The Haskins Family: Another PT appointment

So we had another PT appointment today. I'm sad to report that Ryder, although still waaaay better than his first time in, has REGRESSED. booooo! His head tilt has increased (meaning his degree of head tilt is larger than the last appointment). The therapist said it could be due to a number of things, but she said it was significant enough that she wanted to brainstorm if we were doing anything different that could have changed things. After talking a bit, we figured out that we have been doing a lot more bumbo chair time (the picture below shows what a bumbo chair is). And since Ryder's head control is alot better and he doesnt flop it around anymore, so we haven't been supporting his head while in the chair either. Yes, he tilts his head to the side when he sits in it, but we thought since his head wasn't flopping all the over the place, that it was good to get him off the back of his head for a little bit and strengthen his muscles. WELL. I learned from the therapist that when a baby has torticollis (that's what his head tilt condition is called), that putting them in the bumbo chair without completely supporting their head is actually counter-productive! As his head tilts to the side and stretches more of the opposite side neck muscle, it actually weakens that muscle. And that is the muscle that we are working hard to strengthen in order to be able to pull his head up and straight. SO, I came home and put the bumbo chair away until his head tilt is gone. Which is a bummer, because he likes the bumbo chair. So does Mommy too because I can sit infront of him and play with him and look at him. Oh well, what are you going to do? So it's back to working really hard on his exercises to try and nip this torticollis thing in the booty.

On another side note: Ryder has been drooling excessively lately, as well as chewing on his hands all the time more than usual. He also has been having LOTS of juicy poops too. Is he starting the teething process already??? I heard that is not that fun of a time....oh well--I do love when babies get those two bottom teeth :)

PS: I wonder how bad it will hurt the first time he chomps on my booby with those teeth?? haha. I can't wait......