Myths and Misinformation about Torticollis

Has your baby been given a torticollis diagnosis? Check out these MYTHS v. FACTS!

Myth: If your baby has torticollis/flat head don’t ever put them down on the floor. You should hold them in the baby carrier all day. 

FACT: Allowing them to stretch and move on the floor is helpful and starting physical therapy EARLIER gives more optimal results. 

Myth: Their head will just round itself out completely once they’re sitting up. No need to do anything. 

FACT: A PT’s help potentially prevents the need for a helmet. 

Myth: Just stretching a baby’s neck will fully fix their torticollis.

FACT: To fully treat torticollis we need to address the ENTIRE body.  

Myth: If your baby has a flat head you should use a head shaping pillow to fix it. 

FACT: Head shaping pillows are unsafe and ineffective. 

Myth: All physical therapists do for torticollis is tell families to stretch their baby’s neck for 1 minute, 8-10 times a day. 

FACT: PTs do a lot more than JUST stretching the neck. 

Think about it - babies are innately driven to move and explore but our little ones with tightness in their muscles and fascia are literally being pulled in one direction. It’s like a tug of war.

Imagine if you had a tight string pulling from your jaw down to your hip bone and then I asked you to get on your belly and do a yoga cobra pose.

My job is to help release those restrictions so babies can move freely, feel good in their bodies and get on with their exploration! But remember, everything is connected so we need to address the *whole body* from tongue to toes to make sure those restrictions aren’t limiting movement.

**Torticollis baby exercise TIP - Do not stretch a baby that’s fussing - it should be a tear free activity!