Understanding Torticollis: How Chiropractic Care Can Support Your Child

If you’ve noticed your baby consistently tilting their head to one side or struggling to turn their neck fully in the other direction, you may be dealing with a condition called torticollis. 

You may notice your baby prefers to have their head tilted to one side during tummy time or prefers to only feed on one side. It’s a common issue in infants, and while it can be worrying for parents, it’s also highly treatable, especially when caught early. 

What Is Torticollis?

Torticollis is a condition in which the neck muscles (most often the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle running from behind the ear down to the collarbone) become tight, shortened, or imbalanced. This causes the head to tilt toward one shoulder while the chin turns toward the opposite side.

In infants, this is usually called congenital muscular torticollis (CMT), and it can develop from:

• Positioning in the womb, especially in cases of limited space or breech presentation
• Birth trauma, such as a difficult or assisted delivery
• Muscle tightness that develops shortly after birth

Signs to watch for include:

• A head tilt that favours one side
• Preference for turning the head in only one direction
• A flat spot developing on one side of the skull (plagiocephaly), and/or 
• Difficulty nursing or feeding on one side

Torticollis is generally not dangerous, but left unaddressed, it may lead to asymmetrical head shape, delayed motor development, or ongoing muscular imbalance as the child grows. That’s why early evaluation matters. Starting treatment sooner than later will give your child the best chance to see improvements as their body is growing and developing.

How a Chiropractor Can Help

Pediatric chiropractors who work with infants take a gentle, non-invasive approach tailored to a baby’s small and developing body. Their goal is to assess and address the underlying musculoskeletal imbalance contributing to the head tilt. Common approaches include:

1. Gentle spinal and neck assessment. A pediatric chiropractor examines the cervical spine and surrounding musculature to identify areas of restricted movement or tension, often working closely with the child’s pediatrician as part of a broader care team.
2. Soft tissue and stretching techniques. Light, controlled stretches help gradually lengthen the tightened muscle and improve range of motion, often incorporated into play so the baby stays comfortable.
3. Gentle adjustments. Using very light, infant-appropriate pressure (nothing like the adjustments used on adults), a chiropractor will work to improve mobility in the cervical spine and reduce restriction contributing to the tilt.
4. Home exercise guidance. Chiropractors often teach parents simple repositioning techniques, tummy time strategies, and stretches to reinforce progress between visits.
5. Coordinated care. Many cases of torticollis respond well to a team approach that includes a pediatrician, physical therapist, and chiropractor working together, particularly when the condition is more pronounced.

If your child is struggling with any developmental milestones, a chiropractor can play a vital role in helping to achieve these milestones, including latching, torticollis and crawling/walking.

The Takeaway for Parents

Noticing your baby favouring one side can be unsettling, but torticollis is common, well understood, and very responsive to care. The goal of gentle chiropractic support isn’t to rush your child’s development, but to remove the physical restrictions getting in the way of it, so they can turn, move, feed, and reach their milestones comfortably. 

If something feels off, trust that instinct. Even a simple assessment can bring peace of mind, and if treatment is needed, starting sooner gives your little one the best possible head start.

If you’ve spotted any of the signs above, we’d love to take a look and answer your questions. 

Book an assessment with Dr. Shelly Bouvier today.

Fact-checked & Written by Dr. Shelly Bouvier.