Is it torticollis that the baby likes to sleep on one side? Why do newborns like to tilt their heads?

Newborns have soft bones, so they need to be turned over frequently when they sleep to avoid a bad head shape. However, many babies like to sleep on one side or often tilt their heads, which makes mothers wonder if it is torticollis.

Is it torticollis if the baby likes to sleep on one side?

Torticollis is one of the reasons why babies sleep on one side, but in most cases it is not caused by disease, but the baby feels comfortable sleeping this way, which is related to the fetal position of the baby in the mother's belly. There are three reasons why diseases lead to sleeping on one side.

1. Regarding the diagnosis of torticollis, you can feel the child's neck muscles to see if there are any lumps. Every three months, the child should go to the pediatric health department for a routine physical examination. A color ultrasound of the neck can be done to help with the diagnosis.

Regarding the treatment of torticollis, currently it is mostly through manual massage, and it can gradually return to normal

2. Another condition that causes the head to always turn to one side is strabismus, which requires ophthalmology diagnosis and treatment.

3. The third reason for sleeping on one side is muscle tension, which can be relieved by massage.

In addition, children like to look towards the light and sleep towards their mothers, so you can change the direction of the child by changing the surrounding environment. Sleeping on one side for a long time will cause a flat head and an asymmetrical head shape, which will affect the appearance, so the family also needs to adjust the sleeping position appropriately.

Why do newborns like to tilt their heads?

The baby's head tilt is also called "torticollis". Medically speaking, this is due to the inconsistent strength of the muscles on both sides of the neck, causing the head to tilt or turn to one side.

Torticollis is a common phenomenon in newborns because the fetus is curled up in a small space. As the fetus grows, the space becomes smaller and smaller, so the fetus's neck will gradually twist to coordinate the body to adapt to the space in the uterus.

When your baby is sleeping, you can let him sleep on his back or on his side, and turn his head to the unaffected side.

When playing with your baby, adults should often play with the baby on the unaffected side. Put toys or things that the baby likes on the unaffected side so that the baby can stretch the injured muscles while playing.

Then go see a doctor and receive scientific treatment.

How to tell if a baby has torticollis

1. The baby's head always tilts to one side, but the chin tilts to the opposite side.

2. Flat head or tilted head, the face looks asymmetrical.

3. The neck feels tight, or a lump can be felt.

Torticollis in babies is a habit developed from childhood. Newborns spend most of their time sleeping and are always accustomed to sleeping on one side. At this time, adults should help the baby to let the baby sleep on the left or right side or lie flat. Otherwise, when the baby is four or five months old, the neck will be stiff and difficult to correct, and torticollis will occur.