Re: Advice would be helpful - Repo'ing a Younger Baby

[Guest guest]

,

I just replied to your last post to see if you needed any help!

We have had several members repo'ing younger babies about 3 and 4

months old, and there certainly are unique challenges associated with

it. I hope they see this thread and post. First of all, I'm

impressed by the daunting directive that your specialist gave you

regarding 6 hrs. of tummy time each day! Although that might be

impossible in a practical sense, I'm impressed that he didn't give the

weak repo advice of " switching end to end in the crib " each night,

which is clearly not enough.

There are a lot of different repo products in the LINKS section,

REPOSITIONING folder that you could choose to buy, or maybe they will

give you an idea to make something yourself. There are also some

photos of our members repo'ing their babies in the FILES section,

REPOSITIONING HEADQUARTERS folder. I'm familiar with the noggin nest.

There is also some soft, u-shaped ring-like products that encircle

the neck a bit, and provide neck support. Some younger babies deal

with the tummy time better if the surface itself they are on is angled

up a bit, so they are not positioned parallel with the horizon. Also,

have you tried the Baby Bjorn baby carrier? Although really pricey,

it surfaces time and time again as a recommended product amoung

repo'ing parents. You said that you are still utilizing the bouncie

seat; putting a rolled up towel next to her head (the side with the

flat side) to force her to turn her head to one side can do a good job

keeping her off of her flat spot. I would definitely used the " rolled

up towel " idea anywhere where her flat area might come in contact with

a seat back (carseat, swing, bouncie, stroller.) In that same vein,

you could try to have all activity take place to her left, so that she

is turning her head off of the flat spot to play, see, interact, and

" talk. " We used and exersaucer with Remy starting at 5 months, and

even at that age, our daughter got tired out in it pretty easily. I

don't know if you are breastfeeding or bottlefeeding, but feeding time

is another opportunity to keep her off of her flat spot. My husband

and I bottlefed Remy in our right arms only from 5 months on. How are

you coming along with nighttime repo?

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> I found you all a couple weeks ago and have been " lurking " up until

> today. I have a beautiful little girl that is 16 wks old today but

> was born premature so her head is that of a 10 wk old. She had some

> flattening on the back right side of her head at 3 wks of age. Our

> ped told us to try more tummy time. We also got a " noggin nest "

> made by Boppy. It is a soft pillow dealie that has a round cut out

> in the back to cradle the head and not flatten. We use it in the

> swing and bouncy. We got an exersaucer today. She is REALLY wobbly

> in the neck dept. She SCREAMS on her tummy. I think its because

> she cant hold her head up. I have a 6 yr old that had to wear a DOC

> band when he was 6 mo old, so I knew what to look for and I am

> really trying to work hard at repositioning. I took my daughter to

> see a ped neurosurgeon today (the same one my son saw 6 yrs ago).

> My ped was wanting to wait and see, but I knew from experience not

> to wait too long, so I got an appt myself and I am glad I did. The

> neurosurgeon said my dd has moderate flattening on the back right,

> bulging in the forehead on the left, and her ears are out of

> alignment. He feels since she is so young (4 mo today, but since

> she is a preemie, 2 1/2 mo skull age) we will correct with tummy

> time. He feels no helmet will be needed if we are diligent with

> tummy time. He is an excellent neurosurgeon and is well known in

> our area and he helped up acheive great result with our son. I am

> only wondering how the heck anyone can listen to their baby scream

> while on their tummy? He said 6 hrs a day of tummy time is what is

> needed. She screams bloody murder if I put her on her tummy for

> more than a couple minutes. He said the first day is the worst and

> she will scream, but by the second day she will be fine. He said

> basically to put her on her tummy every waking moment. Well, take

> into account how long it takes to feed her and play a bit, then that

> doesnt leave much tummy time. He said that is why her neck is so

> weak and why babies in general take so long to learn to roll over

> (lack of tummy time). I agree, but listening to her cry is going to

> tear my heart out. That is why we dont " cry it out " for sleep. She

> is too little and young and when she cries, we need to respond, its

> how she communicates with us. ERGH!! I dont want to ruin her head,

> but I am torn about letting her cry and flail on her tummy. He

> wants to see her again in 2 mo and feels her head will be mostly

> corrected. Its like a test. He will know if I am not giving her

> enough tummy time (she will scream like she did today when he puts

> her on her tummy in the exam room). We bought her an exersaucer

> today, so I hope that will help. I have been trying to hold her

> more and put her in her bouncy less. Sorry to write a book here. I

> am hoping someone out there has words of advice about tummy time

> with a 3-4 mo old who HATES it! Oh, by the way, she has very good

> radius with turning her head, so no problem there.

>

> Help!

>

>

> Presley 9/18/03 Moderate flattening on the right back

> Spencer 6/97 DOC band graduate after only 8 wks

> and Hayden 1/95 (always had and still have round heads)

[Guest guest]

Christie,

Thanks for all of your help. I have a Baby Bjorn and just today dh

suggested wearing the baby forward (we have only been wearing her

forward facing). We tried it and she LOVED it. Great minds think

alike, huh? We bottle feed and I usually sit on the couch with my

feet up on the coffee table and put her on my legs, but that still

puts pressure on her head, so I will try feeding her left handed. I

am trying to take turns shifting when I hold her, etc so she see

both sides. Its gonna be a long couple of months thats for sure.

So glad to know all of you are here!!

S.

mom to Presley (16 wks) currently repo'ing

> > I found you all a couple weeks ago and have been " lurking " up

until

> > today. I have a beautiful little girl that is 16 wks old today

but

> > was born premature so her head is that of a 10 wk old. She had

some

> > flattening on the back right side of her head at 3 wks of age.

Our

> > ped told us to try more tummy time. We also got a " noggin nest "

> > made by Boppy. It is a soft pillow dealie that has a round cut

out

> > in the back to cradle the head and not flatten. We use it in

the

> > swing and bouncy. We got an exersaucer today. She is REALLY

wobbly

> > in the neck dept. She SCREAMS on her tummy. I think its

because

> > she cant hold her head up. I have a 6 yr old that had to wear a

DOC

> > band when he was 6 mo old, so I knew what to look for and I am

> > really trying to work hard at repositioning. I took my daughter

to

> > see a ped neurosurgeon today (the same one my son saw 6 yrs

ago).

> > My ped was wanting to wait and see, but I knew from experience

not

> > to wait too long, so I got an appt myself and I am glad I did.

The

> > neurosurgeon said my dd has moderate flattening on the back

right,

> > bulging in the forehead on the left, and her ears are out of

> > alignment. He feels since she is so young (4 mo today, but

since

> > she is a preemie, 2 1/2 mo skull age) we will correct with tummy

> > time. He feels no helmet will be needed if we are diligent with

> > tummy time. He is an excellent neurosurgeon and is well known

in

> > our area and he helped up acheive great result with our son. I

am

> > only wondering how the heck anyone can listen to their baby

scream

> > while on their tummy? He said 6 hrs a day of tummy time is what

is

> > needed. She screams bloody murder if I put her on her tummy for

> > more than a couple minutes. He said the first day is the worst

and

> > she will scream, but by the second day she will be fine. He

said

> > basically to put her on her tummy every waking moment. Well,

take

> > into account how long it takes to feed her and play a bit, then

that

> > doesnt leave much tummy time. He said that is why her neck is

so

> > weak and why babies in general take so long to learn to roll

over

> > (lack of tummy time). I agree, but listening to her cry is

going to

> > tear my heart out. That is why we dont " cry it out " for sleep.

She

> > is too little and young and when she cries, we need to respond,

its

> > how she communicates with us. ERGH!! I dont want to ruin her

head,

> > but I am torn about letting her cry and flail on her tummy. He

> > wants to see her again in 2 mo and feels her head will be mostly

> > corrected. Its like a test. He will know if I am not giving

her

> > enough tummy time (she will scream like she did today when he

puts

> > her on her tummy in the exam room). We bought her an exersaucer

> > today, so I hope that will help. I have been trying to hold her

> > more and put her in her bouncy less. Sorry to write a book

here. I

> > am hoping someone out there has words of advice about tummy time

> > with a 3-4 mo old who HATES it! Oh, by the way, she has very

good

> > radius with turning her head, so no problem there.

> >

> > Help!

> >

> >

> > Presley 9/18/03 Moderate flattening on the right back

> > Spencer 6/97 DOC band graduate after only 8 wks

> > and Hayden 1/95 (always had and still have round heads)