Torticollis in Infants: What Parents Need to Know
Your baby always turns their head the same way. Or maybe they won't turn it the other way at all. Here's what torticollis is, why it happens, and what we do about it.
By: Dr. Fabiola Menéndez, DC, CACCP, Webster Certified
Vibra Chiropractic — Woodstock, GA
Pediatric Chiropractic• 5 min read
Quick answer: Torticollis is a condition where an infant's neck muscles cause the head to tilt to one side and the chin to turn to the other, often from tightness or restriction on one side of the neck. It frequently develops from positioning in the womb or tension from the birthing process. Chiropractic care assesses and gently addresses the underlying muscular and joint restriction, and is often used alongside physical therapy and stretching exercises for the best results.
One of the most common things parents notice in the first weeks or months of their baby's life is a preference. Baby always wants to turn their head to the left. Or they seem to fight you when you try to turn their head to the right during a diaper change. Or you notice a flat spot starting to form on one side of their head.
This pattern has a name, torticollis, and it's one of the most common conditions we see at Vibra Chiropractic in babies under one year old. If you've noticed something like this in your baby, here's what's actually going on, and what can be done about it.
What torticollis actually is
Torticollis literally means "twisted neck." In infants, the most common form is congenital muscular torticollis, where the sternocleidomastoid muscle — the muscle that runs from behind the ear down to the collarbone — is tight or shortened on one side. This causes the head to tilt toward the tight side and the chin to rotate toward the opposite side.
It can be present at birth or develop in the weeks following, and it ranges from very mild — barely noticeable — to significant enough that baby strongly resists turning their head the other direction.
Why it happens
There are a few common contributing factors, and often more than one is at play:
Common contributors to infant torticollis
Intrauterine positioning — if baby was positioned with their head consistently tilted in the womb, especially in the later weeks of pregnancy when space is limited, the neck muscles can adapt to that position
Birth trauma or difficult delivery — the forces of labor, particularly with vacuum or forceps assistance, can create tension or strain in the neck muscles and upper cervical spine
Multiples pregnancies — twins and higher-order multiples have less room to move in the womb, increasing the likelihood of positional torticollis
Restricted space in late pregnancy — even in singleton pregnancies, a baby who settles into one position for an extended period in the final weeks may develop muscular tightness on one side
Torticollis is rarely about the neck muscle in isolation. It's often connected to tension throughout the upper cervical spine — which is exactly why a chiropractic evaluation is such a valuable piece of the picture.
Signs parents notice
Torticollis shows up differently in every baby, but these are the patterns we hear about most often from parents in Woodstock and Cherokee County:
Common signs of torticollis
Head consistently tilted to one side, even at rest
Strong preference for turning the head in one direction
Resistance or fussiness when you try to turn their head the other way
A flat spot developing on one side of the head (plagiocephaly), often appearing alongside torticollis
Difficulty nursing comfortably on one side
A small, firm lump felt in the neck muscle on the tight side, in some cases
Why early evaluation matters
Torticollis tends to respond very well to early intervention. The muscle and connective tissue of an infant are far more adaptable than an adult's, which means the window for effective, gentle correction is wide open in the first several months of life. The longer tightness and restricted movement persist, the more the body adapts around it — which is why we always encourage parents not to wait and see if it resolves on its own.
Left unaddressed, torticollis can also contribute to plagiocephaly, since baby continues to rest on the same flattened side of the head as a result of their positional preference. The two conditions are closely linked, and addressing the torticollis is often a key part of preventing the flat spot from worsening.
What a chiropractic evaluation and visit looks like
At Vibra Chiropractic, an evaluation for torticollis starts with a thorough look at baby's neck range of motion, the tension in the muscles on each side, and the alignment and mobility of the upper cervical spine as well as a full body assessment, since restriction or tension elsewhere can also influence how baby holds and moves their head. Birth history matters a great deal here — how labor went, whether any assistance was used, and baby's positioning in the womb all give us important context.
Care is extremely gentle, fingertip-level pressure, no force, fully age-appropriate. The goal is to address any restriction throughout the body that may be contributing to the muscular tightness, while also giving you specific guidance on positioning, stretches, and tummy time that support the correction between visits.
Working alongside physical therapy
Torticollis is one of the conditions where a team approach often produces the best outcomes. Pediatric physical therapists are excellent at guided stretching protocols and strengthening exercises that complement the structural work we do. When a case is more significant, we'll often recommend physical therapy alongside chiropractic care, and we're glad to coordinate with whoever is on your baby's care team.
We never see this as an either-or. The combination of addressing the underlying joint restriction through chiropractic care and the muscular component through targeted PT exercises tends to produce faster, more complete results than either approach alone.
You caught it — that's what matters
If you've noticed your baby has a head tilt or a strong side preference, you've already done the most important thing: you noticed. Bring it up. Come in. The earlier torticollis is addressed, the more straightforward the path to resolution tends to be.
Book a visit at Vibra Chiropractic
About the author: Dr. Fabiola Menéndez, DC, CACCP, Webster Certified, is a pediatric and prenatal chiropractor at Vibra Chiropractic in Woodstock, GA. She holds the CACCP certification through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) and is Webster Technique certified. She practices in English and Spanish and serves families throughout Cherokee & Cobb County.
Vibra Chiropractic | 12035 Highway 92, Suite 400, Woodstock, GA 30188
📞 (678) 614-1654
Serving Woodstock, Canton, Holly Springs, Acworth, Marietta, Kennesaw, Cobb & Cherokee County | English & Spanish
Frequently Asked Questions
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Infant torticollis is most commonly caused by tightness in the sternocleidomastoid muscle on one side of the neck, often resulting from positioning in the womb during the later weeks of pregnancy, restricted space from a multiples pregnancy, or tension created during a difficult or assisted delivery. The condition causes the head to tilt toward the tight side and the chin to rotate toward the opposite side.
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Yes. Chiropractic care takes a full body approach, assessing restriction throughout the body — not just the neck — that may be contributing to the muscular tightness seen in torticollis. Care is extremely gentle, using fingertip-level pressure appropriate for an infant, and is often combined with specific stretches and positioning guidance for home. Many cases respond well to early chiropractic evaluation and consistent care.
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No, but they are closely related. Torticollis is tightness or restriction in the neck that causes a head tilt and turning preference. Plagiocephaly is a flat spot on the head, which often develops as a result of torticollis because baby consistently rests on the same side. Addressing the underlying torticollis is often an important part of preventing plagiocephaly from worsening.
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As soon as parents notice a head tilt, turning preference, or resistance to turning the head in one direction. Infant muscle and connective tissue are highly adaptable, and the window for gentle, effective correction is widest in the first several months of life. Early evaluation generally leads to a more straightforward path to resolution.
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Yes. Dr. Fabiola Menéndez at Vibra Chiropractic is CACCP-certified through the ICPA and regularly evaluates and treats infants with torticollis. Vibra Chiropractic is located at 12035 Highway 92, Suite 400, Woodstock, GA 30188, serving families in Woodstock, Canton, Holly Springs, Acworth, and Cherokee County. We also coordinate with physical therapists when a team approach is recommended. Book online at vibrachiro.com or call (678) 614-1654. Bilingual care in English and Spanish is available.
