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

If your baby’s head keeps 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 many families aren’t told. Torticollis isn’t always just a muscular issue. For many babies, it begins with how their neck and nervous system were affected during birth.

You’re Not Alone in This Journey

We see this pattern every single week at Ottawa ChiroHouse. A parent comes in tired, carrying a little one who cries during diaper changes, struggles to feed on one side, and never seems fully comfortable no matter how you position them. At the two-month checkup, the head tilt was noted, you were referred to PT, and you went home with stretching exercises that only make your baby scream.

Those stretches often don’t help because they’re targeting the muscles without addressing why the muscles are tight in the first place. And while you’re stretching and waiting, the underlying tension in the upper spine may be affecting feeding, sleep, comfort, ear drainage, and early motor development.

Nathan’s Story: From Struggle to Thriving

Nathan’s mom brought him to us after a difficult emergency C-section. He had torticollis, plagiocephaly, digestive discomfort, and eczema across his cheeks. His whole body looked tense from his neck down to his lower back.

That tension contributed to limited movement in his neck, which affected how his ears drained. He began having recurrent ear infections very early on. Occupational therapy wasn’t bringing the change his parents hoped for. He was eventually fitted for a helmet to help with the flat spot on his head, but he still seemed uncomfortable and struggled with milestones.

Within the first month of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care, his digestive issues and eczema improved. By month two, things opened up for him. He started sitting, crawling, pulling to stand, and he hasn’t experienced an ear infection since beginning care.

Every child is unique, but stories like Nathan’s highlight how much a calmer, more balanced nervous system can support comfort, ease, and development.

Understanding Torticollis: It’s More Than Meets the Eye

1. Torticollis Often Involves the Nervous System, Not Just a Tight Muscle

The classic signs are easy to see. A head tilt, tight muscles, and limited range of motion. But what many families want to understand is what’s happening beneath the surface.

Torticollis often appears alongside a pattern of tension within the upper spine. Chiropractors describe this pattern using three components:
• Changes in alignment within the neurospinal system
• Tension or fixation in specific segments
• Stress on how the nervous system coordinates movement and posture

When these systems get overwhelmed, babies can have trouble relaxing those tight muscles no matter how much stretching they do.

It’s like expecting a computer to run smoothly with twenty tabs open. When the system is overwhelmed, everything feels harder.

2. Birth Stress Is a Common Contributing Factor

Birth is an incredible process, but it can place significant pressure on a baby’s head and neck. Long labours, fast labours, difficult positioning, or assisted births like forceps, vacuum, or C-sections can all influence how the neck and spine function afterward.

When layers of physical stress build up, it can make it harder for babies to regulate tension on their own.

3. Why Stretching Alone Often Doesn’t Create Lasting Change

Stretching works directly on the muscles. But if deeper tension patterns in the spine and nervous system remain, the muscles tighten right back up. Many families tell us that stretching feels uncomfortable for their baby and sometimes makes things worse.

When a baby’s system is already tense, adding more strain can be overwhelming.

Gentle chiropractic adjustments help reduce that underlying tension. When the nervous system is calmer, babies typically tolerate stretches and positioning exercises much more comfortably. It’s like releasing a parking brake before trying to move a car.

4. Why Early Support Matters

When torticollis doesn’t fully resolve at the neurological level, it can influence more than head position. Families often seek help because they also notice:
• Frequent ear infections due to challenges with drainage
• Difficulty managing respiratory symptoms or mucus
• Delays in rolling, sitting, crawling, or other early milestones
• Sensory or motor challenges as their child grows

When the foundation stays tight, each next stage of development can feel harder than it needs to.

There’s Hope: A Gentle, Effective Path Forward

You don’t have to choose between uncomfortable stretches and waiting it out. There is another option that works alongside physical therapy to address the deeper layers of tension.

Advanced INSiGHT scans allow us to assess how your baby’s nervous system is functioning and where tension is building. With this information, we can create a gentle care plan designed to ease that stress and help your baby move, feed, and develop with more comfort.

Families often report changes within the first few visits. Sometimes our little ones just need help easing that overload so their system can finally settle.

Ready to Help Your Baby Thrive?

At Ottawa ChiroHouse, we believe your baby deserves comfort, ease, and the chance to develop on track. And you deserve support and clarity on this journey.

If your little one is struggling with torticollis, we’re here to help.
Book a consultation and assessment today to learn whether Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care is the right next step.

If you’re not local to Ottawa, the PX Docs directory is a great place to find a chiropractor trained in this approach near you.

Your baby doesn’t have to stay stuck in stress mode. Let’s help them find relief and thrive.