Re: My baby diagnosed with Torticollis - Need some Info

[Guest guest]

Hi Chanda,

My son was diagnosed with Torticollis and yes it can make the banding process harder/slower. So it is imperative that you get treatment/pt started asap. My son has not had any developmental delays, but he's been in pt for the tort since he was 2.5 mo's old (he's now 7.5mo's). He started crawling at 7 months, and this was considered on the early side of normal.

When you call your ped, ask him about your state's Early Intervention program. Every state is different, but in NY if your baby qualifies (based on physical need not financial) they will provide services to you in your home for free. They will assess your baby's torticollis as well as other developmental skills.

Tort is a head tilt, and usually a preference to which side the baby faces. They face the opposite side of the tilt, so your baby probably prefers to look to the right. While you are waiting to start pt, here are some things that we were told to do when we started pt: make your baby look to the non-preferred side (left for your baby) - not by physically manipulating him but by making him want to look to that side. We played on that side, presented toys and food on that side and even let him watch 1/2 hr of TV on that side. I know that the TV thing is controversial, but it did give our son a good half hour stretch. We also got our son off his back as much as possible - having him sit in a excersaucer, high chair etc.

Keep us posted.

Audra

My baby diagnosed with Torticollis - Need some Info

Hi Until I took our baby to CT, we didn't know he had Torticollis ( Neck stiffness). I did notice his face tilt towards left but always thought that was how a baby looks. I am really worried now because I heard band treatment may not get good results if this neck stiffness is not treated. And also heard that babies with this problem have delays in developmental milestones. My baby is 6 1/2 months and has just started rolling over. We think he is strong enough to crawl or sit but he cant do them. He can not sit with out support and is not able to crawl or atleast try crawling. I am thinking to call his pediatrician and ask him to refer to a physical therapist. Has any one of you had the similar problem ? Pls respond .. Any information would be very helpful. Thanks Chanda

[Guest guest]

Chanda,While I agree the tort should be treated, I would not worry at this point about the crawling or sitting up. Both of my kids did not sit independently until 6.5-7 months. And crawling happens much later for many babies. My son did not crawl until almost ten months and my daughter is 8.5 months and just now beginning to get her legs under her during tummy time to start the crawling process.Some of these milestones can literally happen overnight - it's just a matter of all the pieces clicking together for them.Good luck!Sandy My baby diagnosed with Torticollis - Need some Info

Hi Until I took our baby to CT, we didn't know he had Torticollis ( Neck stiffness). I did notice his face tilt towards left but always thought that was how a baby looks. I am really worried now because I heard band treatment may not get good results if this neck stiffness is not treated. And also heard that babies with this problem have delays in developmental milestones. My baby is 6 1/2 months and has just started rolling over. We think he is strong enough to crawl or sit but he cant do them. He can not sit with out support and is not able to crawl or atleast try crawling. I am thinking to call his pediatrician and ask him to

refer to a physical therapist. Has any one of you had the similar problem ? Pls respond .. Any information would be very helpful. Thanks

Chanda

[Guest guest]

My son (Ethan 6 1/2 months old) was diagnosed with Tort at 2 months. We began

aggressive PT at 4 months. He goes for 45 minutes two times a week - and I also

do 2 hours of therapy everyday at home. At 5 months, he was diagnosed with

moderate to severe plagio and started his STARband at 5 1/2 months. We take the

helmet off for PT - but we have not had any delay in progress - infact, the

ortho said that he is actually progressing quickly. From my experience - and

what I have been told, if you dont treat the Tort, it will only delay the

progress of the Plagio treatment. This is primarily because he would continue

drooping to the right...causing him to always look towards/and lay on his flat

side. The PT involves stretching the short/tight muscle and strentghening

muscles that encourage him to stay off of his back. My son was delayed in

rolling over - but since therapy he is now able to sit alone, roll over in both

directions and is about to begin

crawling. I would definetely consider treating the Tort - the complications

from the Tort can cause some developmental issues... but only if left untreated.

Best of Luck!

Karith

(mommy to Ethan - STARband 1month)

> From: Chanda Mama <chandamamanunenu@...>

> Subject: My baby diagnosed with Torticollis - Need some Info

> Plagiocephaly

> Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 5:21 PM

> Hi

>

> Until I took our baby to CT, we didn't know he had

> Torticollis ( Neck stiffness). I did notice his face tilt

> towards left but always thought that was how a baby looks. I

> am really worried now because I heard band treatment may not

> get good results if this neck stiffness is not treated. And

> also heard that babies with this problem have delays in

> developmental milestones.

>

> My baby is 6 1/2 months and has just started rolling over.

> We think he is strong enough to crawl or sit but he cant do

> them. He can not sit with out support and is not able to

> crawl or atleast try crawling.  I am thinking to call his

> pediatrician and ask him  to refer to a physical therapist.

> Has any one of you had the similar problem ? Pls respond ..

> Any information would be very helpful.

>

> Thanks

> Chanda

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the reply. Does my PED has to give a PT referral or can I just go find one by myself? How did it start in your case. I think my baby has it from past 3 .5 months. And I also figured out why he must have got it. The neuro surgoen we saw in his 4th month asked us to reposition his head to the left all the time and within a week, we noticed his tilt towards left. when we talked abt it to the DR, he said its ok :-((((- Chanda> From: Chanda Mama <chandamamanunenu@...>> Subject: My baby diagnosed with Torticollis - Need some Info> Plagiocephaly > Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 5:21 PM> Hi > > Until I took our baby to CT, we didn't know he had> Torticollis ( Neck stiffness). I did notice his face tilt> towards left but always thought that was how a baby looks. I> am really worried now because I heard band treatment may not> get good results if this neck stiffness is not treated. And> also heard that babies with

this problem have delays in> developmental milestones. > > My baby is 6 1/2 months and has just started rolling over.> We think he is strong enough to crawl or sit but he cant do> them. He can not sit with out support and is not able to> crawl or atleast try crawling. I am thinking to call his> pediatrician and ask him to refer to a physical therapist.> Has any one of you had the similar problem ? Pls respond ..> Any information would be very helpful. > > Thanks > Chanda ------------------------------------For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

For insurance purposes you might need to go through your ped to get a

referral. You want to go to someone that is experienced in working

with infants with tort (not all PTs will have this experience).

-christine

sydney 2.5 yrs starband grad

>

> > From: Chanda Mama <chandamamanunenu@...>

> > Subject: My baby diagnosed with Torticollis - Need some Info

> > Plagiocephaly

> > Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 5:21 PM

> > Hi

> >

> > Until I took our baby to CT, we didn't know he had

> > Torticollis ( Neck stiffness). I did notice his face tilt

> > towards left but always thought that was how a baby looks. I

> > am really worried now because I heard band treatment may not

> > get good results if this neck stiffness is not treated. And

> > also heard that babies with this problem have delays in

> > developmental milestones.

> >

> > My baby is 6 1/2 months and has just started rolling over.

> > We think he is strong enough to crawl or sit but he cant do

> > them. He can not sit with out support and is not able to

> > crawl or atleast try crawling. I am thinking to call his

> > pediatrician and ask him to refer to a physical therapist.

> > Has any one of you had the similar problem ? Pls respond ..

> > Any information would be very helpful.

> >

> > Thanks

> > Chanda

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Hi Chanda,

My son is 8 months old now and he also has torticollis and plagio. He's been in his starband for 3 months (I thought it had been longer!) and started physical therapy while we were waiting on his helmet to be made for him... His tort and plagio was "mild to severe" and now just 3 months later, he's almost done with his helmet treatment and physical therapy.

The therapy group we go see has been great! It's more of a playdate where they note his skills and progress and do stretches and exercises. I think getting your son into physical therapy as soon as possible is the best idea. The older they get the harder it is to do the stretches because, as my therapist puts it "they know its not a regular way for them to move and they'll try to get away"! It's not impossible though, don't worry. My son is almost as big as I am and definately scary strong! lol. She's also told me about her other patients and how important doing the stretches at home are. She says the parents that take it more seriously and do the stretches as much as possible have the fastest results. Some in even a little over a month! Which makes sense. As far as not sitting up on his own yet, the physical therapy will help a lot! After just a few weeks of going to apts my son sat up. The torticollis effects balance a lot and the sooner

it is getting better the more you will see him do! And also, once torticollis is gone it won't come back! Good luck! It was a hard thing for me to get used to but it doesn't hurt them and it works!

-Alix

Mom of Nicolas 8 months plagio/tort (3 mon starband)

From: Chanda Mama <chandamamanunenu@...>Subject: My baby diagnosed with Torticollis - Need some InfoPlagiocephaly Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 10:21 PM

Hi Until I took our baby to CT, we didn't know he had Torticollis ( Neck stiffness). I did notice his face tilt towards left but always thought that was how a baby looks. I am really worried now because I heard band treatment may not get good results if this neck stiffness is not treated. And also heard that babies with this problem have delays in developmental milestones. My baby is 6 1/2 months and has just started rolling over. We think he is strong enough to crawl or sit but he cant do them. He can not sit with out support and is not able to crawl or atleast try crawling. I am thinking to call his pediatrician and ask him to refer to a physical therapist. Has any one of you had the similar problem ? Pls respond .. Any information would be very helpful. Thanks Chanda

[Guest guest]

Chanda,

I have been very lucky with my pediatrician as she has been on top of this from

day one and refused to let me rely on repositioning only. I did get a referral

from her for the PT - but I know that some physical therapy places are privately

owned and that you might be able to just call and ask them if you can have an

evaluation. It wouldnt hurt to try. I have found the therapy to be very

beneficial. Where are you located? I might be able to find a PT for you?

>

> > From: Chanda Mama <chandamamanunenu@...>

> > Subject: My baby diagnosed with Torticollis -

> Need some Info

> > Plagiocephaly

> > Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 5:21 PM

> > Hi

> >

> > Until I took our baby to CT, we didn't know he had

> > Torticollis ( Neck stiffness). I did notice his face

> tilt

> > towards left but always thought that was how a baby

> looks. I

> > am really worried now because I heard band treatment

> may not

> > get good results if this neck stiffness is not

> treated. And

> > also heard that babies with this problem have delays

> in

> > developmental milestones.

> >

> > My baby is 6 1/2 months and has just started rolling

> over.

> > We think he is strong enough to crawl or sit but he

> cant do

> > them. He can not sit with out support and is not able

> to

> > crawl or atleast try crawling.  I am thinking to call

> his

> > pediatrician and ask him  to refer to a physical

> therapist.

> > Has any one of you had the similar problem ? Pls

> respond ..

> > Any information would be very helpful.

> >

> > Thanks

> > Chanda

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

My baby has the same problem and we work with ECI. They are all around the US and they are wonderful! There is no income requirements they work on a sliding scale and will file with your insurance. One of the best things about them is they will travel to you. They will go to your childs daycare and work with them there (you dont even have to be there). How can you get anything more convienent. Not that I enjoy missing any of my daughters appointment, but I work in a call center and they are a real stickler on attendance and it is so hard to get off even for her hour appointment so it is nice for the days that I just cant get off that she still gets her PT!

From: Chanda Mama <chandamamanunenu@...>Subject: My baby diagnosed with Torticollis - Need some InfoPlagiocephaly Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 5:21 PM

Hi Until I took our baby to CT, we didn't know he had Torticollis ( Neck stiffness). I did notice his face tilt towards left but always thought that was how a baby looks. I am really worried now because I heard band treatment may not get good results if this neck stiffness is not treated. And also heard that babies with this problem have delays in developmental milestones. My baby is 6 1/2 months and has just started rolling over. We think he is strong enough to crawl or sit but he cant do them. He can not sit with out support and is not able to crawl or atleast try crawling. I am thinking to call his pediatrician and ask him to refer to a physical therapist. Has any one of you had the similar problem ? Pls respond .. Any information would be very helpful. Thanks Chanda

[Guest guest]

Chanda~

My son (9 1/2 mo. now) is barley getting into his helmet next tuesday (8-26) I first told our PED at his 2 mo.

check up! between getting an appointment with the specialist and waiting for the insurance to authorize them he didn't get to physical therapy til he was 5 months old. He just starting crawling at around 9 months, never really wanted to sit up my himself, I bought him a BUMBO seat and that helped a bunch (nothing putting pressure on his head) As for rolling over he really rolled over to both sides. He has torticollis so he would just roll over to one side. Once he did finally start crawling he hasn't STOPPED!!! now he's standing up. He'll pull himself up in his crib, playpen, couches, just about everything. You can always email me offline if you want.

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My baby diagnosed with Torticollis - Need some InfoPlagiocephalyDate: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 5:21 PM

Hi Until I took our baby to CT, we didn't know he had Torticollis ( Neck stiffness). I did notice his face tilt towards left but always thought that was how a baby looks. I am really worried now because I heard band treatment may not get good results if this neck stiffness is not treated. And also heard that babies with this problem have delays in developmental milestones. My baby is 6 1/2 months and has just started rolling over. We think he is strong enough to crawl or sit but he cant do them. He can not sit with out support and is not able to crawl or atleast try crawling. I am thinking to call his pediatrician and ask him to refer to a physical therapist. Has any one of you had the similar problem ? Pls respond .. Any information would be very helpful. Thanks

Chanda

[Guest guest]

Hi Karith, I live in irvine, CA.-Chanda> > > From: Chanda Mama

<chandamamanunenu@...>> > Subject: My baby diagnosed with Torticollis -> Need some Info> > Plagiocephaly > > Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 5:21 PM> > Hi > > > > Until I took our baby to CT, we didn't know he had> > Torticollis ( Neck stiffness). I did notice his face> tilt> > towards left but always thought that was how a baby> looks. I> > am really worried now because I heard band treatment> may not> > get good results if this neck stiffness is not> treated. And> > also heard that babies with this problem have delays> in> > developmental milestones. > > > > My baby is 6 1/2 months and has just started rolling> over.> > We think he is strong enough to crawl or sit but he> cant do> > them. He can not

sit with out support and is not able> to> > crawl or atleast try crawling. I am thinking to call> his> > pediatrician and ask him to refer to a physical> therapist.> > Has any one of you had the similar problem ? Pls> respond ..> > Any information would be very helpful. > > > > Thanks > > Chanda> > > > > ------------------------------------> > For more plagio info