But when it comes to your newborn, his message is clear: “If you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician sooner rather than later.” Torticollis from an infection might need antibiotics to get better. If your child has a fever with torticollis, call your doctor. National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Annals of Maxillofacial Surgery, Congenital Muscular Torticollis, July-December 2013.

There are theories as to the exact cause of torticollis after birth. It may be caused by the infant spending too much time with its head turned in a particular direction. There are theories that plagiocephaly can cause this as well. The development of the baby in the early months of its life are crucial. Torticollis can impact a baby’s vision, ability to eat properly, and motor skills both fine and gross. Example of distortion of development include decrease in head control, restricted reaching on the affected side, delayed sitting and walking, crawling imbalance, and other problems. There are two main types of torticollis, each with different causes: Congenital muscular torticollisThis tightens and shortens one of the “strap muscles” that turn the head. These sternocleidomastoid muscles (SCMs) run from the collarbone to behind the ear. However, if you can adjust their head position without causing wakefulness, you can attempt repositioning. If an infant in your care experiences an injury or adverse event when using a head shaping pillow, we encourage you to report it to the FDA and the manufacturer. Your report, along with information from other sources, can help the FDA identify and better understand the risks associated with medical devices. Babies can also develop the condition after birth. Then it’s called “acquired,” rather than congenital. Acquired torticollis may be linked to other, more serious medical issues. What Causes It? Offer pain medicines like ibuprofen. If there is any muscle irritation, these can help heal the muscle as well as stop the pain.

Pillows are not safe for babies. You should avoid using a pillow when laying your baby down for a rest, as it can increase the risk of sudden death during infancy. Experts recommend that parents wait to introduce their baby to a pillow until they're over two years old. At this age, the toddler is no longer sleeping in a crib, and they can fully move and flip over without help. Educate your care communities, regarding the association of head shaping pillows with an unsafe sleep environment, which is associated with SUID, SIDS, and other causes of infant death, such as suffocation, that may occur with the use of head shaping pillows. Siblings help when they play with the baby on the floor, encouraging the baby to follow them with his head in the restricted direction. If you experience adverse events associated with using an infant head shaping pillow, we encourage you to file a voluntary report through MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program. Health care personnel employed by facilities that are subject to FDA's user facility reporting requirements should follow the reporting procedures established by their facilities. Some babiesare born with a different type of torticollis, which isn't painful. What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Torticollis?If your baby has the condition at birth, it’s called congenital muscular torticollis. That’s the most common type. If kids still don’t respond to treatment, pediatricians refer them to the eye doctor for a visual exam. Some babies may tilt their heads to see better because their eyes are crossed, a condition called strabismus . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that parents and caregivers do not use infant head shaping pillows intended to change an infant’s head shape or symmetry or claim to prevent or treat any medical condition. The FDA is not aware of any demonstrated benefit with the use of infant head shaping pillows for any medical purpose. The use of head shaping pillows can create an unsafe sleep environment for infants and may contribute to the risk of suffocation and death. If your infant has an unusual head shape, talk to your infant’s health care provider about management options. Know that the use of infant head shaping pillows may delay the necessary evaluation and management of harmless conditions, such as flat head syndrome, or more serious conditions, such as craniosynostosis. If you act early, you can help prevent any long-term problems for your baby. Without treatment, your baby might get complications, including:

Your pediatrician will explain how to reposition the baby and do infant massage and stretches. Or, they may refer you to physical therapy. Parents can begin home exercises immediately,” he says. What kind of stretches can help your baby? If your child develops acquired torticollis, the typical course of treatment is to apply heat and use massage and stretching to ease the pain. Botox injections are also an option for older children with severe torticollis. Your pediatrician can refer you to a neurologist or orthopedist for more treatment.

If you notice that your child may have signs of torticollis or flat head syndrome please make sure that it is seen by a competent pediatric orthopedist. Only one cranial center offer a free evaluation, which is the Cranial Therapy Center in Lakewood, NJ. Appropriate tummy time is also important. Several times a day, when babies are awake, put them on their bellies for 20 minutes, Dr. Burke advises. This encourages them to turn their heads from side to side, push up on their arms and increase their muscle tone.