Baby's Head Tilting to One Side? It Might Be Torticollis — Here's What to Do
Baby's Head Tilting to One Side? It Might Be Torticollis.
Maybe you noticed it in the early weeks. Your baby almost always turns their head to the right. Or they seem to favor nursing on one side. Or they have a flat spot forming on one side of their head.
Maybe your pediatrician mentioned the word "torticollis" and you came home and spiraled into a Google rabbit hole.
I've got you. Let's break this down.
What is torticollis?
Torticollis — sometimes called "wry neck" — is a condition where the muscles on one side of the neck are tighter than the other, causing the head to tilt or rotate to one side. In babies, it's almost always muscular in origin (called congenital muscular torticollis), and it typically shows up in the first few weeks of life.
It's more common than most people think, and it's very treatable — especially when caught early.
What causes it?
Most often, it comes from positioning in the womb (especially in the third trimester when space gets tight) or from the birth process itself. Even without a difficult delivery, the forces involved in birth — including vacuum or forceps-assisted deliveries — can create tension in the neck muscles and upper cervical spine.
What it looks like:
-Head tilts to one side, chin rotates to the opposite shoulder
-Baby strongly prefers one side for feeding or sleeping
-Flat spot developing on one side of the head (plagiocephaly)
-Difficulty turning to track movement or faces
Why chiropractic?
The tension causing torticollis often isn't just muscular — it's neurological. The muscles are tight because the nervous system is signaling them to be. When we address the underlying spinal tension with gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments, the muscles can finally let go.
We also look at the full picture: latch patterns, how baby holds their body during tummy time, and whether there are other signs of nervous system stress.
The earlier, the better.
Babies' nervous systems are incredibly adaptable. The earlier we can address torticollis, the faster they respond. If you're seeing signs of head tilting in your newborn or young infant, don't wait for it to resolve on its own.
We're located in Stratham and serve families across the Seacoast — Portsmouth, Exeter, Hampton, Greenland, Durham, and beyond. Book your baby's first visit online and let's take a look.
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