If your baby’s little head is always tilting to one side, you’ve probably heard it’s “just a tight muscle.”
You may have even been told to stretch it out, do more tummy time, and give it time.
But here’s what most families are never told:
Torticollis isn’t just a muscle issue… it’s often a sign that your baby’s nervous system is under stress.
And when we understand why that stress is there, everything about your baby’s struggles starts to make more sense.
You’re Not Alone in This
We meet families every week who are walking this same path—exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure why their baby is still struggling.
A mom comes in holding a baby who:
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Cries every time you lay them down
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Struggles to nurse on one side
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Hates diaper changes
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Can’t find a comfortable position
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Has been referred to physical therapy but cries through the stretches
You’re trying so hard… yet nothing seems to be changing.
And it’s not your fault.
Those stretches only address the tight muscles—not the underlying stress keeping them tight in the first place.
When a baby has upper-neck tension and subluxation, it can affect more than just their head position. Feeding, sleep, digestion, ear drainage, and even developmental milestones can all be impacted.
Nathan’s Story: From Struggling to Smiling
Nathan’s mom brought him in after an emergency C-section that left him with torticollis, a flat spot on his head, reflux, and eczema covering his face.
His little body was locked up from top to bottom, and he was dealing with repeated ear infections at only a few months old.
Occupational therapy helped a little, but not enough. He was even fitted for a helmet, yet he still looked uncomfortable and tense.
Once we started gentle, neurologically-focused chiropractic care, everything shifted.
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His digestion and eczema improved within the first month
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His body relaxed and his movement opened up
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By month two: he was sitting, crawling, pulling up to stand
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And… he hasn’t had an ear infection since
When we help the nervous system calm down, the whole body works better.
Understanding Torticollis: What’s Really Going On
1. It’s Not Just a Tight Muscle — It’s a Neurological Pattern
When a baby’s head tilts or rotates in one direction, it’s easy to focus on the muscle you see. But underneath that muscle is the nervous system, which controls tension, coordination, and balance.
Torticollis often comes from a subluxation—a stuck or stressed area in the spine—that keeps the body in protection mode.
Think of it like a laptop with too many tabs open: everything slows down and struggles.
A stressed nervous system means:
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Muscles stay tight
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Movement becomes limited
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Baby stays in a fight-or-flight state
No amount of stretching can override that pattern on its own.
2. Birth Is the Most Common Cause
Even the smoothest births put a surprising amount of pressure on a baby’s neck and spine.
Add in things like:
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Long labors
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Baby stuck in the canal
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C-section
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Vacuum or forceps
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Breech or poor positioning in the womb
…and it creates what we call a Perfect Storm of tension for a baby’s nervous system.
3. Why Stretching Alone Often Doesn’t Work
Stretching works on the muscles.
But if the nervous system is sending those muscles “tighten up!” signals all day long, you’re fighting an uphill battle.
It’s like trying to drive with the parking brake on.
Once we gently release the subluxation and calm the nervous system, the stretches and PT exercises finally start to work—and babies relax instead of cry.
4. What Happens When Torticollis Doesn’t Fully Resolve
When the underlying tension is still there, you may see other challenges show up over time:
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Frequent ear infections
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Reflux or digestive struggles
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Sleep challenges
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Gross motor delays
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Sensory processing challenges
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Trouble coordinating movement as they grow
The foundation wasn’t stable… so each developmental stage becomes harder.
There Is a Gentle, Effective Way Forward
If you’re feeling stuck between painful stretches and “wait and see,” please know there is another option.
Using our INSiGHT scans, we can see exactly where the tension and stress are in your baby’s nervous system. From there, gentle chiropractic adjustments help release that stress so your baby can finally relax, move better, and start hitting those milestones.
Parents often notice changes within just a few visits.
Sometimes our babies just get “stuck” in stress mode—when we calm the system, everything shifts.
We’re Here to Help Your Baby Thrive
At Foundation of Stone Pediatric & Perinatal Family Chiropractic, we believe every baby deserves to feel comfortable, sleep well, eat well, and develop with ease. And you deserve to feel supported and confident along the way.
If you’re ready to get answers—and real help—give us a call. We’d love to walk with you through this.
If you’re not local to us, you can visit the PX Docs directory to find a pediatric-trained chiropractor near you.
Your baby doesn’t have to stay stuck. There is hope, and we’re here for you every step of the way.