09/03/2025
Ever notice your baby only turns their head to one side?
Maybe they always look to the left in their car seat. Or when you hold them on your right shoulder, they snuggle in, but on the left, they fuss and can't get comfortable.
It's easy to brush it off as a cute quirk. But often, it's a sign that something's up. This is one of the biggest things we look for.
What's usually happening is a tiny misalignment right at the top of the neck—at the C1 vertebra. This isn't a "broken bone," it's more like a kink in a hose. It creates interference in the nervous system, which causes the muscles in the neck to become imbalanced. We call this "neck tonicity."
This means one side is tighter than the other, so it's literally easier and more comfortable for your baby to only turn one way.
The problem is, this misalignment doesn't just affect turning. It messes with the crucial sensory input going to their brain. If the brain isn't getting good information from the neck, it puts the entire nervous system into a low-grade state of stress.
This can be the hidden culprit behind not just torticollis, but also feeding troubles, fussiness, and trouble settling.
The good news? It's something we can help with. Gentle, specific chiropractic care for infants focuses on correcting these misalignments to restore balance and reduce that nervous system stress.
If you're in the Maryville or Knoxville area and have noticed your baby favoring one side, it's worth getting it checked. Trust your gut.
Send me a DM if you have questions. We're here to help.