his stomach. Eliza was pretty good at it and didn't mind it so much. Alexander is good at it - he can lift and hold his head up showing good neck support - but he doesn't like doing it for long periods of time. I also find that I don't have the time to lie there with him while he does it which might mean he gets bored faster. I don't know. I am trying to now be intentional about doing tummy time and being there with him for some of the time so that will hopefully help.

Another suggestion is to avoid having the baby on the floor - instead hold them as much as you can. I try to do this but in reality, I don't have that much time to just hold Alexander as I need to look after Daniel and Eliza as well, and organise meals/the house/washing, etc. again I'm trying to be intentional but I also need to be realistic. I also want him to be able to play independently sometimes as that's an important skill to have too.

I also messaged our chiro to ask if he needed to be seen before his next appointment in a fortnight and she is going to squeeze him in this afternoon to look at him. I think he has a tightness in his neck too because he tends to look to his right more than his left. So I will see how his appointment goes this afternoon. Hopefully all goes well, he can have his neck loosened and his flat spot on his head will go away. 

*I saw our chiro Ursh yesterday and she said that there is tightness both in his neck but also down near his hips. Both of these are causing him to look mainly to the right. She gave me stretches to do to help loosen his muscles and showed me where to massage in his neck. She showed me how to gently massage his head too to try and decrease the flatness. I'm also to have him do tummy time when I can. We go back again Saturday week to follow up how he is going. Hopefully it will all help and he will make good progress.