Happy Baby Guide to tilted head or torticollis

Have you ever heard of the term plagiocephaly or torticollis? Plagiocephaly is a flat spot on the head while torticollis is an asymmetrical neck or a tilted head position. This can affect your breastfeeding experience, which can make it frustrating for you and your baby.

An easy way to notice this is if your baby is tending to sit tilted the same way in the car seat each time you put them in. If you try to move their head, they may even move it back to reposition in the same place you just took them out of. If your little one will only nurse primarily on one side that may be another sign. A few signs we look for as pediatric-trained chiropractors are to see if your little one’s jaw will open symmetrically when they yawn,  one eye is larger than the other (pirate eye), along with a tilted, turned, or twisted neck. If you see these signs or are unsure if they’re present you should bring your child in for an evaluation to have their spine and nervous system assessed.

For growth and development, we want to make sure this is found early. If not, there’s a chance your baby may need a helmet. The helmet is great when necessary but think about it, if your brain is forever growing and expanding is it able to do it at the same rate with a helmet on? We want to see your babies thrive.