As your baby grows and develops, there are many things that both you and your doctor will watch for and notice. From birth to three months of age, an important question includes: Does your baby turn his or her head equally to both sides?
Babies spend a lot of time on their backs for sleeping, riding in car seats, nursing, and being held. Due to their limited movement in the first few months after birth, some babies develop tightness in the neck muscles. A baby’s head is very heavy, and the neck muscles that support their head are very weak. Sometimes the neck muscles become tighter on one side, pulling their head towards one shoulder. When this happens, you may notice that your baby does not turn their head equally to both sides. You may also notice that your baby avoids certain positions when being held due to the tightness in the neck muscles.
If you recognize these signs, you can help your baby by talking with your doctor. Your child may be developing the beginning signs of infant torticollis, which is a tightness in the neck muscles that tips their head to one side and reduces neck turning. The treatment for infant torticollis is pediatric physical therapy and includes gentle stretches, range of motion, and positioning for holding to lengthen the tight muscles in your baby’s neck. Physical therapy treatment will help your baby look both directions and hold their head up straight. It is important to know that the tight neck muscles with infant torticollis will become tighter as your baby grows, and the best treatment begins with early recognition of these signs.
If you notice that your baby does not turn his or head equally to both sides, talk to your doctor today about pediatric physical therapy.