My Baby Was Diagnosed with Torticollis. Now What?

May 13

If you’ve recently been told your baby has torticollis, you might be feeling a mix of confusion, worry, and “What do I do next?”

Take a deep breath—you caught it, and that matters more than anything.

Torticollis is very treatable, especially when addressed early. Let’s walk through what it means, what to expect, and how to support your baby moving forward.

What Is Torticollis?

Torticollis (often called “wry neck”) happens when a muscle in your baby’s neck—the sternocleidomastoid (SCM)—becomes tight or shortened.

This causes your baby to:

Tilt their head to one side
Rotate their head to the opposite side

It’s not just a neck issue—it can impact your baby’s whole body movement, feeding, and development.

Why Does It Happen?

Torticollis is actually pretty common, and often linked to:

✔ Positioning in the womb (especially breech or tight space)
✔ Birth factors (long labor, assisted delivery)
✔ Preference for one position after birth (car seats, swings, etc.)

Signs to Look For

You might notice:

Baby always looking one direction
Difficulty turning head both ways
Flat spot on one side of the head (plagiocephaly)
Struggles with tummy time
Favoring one side for feeding or reaching
Difficulty latching on one breast

Pro tip: Look through your camera roll—if your baby is always turned the same way, that’s a clue.

Why Early Intervention Matters (A LOT)

This is the most important part. The earlier you start therapy, the faster and easier it is to correct.

According to updated clinical guidelines from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA):

Best outcomes happen when therapy starts before 2–3 months
Even better if started before 1 month
Earlier treatment = fewer sessions + better symmetry + less need for a helmet

Waiting can lead to:

Head flattening (plagiocephaly)
Delayed milestones (rolling, sitting, crawling)
Persistent asymmetry in the body

What Does Treatment Look Like? (Week by Week)

At Strive Pediatrics, we take a whole-body, baby-friendly approach—not just stretching the neck.

Weeks 1–2: Getting Started

Gentle stretching and positioning
Parent education (this is HUGE)
Improving baby’s ability to turn both directions
Starting tummy time strategies

By this point, you’ll already start noticing small changes

Weeks 3–4: Building Strength + Symmetry

More active movement (not just passive stretching)
Encouraging midline positioning
Addressing early head shape changes
Supporting feeding positions

By this point, baby should begin to move more evenly

Weeks 4–8: Whole Body Integration

Core strengthening
Rolling and early mobility patterns
Reducing full-body tension
Improving endurance in tummy time

Movement becomes more symmetrical and natural

Beyond: Fine-Tuning Development

Advanced motor skills (rolling, sitting)
Continued symmetry and alignment
Monitoring head shape and posture

What Makes Treatment Work Best?

Research now shows the most effective treatment is comprehensive, not just stretching.

At Strive, therapy may include:

✔Gentle stretching and manual therapy
✔ Whole-body treatment (not just the neck)
✔ Tummy time + strengthening
✔ Craniosacral fascial therapy
✔ Feeding and oral function screening
✔ Repositioning strategies for head shape
✔ Parent coaching for home carryover

What Happens If You Wait? (Let’s Talk About the Helmet)

If torticollis isn’t addressed early, babies may develop plagiocephaly (head flattening).

In more significant cases, this can lead to the need for a cranial helmet to help reshape the head.

While helmets can be helpful, many families want to avoid them—and the best way to do that is through early therapy + consistent home strategies.

The Big Picture

Torticollis is not just about a tight neck.

It affects:

Posture
Movement patterns
Feeding
Head shape
Regulation

The goal isn’t just to “stretch it out”—it’s to help your baby:

move symmetrically
build strength
develop on track
feel comfortable in their body

When Should You Seek Help?

Reach out if you notice:

Head turn preference
Difficulty reaching midline
Body tightness or C-shape posture
Delayed milestones
Feeding challenges
Head shape changes

If you’re wondering—you don’t have to wait.

The Good News

With early, consistent therapy, most babies:
✔ regain full range of motion
✔ develop symmetrical movement
✔ meet milestones on time
✔ avoid long-term complications

Written by: Dr. Marisa McDole

Need Support?

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