Preferred side advice
It is known that crooked or flattened skulls occur because babies lay in a favoured position for too long. The baby's skull is still weak, so one side of the head can end up flatter than the other.
In addition to a skewed head, a laying preference can have other consequences; it may cause babies to move asymmetrically or unilaterally, causing development barriers.
With simple changes to behaviour, you can stimulate the baby to more actively favour the non-favoured side. Here are some examples.
While feeding
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If you bottle feed, keep him firm so that he has to turn to the non-favoured side to see you. Make sure both arms are forward.
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Or put him right in front of you, so his head stays in the middle.
While carrying
- When carrying him in your arms, swap from left to right.
- If you carry him in a carry bag, turn his head to the non-preferred side, or to the centre.
In bed
- Turn the baby's head. Some babies are stubborn and will turn back, but you must persevere.
- Put the toys with on the non-preferred side when baby is awake.
- Most babies love light, so you can turn the bed so that he will turn to look on his non-favoured side.
In the cot on their back
- Notice where the light and sound comes from. Babies are happy to turn their heads to the light or sound. Pay close attention to your baby's reactions. By placing the box in another place, you can influence which way they turn.
In the cot on their stomach
- For the development of the baby it is very important that he is on his belly as often as possible. Put the baby's armrests forward to support the elbows. This way the baby can lift his head more easily and look all around.
In the cot on his side
- Simply turn your baby over now and then, alternating between one side and another.
On your lap
- If the baby is sitting on your lap, talk to him from his non-preferred side. You can also tempt him with a music box or brightly coloured toy.
While playing
- Put your baby on his back and try to play with a toy. This way your baby can move his neck well. Keep the toy at the baby's height, so that the head bends a little forward.
During transport
- A rolled towel, or even a clean cotton diaper, can support the baby's head and make him look forward.
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