As a parent, it’s natural to be attuned to your baby’s comfort, movement, and development. One condition that is common and raise concern, though often overlooked in its early stages, is infant torticollis – a muscular issue that affects your baby’s ability to turn their head freely. Fortunately, with early intervention, particularly through gentle chiropractic care, torticollis can often be resolved with excellent outcomes.
What Is Infant Torticollis?
Torticollis (Latin for “twisted neck”) is a condition where a baby’s neck muscles are tight or shortened on one side, typically causing the head to tilt in one direction while the chin points in the opposite direction. Most commonly, it’s caused by tension in the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), a long muscle running from behind the ear to the collarbone.
There are two main types of Infant Torticollis:
- Congenital muscular torticollis – present at birth, often caused by positioning in the womb or a difficult birth
- Acquired torticollis – develops after birth, potentially from how the baby is carried or positioned.
What Does Torticollis Look Like in Babies?
Parents or caregivers may notice:
- Baby always tilts or turns their head to one side
- Difficulty turning the head fully to both sides
- Preferring to breastfeed on one side only
- A flattened area on the back of the head on one side (plagiocephaly)
- Tightness or a small lump in the neck muscle
- Baby seems fussy when turning head or during tummy time
Sometimes torticollis is subtle, especially in very young infants and early signs often become more obvious as the baby begins to gain better head control.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Infant Torticollis if Left Untreated?
If not addressed, torticollis may have an impact your baby’s development. Some potential long-term effects include:
- Delayed motor milestones (rolling, crawling, sitting)
- Muscle imbalance in the neck and shoulders
- Head shape irregularities (due to constant pressure on one side
- Vision or balance issues due to uneven posture
- Difficulties with jaw development and feeding
which is why early diagnosis and gentle, effective care are essential.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help?
Chiropractors trained in paediatric care can assess and treat torticollis using safe, gentle, and non-invasive techniques. The goal is to release tension in the affected neck muscles and restore natural head and neck movement patterns.
Chiropractic treatment for infant torticollis may include:
- Gentle spinal adjustments, specifically modified for infants
- Cranial-sacral therapy to release tension in the skull and upper neck
- Soft tissue techniques to relax tight muscles
- Guidance on tummy time, stretching, and positioning at home
These techniques help the baby regain balance, comfort, and symmetry in their movement.
Why Early Care Matters
Infants respond extremely well to chiropractic care because their bodies are still developing and highly adaptable. With early intervention, most babies with torticollis make a full recovery without long-term consequences.
Torticollis in newborns can be concerning, but it is treatable, especially when addressed early.
If you notice your baby often laying with their head favouring one side, struggling with head movement, or developing a flat spot, a chiropractic assessment can help identify the issue and begin gentle correction.
Worried About Your Baby’s Head Position? Let’s Check
At Connect Chiropractic, our chiropractors are trained in paediatric care and offer expert, compassionate chiropractic care for even the littlest patients. Your baby’s comfort, development, and wellbeing are our priority. Book a newborn assessment today and give your baby the best start possible.
