Supporting Your Baby with Torticollis: Play Positions, Stretches, and Massage
When your baby is diagnosed with torticollis, it can feel overwhelming at first. Torticollis simply means that your baby prefers to tilt or turn their head to one side due to tightness in the muscles of the neck, most often the sternocleidomastoid (SCM). The good news is that with early support, purposeful play, and simple strategies at home, most babies show great improvement and can avoid needing a cranial helmet.
Why Positioning Matters
Babies with torticollis often develop strong preferences for looking one way. Over time, this can affect head shape (leading to flat spots, or plagiocephaly, requiring a cranial helmet), visual development, and even motor milestones like rolling and sitting. By using different play positions and encouraging movement toward the non-preferred side, you can help your baby stretch, strengthen, and develop evenly.
Positions to Try at Home
Tummy Time: Place toys or yourself on the side your baby avoids looking toward. Encourage reaching, tracking, and lifting their head that way. You can use a rolled towel or small pillow under the chest to make it easier in the early stages.
Side-Lying Play: Gently lay your baby on their side, with a rolled blanket behind them for support. Alternate both sides, but spend extra time on the side that stretches their tight muscle. This position helps with midline hand play and encourages reaching across the body.
Supported Sitting: Hold your baby on your lap or sit them in a supportive seat. Present toys on their non-preferred side to encourage turning and reaching.
Football Hold: Carry your baby belly-down along your forearm with their head turned gently toward the non-preferred side. This position not only stretches the neck but also gives extra pressure through the shoulders and trunk, which supports motor development.
Alternating Cradle Hold: Notice which arm you typically cradle your baby in. If you always use the same arm, your baby’s head may naturally fall to their preferred side. Switch arms often so your baby practices turning toward both directions.
Alternating Bed or Changing Table Position: Babies love to look toward light, windows, and people. Switch which end of the crib you place your baby’s head, or change where you stand during diaper changes, so they naturally turn to their less-preferred side.
Stretches for Torticollis
Stretching should always be gentle and done when your baby is calm. Try to build it into natural routines like diaper changes or play.
Neck Rotation Stretch: If your baby prefers looking right, gently guide their chin to the left, holding for a few seconds, then release. Never do this to the point of discomfort. Follow your baby’s cues.
Lateral Neck Stretch: If your baby tilts their ear toward one shoulder, gently guide their head so the opposite ear moves toward the opposite shoulder, stretching the tight side. This means that if your baby is tight on the left and their left ear often touches their left shoulder, try to gently touch their right ear to their right shoulder. Sometimes singing songs during this helps distract them from mild discomfort. Again, always follow their cues.
Tips for Success: Keep stretches short and frequent, pair with songs or smiles, and stop if your baby becomes upset.
(Always follow the stretches recommended by your therapist, since each baby’s needs are a little different.)
Infant Massage for Neck and Shoulders
Massage is a wonderful way to help relax tight muscles, increase body awareness, and bond with your baby.
Gentle Neck Massage: With clean, warm hands, warm up by doing gentle strokes (very little to no pressure) from their ear to their shoulder. This helps warm up the muscle and gets them comfortable with the touch. Then, use slow, circular motions along the side of the neck, starting at the base of the skull and moving toward the shoulder.
Shoulder Relaxation: Lightly roll and stroke the top of the shoulders, which often tighten along with the neck. You can try gentle downward pressure on the shoulders.
After massage, place your baby in tummy time or supported play to use those looser muscles right away.
Consistency is key.
Short, frequent positioning changes, stretches, and massage sessions during the day often make the biggest difference. Many families see progress within weeks, and the earlier it’s addressed, the smoother the progress usually is.
Remember: Always ask your pediatrician, physical therapist, or occupational therapist for help if you’re unsure on the technique or if you’re doing it correctly. Therapists addressing torticollis or tightness consistent with torticollis should always be teaching families how to do these things at home — because home is where the real change happens!
