Physiotherapy blues: Need tips to help my baby cry less during stretch exercises

[treehugga]

My 6-month-old has torticollis and we are doing a regime of home exercises (5 x per day) to improve her neck mobility. Problem is the exercises even when done very gently really make her cry. Not from pain, but because she doesn't like to be held in a forced & uncomfortable position for 8 x 15 seconds. The expression on her face really breaks my heart and makes me feel like the cruellest mother alive. Does anyone have any tips for how to make these sessions more bearable? Eg how to reward a 6-month old, how to make it seem like play, basically how to make it less stressful for both of us!

You poor love, I can sort of imagine how tough that must be...having held my dd for IVs etc, I know its hard.

tbh, my own (limited) experience with babies that young is to be as ok in yourself as possible, so they don't pick up on any extra upset; to distract as much as possible; to talk soothingly all the time and let them know its ok, its only for a minute, its nearly finished etc.

But I'm hoping by bumping someone else will have more. Hope her neck is better fast!