Torticollis in Babies – Early Signs and Home Support
Updated: Oct 1
If you’ve noticed your baby always looking to one side, struggling to turn their head equally, or developing a flatter spot on one side of their head, you may have come across the term torticollis.
Hearing a medical term linked to your baby can feel worrying, but torticollis is something we commonly see in babies. With the right support, there’s often plenty you can do at home through simple everyday play and positioning.
Let’s break down what torticollis in babies really is, the signs to look out for, and how you can gently support your baby’s movement and development.
What Is Torticollis in Babies?
Torticollis (sometimes called “wry neck”) happens when a baby has a persistent head tilt and difficulty turning their head equally in both directions. In congenital muscular torticollis, this is associated with tightness or shortening of a muscle on one side of the neck.
This can cause the head to tilt to one side while the chin points towards the opposite side.
For example, a baby may:
Tilt their head to the left
Prefer looking to the right
Track with their eyes rather than fully rotating their neck in one direction
It’s often noticed in the early weeks or months of life and can be associated with factors including your baby's position in the womb or events around birth.
Sometimes the first thing parents notice isn't the head tilt at all. It might be that their baby always looks in one direction, finds feeding easier on one side, or starts to develop a flatter area on their head.
Related reading: Flat Head Syndrome Explained Simply for Parents - particularly useful if you've noticed a change in your baby's head shape alongside their preferred head position.
What Are the Signs of Torticollis in a Baby?
Some signs can be very subtle at first, especially in young babies.
You might notice:
Your baby always looking to one side
Difficulty turning their head equally both ways
A head tilt that seems present most of the time
Feeding more easily on one side than the other
Flattening on one side of the head, known as plagiocephaly
Preferring to roll in one direction
Becoming upset during tummy time when turning a certain way
A curved “C-shape” posture through the body
Sometimes parents notice it in photos before they notice it day-to-day.
If you're seeing a combination of these signs rather than just an occasional preference, it may be worth having your baby's movement assessed.
Why Early Support Matters
Babies learn through movement and repetition. If a baby spends lots of time looking or turning one way, this can start to influence how they explore movement.
It may affect:
Head shape
Symmetry of movement
Rolling, sitting and crawling patterns
Visual tracking and play skills
How they use their arms during play
Comfort during feeding and tummy time
Identifying the reason for your baby's preferred position means you can start encouraging more balanced movement while they're developing new skills.
That said, there’s no need to panic. Often, small changes made consistently through everyday play and positioning can be really helpful.
If you're also concerned that your baby isn't progressing through their gross motor milestones as expected, read our guide to developmental delay in babies and children.
How Can I Help My Baby With Torticollis at Home?
The aim is to gently encourage your baby to look and move towards their less preferred side through everyday activities, stretches and play.
Here are some easy strategies you can start using:
Position Toys on Their Non-Preferred Side
Babies naturally turn towards interesting things.
Try placing:
Toys
Black and white cards
Your face
Lights or sounds
…on the side they don’t usually look towards.
Small, frequent opportunities throughout the day work best.
Change Feeding Positions
If your baby feeds more comfortably on one side, try experimenting with different positions to encourage movement both ways.
This applies to both breast and bottle feeding.
Encourage Tummy Time
Tummy time is one of the best activities for building neck strength and encouraging symmetrical movement.
If your baby dislikes tummy time, try:
Chest-to-chest tummy time
Using a rolled towel under their chest
Short bursts little and often
Getting down on the floor face-to-face
Even a few minutes at a time is valuable.
Alternate Sides During Sleep and Play
Babies often look towards the room or towards parents.
You can gently encourage turning by:
Alternating the end of the cot they sleep at
Changing the side you carry them on
Switching sides during nappy changes
Positioning yourself on their less preferred side during play
Give Plenty of Floor Play Opportunities
Long periods in car seats, swings, or bouncers can reinforce one head position, but also... physio's hate babies being in containers anyway! Gotta get that lovely floor play where you can, as it gives babies the best opportunity to move naturally and build strength. Obviously life is busy though and you can only do what you can do!
Is It Normal for My Baby to Prefer Looking to One Side?
It’s common for babies to show some positional preferences, particularly in the early weeks. Not every preference means your baby has torticollis.
What we want to see over time is good movement in both directions and gradual progress in:
Head movement
Tolerance to turning both ways
Symmetry during play
Comfort in different positions
Babies are constantly developing, and some asymmetry early on can be part of typical development.
A preference becomes more worth investigating when it is strong, persistent or accompanied by restricted movement, a head tilt, changes in head shape or differences in how your baby uses the two sides of their body.
When Might Extra Support Help?
It’s a good idea to seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional or paediatric physiotherapist if:
Your baby strongly favours one side consistently
You notice a persistent head tilt
Their head shape is becoming flatter on one side
They struggle with tummy time because of their neck position
Movement seems noticeably restricted in one direction
You notice persistent differences between the two sides during movement
You're concerned about their gross motor development
You’re simply unsure whether what you’re seeing is typical
A paediatric physiotherapy assessment can look at your baby's neck movement, posture, head shape, symmetry and overall gross motor development rather than treating one sign in isolation.
Trust Your Instincts
Parents are often the first to notice when something feels a little different - and that matters.
Torticollis can often be managed effectively, particularly when recognised and appropriately supported. Many babies respond well to simple movement strategies, play-based activities and opportunities to build strength and symmetry naturally.
The biggest thing? Try not to stress about doing everything perfectly.
Small changes repeated consistently throughout the day can add up to lots of useful movement practice.
Need Support With Your Baby’s Head Movement or Development?
If your baby always looks to one side, has developed a flat spot, has a persistent head tilt or you're simply unsure about their movement, we can help you understand what you're seeing.
Our Baby MOT service includes a comprehensive assessment of your baby's posture, range of movement, gross motor function, neurological presentation and head shape, with the option of a 3 or 6-session package to support their development over time.
This can be particularly helpful if you’ve noticed head-turning preferences, changes in head shape, differences between the two sides or simply want reassurance about your baby’s movement and development.
Every little movement counts and you’re doing a great job supporting your baby along the way 💛
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