Neck Tilting

Torticollis is the fancy term for a tilted neck in babies and kids. Babies are often born with a particular neck side preference. Meaning, that if they are sleeping or resting, the head will naturally fall to one side or the other. As long as families are aware of this preference and try to promote activities on the other side (like tummy time and side-lying playtime), we are all good as this will keep everything equal with the neck muscles. 

But sometimes, babies are born with one side of the neck muscles tighter than the other which will cause the neck to tilt in one direction for most of the day and night. Kids’ necks will often even out at about 6 months of age. What we get concerned with is that if babies’ necks are always tilted to one side, then certain parts of their heads are always the ones with pressure on them from the floor or car seat or crib, and we will start getting very prominent flat spots. If your pediatrician is concerned that baby’s neck muscles are not evening out quickly enough or the flat spot is a bit too flat, they will have baby see a physical therapist for neck massages and some teaching for parents regarding fun exercises and activities to do throughout the day to help the neck muscles.