Goal is Symmetry
When to use Infant Positioning:
- If the Infants neck can’t turn side to side easily, both awake and asleep
- If the head shape is not nice and round but has flat spots
Sleep time / Awake play
Baby must be positioned safe on their back
Turn their head away from the flat side
Arrange all stimuli to help baby look over that direction
Ie light, the side parents approach, toys, mobile, mirror, sounds
Tummy time
Start with a few minutes every awake period, building up to 20 minutes or so as they get older
Encourage resting on elbows, flat on a mat
Engage the baby, get down to their eye level, talk and play with them Time can additionally be spent on parents chest and over the forearm
Carrying baby:
Alternate which arm you carry baby in
Mix up carrying baby facing you or facing away
Check which shoulder they always face and mix it up
Limit the use of infant equipment, extended use in a car seat and extended use in recliners
Hint: This will be better for your posture as a parent in the long run too!
Remember:
We are encouraging rotation of the head away from the side of preference as much as possible, until we have full range of neck movement.
We are limiting the amount of time the baby rests their head on the flattened side of the head, until we have a nice round head shape.
Dr Victoria McLelland – registered Osteopath
