Northfield mother gets a second opinion
August 23rd, 2006Diane Simpson-Bundy from Northfield has an 8 month old son, Jonathan. He is currently in physical therapy. At the age of 4 months, Diane and her husband noticed their child favored one side of his head, always tilting it to the right. This issue, was told by their first pediatrician as one not to worry about. After all, their son Jonathan was born with a rare blood disorder, and their main goal was just keeping him alive. But the favored right side is an issue that parents should be worried about, according to their second opinion. Jonathan was diagnosed with Torticollis and low muscle tone, and now wears a helmet 23 hours a day to restore symmetry to his head. In just 4 more months, he should be caught up to other children his age, and Diane, a former Olympic gymnast, is very optimistic.
Jonathans condition is common among many infants in recent years. With the scare of SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, a campaign called “Back to Sleep” was launched a decade ago to encourage parents to put their sleeping babies on their backs rather than their stomachs to reduce the risk of SIDS. However, what they didn’t know was the risk that raised for a delay in muscle development, especially in the upper back and neck. While it has reduced the number of crib deaths, it causes problems like the one Jonathan is facing. Early motor delays causes problems with head control, which is the first milestone a baby reaches. It influences further development, including sitting, crawling and walking.
One of the great things about the state of Illinois, is that all new parents receive a birthday card from the governor’s office that lists the early warning signs of developmental delays.
If you notice your child favoring one side over the other in the way their head goes, check it out, don’t procrastinate and see a pediatrician immediately.
Technorati Tags: Northfield, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, “Back to Sleep”, developmental delays, torticollis
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