You notice it in photos first. The head always the same way. One side of the breast or bottle is easy. The other is a fight. Someone says torticollis. Someone else says they will grow out of it. You still have a feeling.
Torticollis means the neck is held in a twist or a tilt. It often shows up in the first weeks. It is one of the most common reasons a pediatrician mentions physical therapy, and sometimes chiropractic.
What you may be noticing
- The head tilts toward one shoulder
- A strong preference for looking one direction
- A harder latch on one side
- A tight band you can feel along the side of the neck
- A flat spot beginning on the back or side of the head
A flat spot (plagiocephaly) often travels with the preference. The head rests where it can. Read head shape and plagiocephaly when that is the chapter you are holding. The Oakland lander is torticollis in Oakland.
What’s happening underneath
Limited space in the last weeks of pregnancy can start the pattern. Birth can add strain, especially with vacuum, forceps, or a long second stage. Then the car seat, the bouncer, and back-sleeping on one side keep the habit.
The neck is not only a muscle story. The upper spine and the nervous system help the head find both directions. When that area is tight, tummy time is a fight and feeding stays one-sided.
What we look at
The Fika Discovery Experience is two visits. We listen. Then we look, gently.
That usually includes:
- How the neck turns, and which side is easier
- Soft-tissue tone along the neck
- How the head and upper back organize
- INSiGHT scans, when your baby is ready
Care is fingertip-light. Less pressure than checking a ripe tomato. No twisting. No popping.
We do not replace physical therapy or your pediatrician. PT retrains range and strength. We look at the joints and the nervous system those exercises run on. Tummy time at home still matters. Ask us to share scan reports with your East Bay care team.
What often shifts
Families commonly notice, over weeks of care and home work:
- More even turning
- An easier latch on the less-preferred side
- A head that can rest in more than one place
- Tummy time that lasts a little longer
Earlier support is usually easier. We do not promise a timeline. If a flat spot is changing fast, loop your pediatrician.
When to call your pediatrician too
Start there if you notice:
- Asymmetry that is getting worse quickly, or a rapidly worsening flat spot
- Limited eye movement, or a side that seems weak
- No change after several weeks of the plan you already have