Signs Your Baby Might Have Torticollis (and What to Do Next)

Torticollis is one of the more common concerns we see in babies, and most parents have never heard the word until a doctor, family member, or their own observation points them toward it. Here is what to actually look for, and what your options are.

Torticollis simply means a baby’s neck muscles are tight or shortened on one side, causing the head to tilt toward one shoulder and turn toward the other. It often develops from positioning in the womb, a difficult delivery, or a baby’s natural tendency to rest their head in one preferred direction after birth.

The most common signs are a head that consistently tilts to one side, a strong preference for turning the head in only one direction, resistance or fussiness when you try to turn their head the other way, and a flat spot developing on one side of the skull from spending so much time in that one position. Some babies also struggle more with nursing or bottle-feeding on one side than the other.

Left unaddressed, torticollis tends to get more noticeable, not less, as a baby grows and spends more time upright. It can also contribute to the flattened head shape known as plagiocephaly, since the skull is still soft and shaping in the first months of life.

At Smith Elite, we start with a full CLA INSiGHT scan to get an objective look at your baby’s nervous system and how it may be contributing to that muscle tightness and asymmetry. From there, gentle, age-appropriate adjustments can help address the underlying tension, alongside simple positioning changes you can use at home between visits.

The earlier torticollis is addressed, the easier it typically is to resolve. If you have noticed your baby favoring one side, do not wait to see if it works itself out. Schedule a consultation and scan, and we will tell you honestly what we see and what we would recommend.