Moms don’t need more red‑flag warnings from non‑mama professionals who only repeat what they learned from textbooks. What truly helps is hearing authentic stories from other moms: how they first noticed something wasn’t right, why they trusted their instincts, and what they wish someone had told them earlier.
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I'll go first - how did I know my baby had left sided torticollis:
On the tenth day after my son was born, my doula noticed he preferred to look to one side. She helped him sleep on his side and reminded me to pay close attention to his head shape.
Because he was underweight at birth, we had to return to the hospital regularly for developmental follow-ups. At our first check-up, as an anxious new mom, I prepared a detailed list of questions, including my concerns about his head shape and his preference for looking to one side. But the doctor was impatient: “Yes, the head is a bit flat, but just keep observing. The neck is fine, he can look both ways, that’s normal.”
At the local health clinic, I told the nurse that my son’s head shape looked unusual. She dismissed it, saying it was just from his sleeping habits and was nothing special. When I asked about tummy time, she replied that during the first three months, babies only eat, sleep, and poop, and that tummy time should only be started after three months to avoid hurting him. (I deeply regret following this advice. In reality, starting tummy time early is exactly what helps strengthen those neck muscles.)
Terrified of hurting him, I didn't dare put him on his tummy. Instead, I tried my best to let him sleep on his side, held him more, and let him lie on my chest. Over time, different flat spots developed on his head, making it look quite unusual, and my mother’s instinct kept telling me something was wrong. (Later, I became convinced that one of those flat spots actually developed from him lying on my chest with limited neck movement. I want to emphasize that a flat head isn't necessarily the result of 'container syndrome,' a lack of holding, or lazy parenting.)
By the time he was 100 days old, I went online and came across the term “torticollis” for the first time. The symptoms perfectly matched what I was seeing in my son.
I brought up "torticollis" at my next clinic visit. Hearing the word, the same nurse who had previously dismissed me instantly referred us to the doctor. Yet, that doctor still insisted: “Everyone has their own habits. You can see your baby is curious and looks around, that’s normal.”
Finally, during another hospital follow-up at four months old, a different doctor said: “I’ll refer your baby to a physiotherapist (PT).”
Thankfully, the referral came through quickly, and we saw the PT a week later. He examined my son and said, “Often there are false alarms about torticollis. Let me check… Oh, this is actually a typical case of torticollis. It’s rare to discover it this late (nearly 5 months old).” He even called over a trainee to observe, and immediately demonstrated the treatment exercises. My son cried terribly, but finally, the therapy had begun.
The PT explained that during a natural delivery, there is a chance of pulling too hard and injuring the baby’s neck muscle. This can cause a small lump to form, making one side of the neck overly tight and forcing the baby to habitually look to the opposite side. In other cases, the baby may have already developed this habit while cramped in the womb.
Apart from touching the neck to check for lumps, I noticed the PT mainly used two sets of movements to assess my baby’s recovery progress between 4 and 9 months old. I made a small reference diagram shown above based on my personal experience. If you have concerns, it is best to seek advice from multiple professionals as early as possible.
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A note on helmet therapy: Besides physiotherapy, I also decided to try helmet therapy. I know there is a lot of debate surrounding flat head syndrome and cranial helmets. But in our case, I am so glad I did it, even though the journey itself wasn't a pleasant one. I also wish I had known about the Perfect Noggin earlier, as I feel it is a fantastic preventative option if you are worried about head shape in the very early stages.
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A note on tongue tie: I learned that tongue ties should be checked, as some parents in Facebook support groups suggested they are closely linked to torticollis. I asked two different doctors about it, but both refused to examine my son, claiming it wasn't necessary to check and that a tongue-tie isn't an illness.
Later, I had the chance to ask my son's PT. He patiently explained the condition and showed me a tongue-tie assessment score chart. He asked if my son kept his mouth open or snored while sleeping. Initially, the PT reassured me that since my baby could stick his tongue out, it might not be tied, adding that a tongue-tie wouldn't necessarily impact his daily life. The PT even shared that he has a tongue-tie himself but speaks perfectly normally.
However, a pediatric dentist later brought up that my son has a tongue-tie during his first dental checkup. The dentist asked if we had experienced difficulties while breastfeeding, or if my son snores or opens his mouth while sleeping. In fact, we did struggle a bit with breastfeeding and latching during his very first month. Keeping the dentist's suggestions in mind, I will keep a close eye on him to ensure it doesn't cause any speech or sleeping problems down the road.
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