The Real Reason Stretching Isn’t Fixing Your Baby’s Torticollis

If your baby’s head is stuck tilting to one side, you’ve probably been told it’s just a tight muscle.“Stretch it out, do some tummy time, and wait it out,” they say.

But here’s what most pediatricians never explain: torticollis isn’t just a muscle problem. It’s rooted in what happened to your baby’s nervous system during birth.

You’re Not Alone in This Journey

We see this same story every single week.

A mom comes in exhausted, holding a baby who cries during diaper changes, struggles to nurse on one side, and can’t seem to get comfortable no matter what position you try.

At the 2-month checkup, the pediatrician noticed the head tilt, sent you to PT, and gave you a list of stretches that make your baby scream.

And still… nothing changes.

Because those stretches are treating the symptoms, not the cause. And while you’re stretching and waiting, that upper-neck subluxation is affecting far more than just your baby’s posture. It’s impacting how they eat, sleep, drain fluid from their ears, and move through their developmental milestones.

Carolyn’s Story: From a Tough Start to a Thriving Little Girl

We first met baby Carolyn in June of 2023, just three days after she entered the world. Her birth had been intense. She was positioned low in her mama’s belly and her arm was tucked up alongside her head during delivery. That created a lot of tension through her neck and led to a noticeable flat spot on the right side of her head at birth.

In those very first days, Carolyn struggled with breastfeeding and refused to turn her head to the left. Before long, she received a torticollis diagnosis. Torticollis occurs when the neck muscles tighten in a way that causes the head to tilt or rotate to one side, often leading to discomfort, difficulty nursing, and a limited range of motion.

As soon as her family returned home from the hospital, they were encouraged to check out Tiffin Family Chiropractic. We were able to get her in right away, and she received her first gentle chiropractic adjustment at just three days old.

After that very first visit, her parents noticed changes almost instantly. Breastfeeding became easier. Carolyn seemed more relaxed. And over the next couple of weeks, her head movement gradually improved too.

At her two month checkup, her pediatrician suggested she would likely need to be fitted for a cranial helmet. But Carolyn’s mom trusted her intuition. “My mom gut didn’t agree with this, and I already knew we were in great hands with Dr. Adam. By continuing chiropractic care, we were able to avoid unnecessary interventions.”

And she was right.

Today, Carolyn is thriving. She has met every milestone right on time, and you would never guess she once struggled with torticollis. This is an incredible outcome for this sweet girl, and we are so pumped she did not need that cranial helmet!

Understanding Torticollis: It’s More Than Meets the Eye

1. Torticollis Is a Neurological Problem! Not Just a Tight Muscle.

When doctors diagnose torticollis, they look at the head tilt, the tight SCM muscle, and the limited rotation. But what’s happening underneath is the real issue.

Torticollis comes from subluxation, which includes:

• Misalignment within the neurospinal system

  
  

• Abnormal tension or fixation in those spinal segments

  
  

• Neurological imbalance: the nervous system stuck sending stress signals instead of calm, coordinated ones

It’s like having too many tabs open on a computer. When your baby’s nervous system is overwhelmed by stress, their muscles stay tight, their movements become restricted, and they get stuck in fight-or-flight mode.

2. Birth Trauma Is the Most Common Cause

Birth puts tremendous strain on a baby’s head and neck, especially when interventions like forceps, vacuum extraction, or C-sections are involved.

Add in things like:

• Poor positioning in the womb

  
  

• Long or stalled labor

  
  

• Being stuck in the birth canal

…and you get what we call The Perfect Storm: layers of stress that overload your baby’s nervous system before they even take their first breath.

3. Why Stretching Alone Doesn’t Work

PT stretches work on the muscles, but they can’t correct the subluxation that caused the tightness.

It’s like trying to push a car while the parking brake is on.

Many parents tell us the stretches make their baby cry harder. That’s because a stressed, overloaded nervous system reacts to discomfort by tightening even more.

Once you gently release the subluxation with chiropractic adjustments, the nervous system can finally calm down. Then suddenly the stretches, positioning exercises, and tummy time actually work!

4. The Hidden Consequences of Unresolved Torticollis

Here’s what worries us most: torticollis that isn’t resolved at the neurological level doesn’t just magically disappear.

That upper-neck subluxation can contribute to:

• Recurrent ear infections from poor Eustachian tube drainage

  
  

• Respiratory infections like croup and RSV

  
  

• Developmental challenges including gross motor delays, fine motor issues, sensory struggles, and even ADHD

When the foundation isn’t stable, every new stage of development becomes harder.

There’s Hope: A Gentle, Effective Path Forward

If your baby has torticollis, you don’t have to choose between painful stretches or waiting it out.

There is a gentle, effective way to address the root cause.

With advanced INSiGHT scans, we can pinpoint exactly where the subluxation is located and how much stress it’s placing on your baby’s nervous system. From there, safe and gentle chiropractic adjustments help release that tension and restore balance.

Most parents notice changes within just a few visits.

Sometimes our little ones just get stuck in stress mode and when we ease that nervous system tension, everything can shift. 

Ready to Help Your Baby Thrive?

At Tiffin Family Chiropractic, we know your baby was made to feel comfortable in their body, hit their milestones with ease, and thrive. You deserve support and real answers along the way.

If your gut is telling you something more is going on, you’re probably right. You don’t have to wait and hope things improve on their own. We’re here to help you get clarity and a plan.

Reach out today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward helping your baby get unstuck and truly thrive.

If you’re not local to us, you can find a neurologically focused pediatric chiropractor near you through the PX Docs Directory. So your little one can get the care they need no matter where you live.