When you wake up after a poor night's sleep, your neck may be tight and painful, making it difficult or impossible to turn your head. Torticollis is the name for this condition (Latin for "twisted neck").
Torticollis is a condition that can affect a newborn either because of the baby's position in the womb or because of complications after delivery. Infant torticollis, also known as congenital muscle torticollis, describes this condition.
Seeing your newborn struggle to bend their neck or hold their head up straight can be distressing. However, most infants with torticollis do not experience any discomfort. In most cases, the issue can be remedied with a few easy adjustments, such as a change in position or some gentle stretching.
Newborns and infants often have a musculoskeletal disease called congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). Babies affected by CMT often have a pronounced head tilt and a strong predilection for turning their head to one side.
Unilateral shortening of the head- and neck-turning muscle causes CMT (the sternocleidomastoid muscle). A common side for babies to favour for rotating their heads is the side where the rear of their skull is flattened (known as flat head syndrome or plagiocephaly).
Gentle range of motion, strengthening exercises, and a positioning and handling programme are all part of the conservative management of CMT that has been shown to be effective.
The physical therapist works closely with the patient's family or caretakers to teach them the exercises and activities they may do at home in between visits.
The experts at HSS Pediatric Rehabilitation have compiled a list of five things parents and carers may do at home to lessen the risk of CMT and plagiocephaly and increase the efficacy of physical treatment.
- Involve your baby in play that encourages midline orientation by bringing his or her head and body to the centre of the play mat. Position your infant so that his or her head and torso are directly in front of you, whether in a car seat, stroller, or on your lap. As a form of play, infants will put their hands together, to their mouths, or even up to their feet. Babies who engage in such play are developing the motor skills necessary to reach the midline. Teach your infant to use both hands to grab at rattles, toys, and their own legs.
- It's important to teach your baby to swivel their head to both sides. Babies are fascinated by human faces. Have your infant follow your face as you turn it to the right and left while holding them. Babies can be steered in a certain direction by the positioning of toys. Using toys with sounds and lights on both sides will help entice your baby to actively tilt their head from side to side. This game is also great for tummy time with your newborn. If you're holding the infant while feeding, try switching arms every time. Whether you're breastfeeding or using a bottle, switching up your feeding position from time to time will help your baby develop healthy head control by turning their head to both sides.
- Always put your baby to sleep on his or her back. To avoid a flat spot from growing on one side, shift your baby's head to the opposite side every night when you put him or her to sleep on his or her back. To help your infant learn to move their head to either side and peek out of the crib, try switching the position of the crib's head each night.
- Tummy Time! Young children benefit from spending time awake on their tummies for motor development and to avoid the formation of flat patches on their heads. While doing tummy time, make sure your baby is alert and being well watched. Infants can develop the neck, arm, and shoulder muscles they'll need for head control, rolling, sitting, and crawling during tummy time. At least 15 minutes of tummy time three times a day is advised. You can start with shorter tummy time intervals and increase the frequency throughout the day until your baby can endure 15 minutes at a time in this position. A baby's natural tendency is to lift their head when they see a familiar face, so try carrying your newborn with his or her tummy against your chest. Your baby may respond better to tummy time if you position him or her across your lap. Consult a reflective surface. Babies are fascinated by reflections of their own faces.
- Try to limit the amount of time your baby spends in containers. Positioning devices for infants, such as car seats, swings, and bouncers, can limit the baby's range of motion and place undue stress on the back of the head for extended periods of time. Your infant should only spend as much time as necessary in a positioning device while being transported. Carry your infant or hold them in your arms. In a playpen or on a blanket on the floor, with an adult around, the baby should be allowed to move and play freely.
When a baby has a persistent head turn to one side, it's tempting to assume that he or she prefers that side for comfort. However, in many cases, this is actually the result of a birth defect in the muscles called congenital muscular torticollis.
FAQs About Baby Nursery
Provides head and neck support to address both Torticollis and Plagiocephaly. Offloading pressure on the head to address head shape and symmetry for young children.
Your infant can develop this condition, called plagiocephaly, simply from sleeping on one side. Your infant prefers to sleep on only one side because he doesn't have a full range of motion in his neck due to torticollis.
Most parents know that the safest way to put their baby to sleep is on its back. Babies who sleep on their backs are much less likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Babies who always sleep with their heads to the same side can develop flat spots.
The best way to treat torticollis is to encourage your baby to turn their head in both directions. This helps loosen tense neck muscles and tighten the loose ones. Rest assured that babies won't likely hurt themselves by turning their heads on their own.
Regardless of the patient's age, physical therapy is the primary treatment for all forms of torticollis. Physical therapists provide treatment to address the impairments caused by torticollis. The early treatment produces the best outcomes. If not treated, torticollis can become a permanent condition.
Symptoms Of Torticollis
Symptoms of torticollis often include the following. Getting treatment right away will yield the greatest possible outcomes.
Put Your Head To One Side.
Connecting with your child via play is crucial. Bonding and attachment are fostered when parents gaze into their infant's eyes.
Is your child's head tilted to one side, rather than facing you directly? It's important to get checked out and treated for torticollis if you're experiencing this symptom.
Torticollis can induce tightness in the neck, making it so your infant likes looking in only one direction, even if that's the least stimulating option (like the wall of their cot).
Ahead Of You, Difficulty In Moving.
Does your baby have problems turning his head towards you when you want him to gaze at you? How does he react when his head has to be moved? Possible torticollis symptoms manifest here.
The Challenge of Breastfeeding
Baby may be favouring one breast because he has to crane his neck to get to the other. Naturally, he can't verbalise his distress because he lacks the necessary language skills.
One Side Of The Head Is Flat
Is your child's head appearing to be flatter on one side? This is called plagiocephaly, and it can be caused by your baby lying on only one side. As a result of the limited mobility in his neck caused by torticollis, your infant has a preference for sleeping on just one side.
Stiff Upper Lip
Is there a bump on your infant's neck? It's possible for the muscle to tighten and even coil up. Your child will experience improvement after starting occupational therapy. You can let your therapist or position know, but please don't touch or massage the region.
Struggle in moving the head from side to side or up and down.
Torticollis may be present if your infant has a reluctance to turn his head from side to side or up and down in response to stimulation. Babies with torticollis have a strong preference for sleeping on one side, even if they look to both sides when they are awake.
Symptoms Of Infant Torticollis
Babies with torticollis likely have had the condition since birth (congenital torticollis). If your kid was born with a cleft lip or a cleft palate, it is likely because of their location in the womb.
Most occurrences of torticollis can be traced back to birth, however some infants develop the condition after birth (acquired torticollis), which is typically caused by trauma or infection.
The best way to help your baby with torticollis, whether it's congenital or acquired, is to recognise the symptoms.
A baby with torticollis will behave normally, with the exception of when turning is involved. It's possible that a newborn with torticollis will also:
- To adopt a particular head tilt (this can be hard to notice in very young infants)
- Would rather glance over their shoulder at you than turn to follow your gaze.
- Breastfeeding difficulties on one side (or prefers one breast only)
- Exert themselves trying to face you, only to become irritated when they can't
When babies with torticollis constantly lie in one way, they can develop a flat head (positional plagiocephaly) on one or both sides. Some people may notice a little hump or lump at the back of their neck, which is analogous to a "knot" in a tight muscle. As the torticollis improves, both of these symptoms typically disappear.
A Case of Congenital Torticollis
Sometimes, even if a baby was born with torticollis, you won't know it until they are about 6-8 weeks old. Most infants start to develop greater head and neck control around this time. The following signs and symptoms may present themselves now:
- The individual's head turns to one side.
- Mobility restrictions in the head and neck
- Face and head asymmetry in your newborn (flattening on one side of the head)
- Babies who are breastfed often favour one side over the other.
- Injury or illness to the musculoskeletal system (hip dysplasia)
- A tender bump at the base of the baby's neck
- Plagiocephaly, or a flat spot behind one ear and on the side, is the most noticeable sign. In particular, the kid is fixated with
Torticollis, Acquired
Acquired torticollis presents with these symptoms:
- A slant of the head to one side.
- Reduced ability to turn one's head and neck
- Repeated occurrences of cocking one's head Your youngster may be lethargic, irritable, or vomit during these episodes.
Torticollis: What Causes It
Infant torticollis develops when the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which attaches the collarbone and breastbone to the head, becomes abnormally tight. Having a shortened muscle on one side of the neck might cause your baby's head to tilt or rotate, and in many cases, do both.
Abnormal foetal positioning, birth trauma, deformities or bone problems in the cervical spine, and, in extremely rare circumstances, genetic disorders that might affect the nervous system or muscles all contribute to the premature shortening or tightening of this muscle.
Infant Torticollis Treatment
It would be best if you tried to get your infant to turn their head in both directions since this is the most effective treatment for torticollis. Muscles in the neck might relax and tighten as a result of this. There is no need to worry that your baby will damage themself if they turn their head.
Correcting a Torticollis with Exercise
When your baby is awake, laying him or her on his or her stomach for brief periods (known as "tummy time") is a vital exercise that helps develop neck and shoulder muscles and prepares your baby for crawling.
A newborn with torticollis and a flat head can benefit greatly from this activity because it can aid in the treatment of both conditions at once. This is the procedure:
- To practise tummy time, just lay your infant on your lap or chest.
- Turn your baby's head away from you to help them relax.
- Turn your baby towards you while talking to them or singing to them.
- When your baby can keep his or her head still for at least ten to fifteen seconds at a time, it's time to start this exercise for 10 to 15 minutes multiple times daily. They need to take it easy for a while.
If you see your infant is developing a torticollis, it's best to start stretching exercises as soon as possible (ideally, between 2 and 6 months of age). Don't hesitate to consult a doctor or physical therapist if you notice that your baby's torticollis isn't improving after stretching.
Tummy time is great, but you should also try to get your baby to roll over onto their sore side. If your baby tends to shift his head to the left, you should adjust your position so that you are standing to his right when you change him.
When you put him down in his crib, please use the same method. When breast-feeding, try to get your infant to eat from the side he dislikes the most. The neck muscles of your baby can benefit from all of these activities.
When A Baby Has Torticollis, What Can You Do To Help?
Because muscular problems are often at the root of torticollis, you can do what you can to alleviate your child's symptoms by stretching, carrying, and putting them in ways that minimise the condition.
In order to promote your baby's physical activity and growth, here are five easy activities you may do at home:
- Place your infant in his or her cot or on his or her changing table so that the baby is forced to look away from the favourite side.
- Make your infant look in the direction where they have less neck mobility by holding toys or talking to them in that way.
- Avoid leaving your infant in a stationary position for long periods of time, such as a swing, bouncy seat, or car seat, where their head will be in a fixed position. Your baby's head may be more comfortably aligned in the car seat if you use a head support.
- Put your baby's favoured side up against your shoulder or chest to get him or her to raise up and turn the other way.
- Baby massage! In addition to strengthening their necks and upper bodies, tummy time helps babies gain the muscle tone they need to turn over, reach, sit up, and crawl.
How To Get Your Baby to Laugh During Tummy Time
Start tummy time when your infant is awake and being watched by placing your baby on their stomach for brief periods at first.
It's also possible to utilise a breastfeeding pillow or infant lounger if your child requires more cushioning.
It can be helpful to use mirrors, brightly coloured toys, or even the baby's own siblings to attract the baby's gaze and persuade them to look upward and away from the favourite side.
There is no need for you or your infant to use the floor or a blanket. The practise of tummy time includes putting your baby on your chest to play in this position.
Therapeutic Exercises for Infants with Torticollis
The infant's paediatrician may recommend physical therapy for more extensive treatment in specific situations. Your infant may be checked on by the therapist every 2–4 weeks after treatment has begun.
The physical therapist will track the infant's head-turning range and work with the infant to build stronger neck muscles during subsequent appointments.
They'll keep an eye out for problems with your head's form and make suggestions on how to fix things like flat spots. There will be kids who need to wear helmets, but the vast majority won't.
Surgical Alternatives
If your child's head tilt cannot be corrected through physical therapy and home exercises, surgical intervention may be necessary. Babies with persistent torticollis who don't improve with conservative treatment are, thankfully, an extremely unusual case.
Surgery to correct congenital torticollis is usually only necessary for a small percentage of affected children. The sternocleidomastoid muscle is lengthened through surgery in order to treat torticollis. If your doctor recommends surgery, they will likely wait until your child is in kindergarten or later.
Conclusion
Torticollis is a condition that can affect a newborn either because of the baby's position in the womb or because of complications after delivery. A common side for babies to favour for rotating their heads is the side where the rear of their skull is flattened (known as flat head syndrome). Young children benefit from spending time awake on their tummies for motor development and to avoid the formation of flat patches on their heads. Infants can develop the neck, arm, and shoulder muscles they'll need for head control, rolling, sitting, and crawling during tummy time. If your baby has a persistent head turn to one side, they may have torticollis.
This is the result of a birth defect that causes tightness in the neck muscles. Getting treatment right away will yield the greatest possible outcomes for your baby's well-being. Babies with torticollis have a strong preference for sleeping on one side, even if they look to both sides when awake. The condition can be congenital or acquired, and the best way to help your baby is to recognise the signs and symptoms. Infant torticollis is when the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which attaches the collarbone and breastbone to the head, becomes abnormally tight.
Having a shortened muscle on one side of the neck might cause your baby's head to tilt or rotate. When a baby has torticollis, muscular problems are often at the root of the problem. You can help alleviate their symptoms by stretching, carrying, and putting them in ways that minimise the condition. Here are five easy activities you may do at home to help your baby's neck muscles. Start tummy time by placing your baby on their stomach for brief periods at first. It can be helpful to use mirrors, brightly coloured toys, or even siblings to attract the baby's gaze and persuade them to look upward and away from the favourite side of their body.
Content Summary
- When you wake up after a poor night's sleep, your neck may be tight and painful, making it difficult or impossible to turn your head.
- Torticollis is the name for this condition (Latin for "twisted neck").
- Torticollis is a condition that can affect a newborn either because of the baby's position in the womb or because of complications after delivery.
- Infant torticollis, also known as congenital muscle torticollis, describes this condition.
- Seeing your newborn struggle to bend their neck or hold their head up straight can be distressing.
- However, most infants with torticollis do not experience any discomfort.
- Newborns and infants often have a musculoskeletal disease called congenital muscular torticollis (CMT).
- Babies affected by CMT often have a pronounced head tilt and a strong predilection for turning their head to one side.
- Gentle range of motion, strengthening exercises, and a positioning and handling programme are all part of the conservative management of CMT that has been shown to be effective.
- The experts at HSS Pediatric Rehabilitation have compiled a list of five things parents and carers may do at home to lessen the risk of CMT and plagiocephaly and increase the efficacy of physical treatment.
- Have your infant follow your face as you turn it to the right and left while holding them.
- Using toys with sounds and lights on both sides will help entice your baby to actively tilt their head from side to side.
- This game is also great for tummy time with your newborn.
- Whether you're breastfeeding or using a bottle, switching up your feeding position from time to time will help your baby develop healthy head control by turning their head to both sides.
- Always put your baby to sleep on his or her back.
- To avoid a flat spot from growing on one side, shift your baby's head to the opposite side every night when you put him or her to sleep on his or her back.
- To help your infant learn to move their head to either side and peek out of the crib, try switching the position of the crib's head each night.
- Tummy Time!
- While doing tummy time, make sure your baby is alert and being well watched.
- At least 15 minutes of tummy time three times a day is advised.
- Try to limit the amount of time your baby spends in containers.
- Carry your infant or hold them in your arms.
- When a baby has a persistent head turn to one side, it's tempting to assume that he or she prefers that side for comfort.
- Symptoms Of Torticollis Symptoms of torticollis often include the following.
- Connecting with your child via play is crucial.
- Is your child's head tilted to one side, rather than facing you directly?
- It's important to get checked out and treated for torticollis if you're experiencing this symptom.
- Possible torticollis symptoms manifest here.
- One Side Of The Head Is Flat Is your child's head appearing to be flatter on one side?
- This is called plagiocephaly, and it can be caused by your baby lying on only one side.
- As a result of the limited mobility in his neck caused by torticollis, your infant has a preference for sleeping on just one side.
- Stiff Upper Lip Is there a bump on your infant's neck?
- Babies with torticollis have a strong preference for sleeping on one side, even if they look to both sides when they are awake.
- Symptoms Of Infant Torticollis Babies with torticollis likely have had the condition since birth (congenital torticollis).
- The best way to help your baby with torticollis, whether it's congenital or acquired, is to recognise the symptoms.
- A Case of Congenital Torticollis Sometimes, even if a baby was born with torticollis, you won't know it until they are about 6-8 weeks old.
- Most infants start to develop greater head and neck control around this time.
- The following signs and symptoms may present themselves now: The individual's head turns to one side.
- Mobility restrictions in the head and neck Face and head asymmetry in your newborn (flattening on one side of the head) Babies who are breastfed often favour one side over the other.
- Having a shortened muscle on one side of the neck might cause your baby's head to tilt or rotate, and in many cases, do both.
- Infant Torticollis Treatment It would be best if you tried to get your infant to turn their head in both directions since this is the most effective treatment for torticollis.
- Correcting a Torticollis with Exercise When your baby is awake, laying him or her on his or her stomach for brief periods (known as "tummy time") is a vital exercise that helps develop neck and shoulder muscles and prepares your baby for crawling.
- This is the procedure: To practise tummy time, just lay your infant on your lap or chest.
- Turn your baby's head away from you to help them relax.
- If you see your infant is developing a torticollis, it's best to start stretching exercises as soon as possible (ideally, between 2 and 6 months of age).
- Don't hesitate to consult a doctor or physical therapist if you notice that your baby's torticollis isn't improving after stretching.
- Tummy time is great, but you should also try to get your baby to roll over onto their sore side.
- When breast-feeding, try to get your infant to eat from the side he dislikes the most.
- The neck muscles of your baby can benefit from all of these activities.
- In order to promote your baby's physical activity and growth, here are five easy activities you may do at home: Place your infant in his or her cot or on his or her changing table so that the baby is forced to look away from the favourite side.
- In addition to strengthening their necks and upper bodies, tummy time helps babies gain the muscle tone they need to turn over, reach, sit up, and crawl.
- How To Get Your Baby to Laugh During Tummy Time
- Start tummy time when your infant is awake and being watched by placing your baby on their stomach for brief periods at first.
- There is no need for you or your infant to use the floor or a blanket.
- The practise of tummy time includes putting your baby on your chest to play in this position.
- Therapeutic Exercises for Infants with Torticollis The infant's paediatrician may recommend physical therapy for more extensive treatment in specific situations.
- Surgical Alternatives If your child's head tilt cannot be corrected through physical therapy and home exercises, surgical intervention may be necessary.
- Surgery to correct congenital torticollis is usually only necessary for a small percentage of affected children.
