Torticollis, Flat Head, and Feeding Issues: There’s a Natural Solution | Franklin TN Pediatric Chiropractor

Torticollis, Flat Head, and Feeding Issues: There’s a Natural Solution

If your baby is struggling to turn their head to one side, has a noticeable flat spot on their head, or seems frustrated and inconsistent during feeding — you’re not alone. These are some of the most common concerns we hear from parents across Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill, and Thompson’s Station.

What you might not have been told is that all three of these challenges are often connected by a common root issue—tension and imbalance in your baby’s nervous system.

Let’s break it down and talk about what’s really going on—and why neurologically-focused chiropractic care can be the breakthrough solution you’ve been searching for.

What Is Torticollis, and Why Does It Matter?

Torticollis is when your baby favors turning their head to one side or has difficulty rotating their neck. It can be mild or severe and often shows up:

• Shortly after birth

• As difficulty nursing on one side

• As a tilted head posture

• With crying or stiffness when changing positions

This head-turning preference often leads to plagiocephaly, or flat head syndrome, because your baby is putting pressure on the same part of their skull day after day.

What Causes Torticollis and Flat Head Syndrome?

Most cases of torticollis and flat spots stem from birth trauma and tension in the upper neck and spine, especially in the muscles and joints surrounding the brainstem and vagus nerve.

This tension may be caused by:

• In-utero constraint (baby stuck in one position late in pregnancy)

• Long or difficult labor

• C-section delivery

• Forceps or vacuum assistance

• Induced or overly fast labors

The result is a misalignment or subluxation that irritates the nervous system and limits your baby’s ability to move freely or comfortably.

Feeding Struggles? There’s a Neurological Link

If your baby also struggles with:

• Latching inconsistently

• Feeding longer on one breast than the other

• Clicking noises or gasping during feeding

• Gagging, reflux, or poor weight gain

…then the tension caused by torticollis may also be affecting the cranial nerves and vagus nerve—both of which are crucial for coordinated suck-swallow-breathe patterns.

We see this often in our Franklin chiropractic office, especially in babies who were diagnosed with:

• Lip or tongue ties

• Reflux or colic

• “Just a fussy baby”

• “Weak latch” or “lazy feeder”

Why Chiropractic Care Helps

At Three Nails Chiropractic, we take a neurological approach to pediatric care, beginning with a full evaluation of your baby’s spine, nervous system, and cranial balance using safe, non-invasive INSiGHT Scans.

These scans help us identify:

• Nervous system stress

• Imbalance in muscle tone or spinal alignment

• Areas of subluxation causing poor nerve communication

Our gentle, specific adjustments (no popping or twisting!) help:

• Release tension in the neck and spine

• Improve your baby’s ability to rotate their head freely

• Balance vagus nerve function to improve digestion, sleep, and feeding

And when the nervous system is calm and connected, everything works better.

Results We See Every Day in Franklin

Parents often come in with concerns about a flat spot, latch issues, or stiff neck… and within a few adjustments, they begin seeing:

• Improved head rotation

• Easier breastfeeding

• Less reflux and gas

• Better head shape symmetry

• More relaxed, content babies

This is the power of restoring proper function at the root level.

👶 Your Baby Deserves to Thrive, Not Just “Wait and See”

Many parents are told to wait it out or try helmets and feeding therapies later—but addressing the root cause early can save months of stress and struggle.

✨ For the rest of this month, we’re offering free neurological INSiGHT Scans for new babies experiencing torticollis, flat spots, or feeding challenges.

🔗 Click here to schedule your baby’s consultation + free scan

📍 Not in Franklin? Find a PX Doc near you →

You weren’t meant to walk through this alone. At Three Nails Chiropractic in Franklin, TN, we’re here to support your baby’s development and help your family thrive—naturally, gently, and with answers that make sense.

Let’s uncover the root and start your baby’s healing today. 💛