Video Tutorial:
Step-by-Step Written Instructions:
1. Hold baby (facing outwards) across your own body.
2. Take your left arm and put it between baby's legs and across her body. Rest your left hand on her chest close to her right shoulder.
3. Use your right arm to help support her. Make sure not to allow her to rest her neck on your right arm or it will unintentionally aid her in this exercise.
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| As you can see, see Kellyn's neck muscles are not yet strong enough for her to pull her head up completely vertical. In addition, she's not yet strong enough for me to tilt her completely parallel with the ground. She'll get there eventually. |
4. Start leaning baby towards her right and get her pretty close to parallel with the ground. (If she completely flops her head down, then you can start out by leaning her at less of an angle so that the exercise is slightly easier for her. As she gets stronger over time, you can work towards getting her more parallel with the ground)
5. Ideally, you want her to pull her head up so that its straight up and down. But any effort of towards "head-righting" is good. As her neck muscles get stronger over time, you should hopefully see her head get more vertical.
Note: Babies with left torticollis would do this exercise leaning towards their left, with their left side closest to the ground.
Disclaimer: I am not a physical therapist or medical professional. If you wish to do any of these physical therapy exercises on your own child, you should first seek approval from your child's physical therapist. Click here for full disclaimer.
