Kids can develop torticollis (tor-tuh-KOL-is) for different reasons. The most common causes aren't serious. But sometimes a child with torticollis should see the doctor right away. What Causes Torticollis? Front baby carriers and slings are effective tools to help alleviate pressure and causing your baby to move its body to different stances. It is recommended to change the positions of these carriers so the baby will look in different directions. When good head control is secured, the baby can be positioned facing away from the parent in the carrier. Also, a good idea is to carry your child in your arms as often as possible.

Repositioning devices and pillows marketed for use in cribs or bassinets require constant supervision and are generally not recommended. These devices have limited effectiveness and may pose safety risks. Consult with a healthcare professional, such as a pediatrician or pediatric physical therapist, for guidance specific to your baby's condition. If your child develops acquired torticollis, the typical course of treatment is to apply heat and use massage and stretching to ease the pain. Botox injections are also an option for older children with severe torticollis. Your pediatrician can refer you to a neurologist or orthopedist for more treatment.

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Some babiesare born with a different type of torticollis, which isn't painful. What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Torticollis? When your baby has torticollis, this ropy muscle is shortened on one side. Why does the muscle become shortened? Your baby might have been cramped in the womb or may have been in an abnormal position, such as a breech position. That can put extra pressure on one side of your infant’s head, which can cause the SCM to tighten. If you act early, you can help prevent any long-term problems for your baby. Without treatment, your baby might get complications, including: The most common feature is that the baby prefers to rotate their head to one side and not the other. Breast feeding mothers may notice that their baby prefers to feed from one side. Babies that have difficulty turning their head to the left generally find it more difficult to feed from their mother’s right breast.

If your infant has an unusual head shape, talk to your infant’s health care provider about management options. Know that the use of infant head shaping pillows may delay the necessary evaluation and management of harmless conditions, such as flat head syndrome, or more serious conditions, such as craniosynostosis. The sternocleidomastoid muscle, connecting from the collar bone to the skull, plays a vital role in head movement. When this muscle is tight, babies may display a head tilt and difficulty turning to one side. Signs of torticollis can include a consistently tilted head or a preference for looking in one direction. Observing these signs in your baby's behavior or in photos can prompt further evaluation. Older kids may be at risk of crib accidents. Your older kid may use a pillow as a step to climb up the crib. They can suddenly fall and sustain a serious injury. What to Do if You're Worried About Flat Head Syndrome If you experience adverse events associated with using an infant head shaping pillow, we encourage you to file a voluntary report through MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program. Health care personnel employed by facilities that are subject to FDA's user facility reporting requirements should follow the reporting procedures established by their facilities.Infant head shaping pillows are not FDA-approved. The safety and effectiveness of these products have not been established for the prevention or treatment of flat head syndrome (also known as positional plagiocephaly or deformational plagiocephaly), or the more serious condition where the developing infant’s skull bones join together too early (known as craniosynostosis). Recommendations for Parents and Caregivers Have some tummy time. Allow your baby to spend some time lying on their stomach while awake. Sing or talk to your baby, or hold up fun toys to catch their attention and encourage head movement. Further intervention will be needed for plagiocephaly if a baby’s ears are uneven, if one eye opens more than the other or if it causes vision problems. Does torticollis also affect older kids? If your doctor determines your baby has torticollis, it’s important to start treatment right away to prevent permanent asymmetry, a flat spot on your baby’s head and restricted head movement. Treatment options may include: Physical therapy Your pediatrician will explain how to reposition the baby and do infant massage and stretches. Or, they may refer you to physical therapy. Parents can begin home exercises immediately,” he says. What kind of stretches can help your baby?

If you notice that your child may have signs of torticollis or flat head syndrome please make sure that it is seen by a competent pediatric orthopedist. Only one cranial center offer a free evaluation, which is the Cranial Therapy Center in Lakewood, NJ. When the head tilt is significant or the muscle is really tight, more aggressive physical therapy is quite helpful in the first three months. What does repositioning involve? There can be a number of reasons why adults get Torticollis, but the cause in babies is it not always very clear. Most paediatric experts believe it is due to the position the baby has been lying within the uterus, or due to the birth process itself. If your doctor used forceps or a vacuum device during delivery, those also might have put pressure on your baby’s SCM. SymptomsTorticollis from an infection might need antibiotics to get better. If your child has a fever with torticollis, call your doctor.