Baby always sleeping with head to one side?

[ElizabethBennet]

I say this lovingly, really, but you need to relax. We all have positions that we favor when we sleep.

Are you worried about her suffocating or it causing neck issues?

[Deleted]

L did this. her head is perfectly straight now.


ETA:  and i used to gently nudge her back into upright position over and over.  until i caught my husband staring at me with the crazy eyes.  and realized how insane that was.  this early, just for sleeping, it's not like torticullis or whatever that is.

[alare]

Hmm, found this article from Mayo: www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-baby/PR00043

Think a girlfriend of mine had this happen, they ended up putting a helmet on the baby.

EDIT--Disclaimer: I have no kids and may be talking outta my ass. Your baby is probably fine!

[ElizabethBennet]

Jul 7, 2013 18:35:02 GMT -5 @theycalledherkate said:

Jul 7, 2013 18:33:27 GMT -5 ElizabethBennet said:

I say this lovingly, really, but you need to relax. We all have positions that we favor when we sleep.

Are you worried about her suffocating or it causing neck issues?

I am worried about it causing neck issues because I am reading about it in the Baby 411 book. They said don't let your baby sleep on her side and also that having her neck on one side too often can cause issues she would need physical therapy for. She's favored the one side since she was born.

Does she move her head around while awake? Does she seem to struggle turning it the other direction?

If it's just something she does while she sleeps then it is most likely the position she is most comfortable in and I'd let her stay that way.

[meganew]

Ollie had torticollis and slept like this. Sleeping with his head always to the right did cause him to have a flat spot on the back of his head which he needed a helmet for to help it round out. This was still going on at 4 months though- he would never look left, even when awake.

He went to physical therapy once a week for an hour for about 6 months and now he's great! We call it his Zoolander phase.

Harper is still really little, right? I would just watch it and bring it up at the next pediatrician appointment. Our dr could tell right away that he needed pt when she tried to turn his head left and he lost his shit.

I feel bad that I didn't bring it up sooner, I just didn't even know it was something to look for! I randomly said it half jokingly at the end of a ridiculous list of questions "Well, did you see his wonky toes? He still has hair on his back? Sometimes he makes weird noises while sleeping? And I don't think he likes to look left."

[nursewife]

Carter was like this and eventually diagnosed with torticollis. Not sure if it was from being breach, as Kendall was as well, or being in a major car accident. When he had better neck control we did physio, and tried to make him look at things to lift his head, and tilted him back and forth infront of a mirror to tilt his head. He hasn't had any more issues with it for a while now. Try not to stress. It only seems to be an actual issue in very few children. Hope your starting to feel better.

[keyslover]

DD2 favored one boob over the other (cannot recall if there was a sleeping issue) because of her head/neck. She had a quick entrance into the world with a suction I ended up bringing her into a chiro (no she didn't adjust her) that practices craniosacral therapy at 4 months old. It helped tremendously! She is now 2 and all is well.

From her website- Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands on, therapeutic technique that releases restrictions and restores normal movement to the body’s fascia. During a CST session the practitioner uses specific contacts on the cranial bones and sacrum checking for restriction of the fascia. Then using a light touch no more than the weight of a nickel, works with the body to release those restrictions.

BIRTH TRAUMA – releases restriction between bones of the skull from excessive moulding during birth, or injury caused by vacuum or forceps extraction.

COLIC & INFANTILE REFLUX – reduce restriction of fascia around musculature of the abdomen related to digestive problems.

TORTICOLLIS – reduces restrictions in the fascia of the musculature of the neck.

[TrudyCampbell]

I'd keep a look out for other signs of torticollis but if she's just sleeping like that I'm sure it's probably nothing. If you notice that she has trouble turning her head to the other side then it might be worth mentioning to the pediatrician, but even if it is torticollis it's really no big deal usually. Don't worry!

[sessy]

When she's awake can she turn her head to the other side? If so, then I wouldn't worry. My son's head was stuck to one side when he was born and we had to do physical therapy with him to stretch his neck muscles. If she can turn her head the other direction at other times all is probably fine.

[cleo29]

Jul 7, 2013 18:35:02 GMT -5 @theycalledherkate said:

Jul 7, 2013 18:33:27 GMT -5 ElizabethBennet said:

I say this lovingly, really, but you need to relax. We all have positions that we favor when we sleep.

Are you worried about her suffocating or it causing neck issues?

I am worried about it causing neck issues because I am reading about it in the Baby 411 book. They said don't let your baby sleep on her side and also that having her neck on one side too often can cause issues she would need physical therapy for. She's favored the one side since she was born.

That sounds like an alarmist type of book, not unlike What To Expect When You're Expecting.  at most, you can try turning her head to the other side to even things out, but I wouldn't sweat it. C would turn her head side to side during the night and K was prone to favoring one side. She is  totally fine, has no neck issues and is strong as an ox.

[redheadk]

Babies tend to turn their head away from the wall, towards the middle of the room. Try reversing the direction she lays when sleeping but she's probably just fine.

[hisno1girl]

Jul 7, 2013 18:35:02 GMT -5 @theycalledherkate said:

Jul 7, 2013 18:33:27 GMT -5 ElizabethBennet said:

I say this lovingly, really, but you need to relax. We all have positions that we favor when we sleep.

Are you worried about her suffocating or it causing neck issues?

I am worried about it causing neck issues because I am reading about it in the Baby 411 book. They said don't let your baby sleep on her side and also that having her neck on one side too often can cause issues she would need physical therapy for. She's favored the one side since she was born.

Hon, put that book away.

She just prefers that position for sleeping.

When she's not comfortable, she'll reposition herself.

[cst2cst]

Jul 7, 2013 19:25:58 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Babies tend to turn their head away from the wall, towards the middle of the room. Try reversing the direction she lays when sleeping but she's probably just fine.

Totally this. If you are worried, make sure you alternate which end her head is at when you hold her, change her, and put her down to sleep. DD had torticolllis from being a preemie and in addition to PT, we had to make sure we switched directions. She would always face out toward the room, or toward the person changing her so we'd flip which end her head was at and she would look the other way.

[looseseal]

Jul 7, 2013 19:25:58 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Babies tend to turn their head away from the wall, towards the middle of the room. Try reversing the direction she lays when sleeping but she's probably just fine.

I also used this method to remember which side I had nursed on last.  Head on the left side of the crib, nurse starting w/ the left boob.  It's nice for the middle of the night when you're too tired to think well. 

[pugz]

I find it best to not read parenting books. Come hang out on MMM with us

[daisybuchannan]

This is a reasonable question, especially given the responses that a few people had dealing w tort and flat spots.

My bffs son has tort and she noticed something was up bc he would only sleep w his head to one side.

V- keep an eye on it, mention it to your doc. I'm sure everything will turn our ok.

"Relax" responses aren't helpful when you're worried about your baby.

[ElizabethBennet]

Jul 7, 2013 22:07:49 GMT -5 daisybuchannan said:

This is a reasonable question, especially given the responses that a few people had dealing w tort and flat spots.

My bffs son has tort and she noticed something was up bc he would only sleep w his head to one side.

V- keep an eye on it, mention it to your doc. I'm sure everything will turn our ok.

"Relax" responses aren't helpful when you're worried about your baby.

Just to clarify my "relax" was not meant in a condescending way. I'm sorry if it seemed to come across that way.

[ErinExpat]

If she wants to mention it to her doctor, who cares? She very well may. I would like to think that I can use this board when my daughter is born, at least to bounce ideas off of the experienced moms. Peace of mind is valuable.

Harper is still very young, and V is a first-time mom. I don't think her post screamed, "OMG, I'm freaking out!"

I'm now a bit scared for how I'll be perceived in the future, and she's not even here yet. LOL

[mandymay]

My daughter always liked to have her head looking at the door (instead of the wall) when she was in her crib. She started developing a flat spot and we didn't really notice it until she was about three months old. We started switching which way we laid her down in her crib. One night her head would be facing toward her window, the next night it would be pointed away. She eventually started crawling when she was 6 months and the flat spot completely worked itself out since she was constantly mobile.
I'd say don't worry too much, but do try and take preventative measures. Also, talking with your pediatrician is a good start too. Baby 411 (and Google) got me through the first months with my daughter when I had an issue. I think it's a good reference book if you have an issue you're dealing with with your child.

[TrudyCampbell]

Jul 7, 2013 21:08:08 GMT -5 @theycalledherkate said:

Jul 7, 2013 19:15:20 GMT -5 sessy said:

When she's awake can she turn her head to the other side? If so, then I wouldn't worry. My son's head was stuck to one side when he was born and we had to do physical therapy with him to stretch his neck muscles. If she can turn her head the other direction at other times all is probably fine.

yes she can turn her head on both sides when awake, both when laying down and during "tummy time"

Then I really wouldn't worry. My DD had mild torticollis and she would refuse to nurse in any position where she had to turn her head to the left so it was really obvious. 

[emsumm]

Maya did that. She did start to get a flat spot on that side, the doc suggested I try to encourage her to lay on the other side, too. She would still flip back that way a lot, but there's no flat spot now :-)

[angelaa73]

Jul 7, 2013 21:08:08 GMT -5 @theycalledherkate said:

Jul 7, 2013 19:15:20 GMT -5 sessy said:

When she's awake can she turn her head to the other side? If so, then I wouldn't worry. My son's head was stuck to one side when he was born and we had to do physical therapy with him to stretch his neck muscles. If she can turn her head the other direction at other times all is probably fine.

yes she can turn her head on both sides when awake, both when laying down and during "tummy time"

that's all I needed to hear. she's fine. 

[sineadorebellion]

DD1 had and still only sleeps on her left side, no issues. DD2 did this and had torticollis, but she also had a host of other things like being breech and hip dysplasia, which according to her PT tend to go hand in hand. Your baby is probably fine, but if it turns out to be something like this, be comforted knowing that it's very common and treatable.

[randomlurker]

I lurk but your post has compelled me to register and post. My daughter has torticollis. It's no big deal, just some stretching exercises that need to be done at home. But the sooner you start the better. You want to keep your little one off their back for as much as possible when they are awake to keep the pressure off where the flat spot may form. Tummy time is really important too. Feel free to message me if you want more details. My daughter is "almost normal" now at nine months but it was a very different story at the start of the year.

[Deleted]

My daughter was also diagnosed with torticollis when she was about 6 months old, despite being able to turn her head in both directions. She favored her right side when she slept and I noticed that when she was sitting up (propped or on the swing) her head would lean in one direction. She had to go for PT for about six months and is fine now

All this to say that I think you have a valid concern, I would keep an eye on it.