Stretching Doesn’t Help
Stretching has NOT been shown to be clinically effective for resolving torticollis.
What to Do Instead
The following recommendations help with neck and back strengthening. This can prevent and reduce the development of positional plagiocephaly or flat spots on one side of the back of a baby’s head.
1. In the early weeks, alternate the direction your baby’s head faces when asleep. This is a passive activity and will do little to change the tendency to turn the head mostly or exclusively one direction. It may help prevent positional plagiocephaly.
2. Tummy time is key. For babies who have a torsion pattern (they rotate their heads mostly or exclusively in one direction), encourage your baby to lift their head and turn in the non-preferred direction while in Tummy Time. This strengthening activity — lifting and turning against the force of gravity is very effective for treating torticollis. See the Tummy Time How-To article for tips.
3. During diaper changes, gently roll your baby from side to side as you remove and fasten the adhesive tabs/Velcro fasteners/pins.
4. Following diaper changes, roll your baby onto their tummy before picking them up. Allow them to play in this position.
5. To encourage looking, turning, and balancing in both directions, alternate the hip that you carry your baby on.
6. Alternate the shoulder that you carry your baby on.
7. Hold, carry or wear your baby in a sling or front pack as much as possible.
8. Feed your baby on alternate sides. We often forget this one if we are bottle nursing.
9. Change the location of the car seat in the car to encourage your baby to look in different directions.
10. Restrict to a minimum the use of car seats, swings and other rigid seating devices.
11. Be judicious about seating or standing your baby until they can get into these positions on their own. Once they are there, they will do anything to keep their eyes level with the horizon and their faces pointing in the same direction as their feet. These things are called compensation patterns. If the torticollis hasn’t yet been resolved, sitting and standing will encourage babies to develop undesirable compensation patterns.
12. 100 Kisses: Kiss all around your baby’s neck.
13. RIGHTING REFLEX ACTIVITY FOR BABIES WHO FAVOR TIPPING THE HEAD TO ONE SHOULDER (LATERAL FLEXION):
Hold the baby in side lying position with their back against your body and the affected (concave) side down. It should look like a frown. Slowly tip the baby in the direction of head down feet up to no more that a 45 degree angle. The baby will lift their head into the non favored position. This looks like a smile. This helps build strength.