Why Does My Baby Only Look One Direction?

Babies that only look one direction is a common cause for alarm amongst new parents. And for good reason! The human body is meant to move in all directions. To see your precious infant stuck looking one way is worrisome. Let’s dive into why this happens, what to do about it, and why it’s important to listen to that gut feeling that this isn’t normal or something to be ignored. 

Torticollis

When a baby is stuck looking in one direction, this is called torticollis. This condition can manifest in different ways. A baby’s head may be tilted, rotated, or a combination of the two. It is a very common condition and one of the most common reasons babies end up in my office for physical therapy. 

Though we often recognize torticollis because of the effect it has on a baby’s head and neck, torticollis is a full body issue that can have effects outside of just a baby’s head position. It can cause head shape changes (plagiocephaly), jaw tension that affects feeding, and also impact a baby’s motor milestone development. 

What are the common signs of torticollis?

There are several obvious signs of torticollis, and some that are less obvious. Here are simple things parents can look for to determine if their baby has this condition:

• Baby never turns to look to one side

• Baby cannot keep their head and face straight forward in midline with eyes level by 2 months of age

• Baby cannot track objects to one side

• There is a side body curve that is also persistent

• You can see asymmetrical neck creases from the back during tummy time

• There is flattening to one side of baby’s head

What causes babies to only look one direction?

The most common reason is body tension. This tension can manifest itself in baby’s neck, or it can come from further down in their chest, abdomen, or hips. I often find that babies who are stuck in one direction do so because of what we call a “line of pull.” Essentially what this means is that there is an area of tension in baby’s body, and because it won’t release, baby is being pulled into a position or posture. We can also see tension through the bones of the head and the jaw. All of these body tensions can be treated with gentle manual therapy and are extremely effective when babies are brought in for treatment early. 

Another reason for babies to only look one way is how they are being handled and held. Many parents have a favorite way of holding their babies, and it is often the same way day in and day out. This is no way a slap on the wrist for parents- we all do it. Sometimes I even think our babies train us to hold them in a position they like and prefer. However, when we start to see our baby only looking in one direction, we need to take a second and reflect on how we are holding them. If it is the same way all the time and it encourages them to continue looking toward their preferred side, we need to change up how we hold them. 

My favorite way to hold babies is tummy down. This completely removes pressure from the back of the head, allows them to strengthen the neck muscles by lifting the head up (and also gently pulls on the skull to reshape it in the case of any flattening that may be occurring), and it is a very soothing and secure position for them. 

The final common culprit that results in babies looking in only one direction is containers. Baby containers are anything rigid that limits your baby’s movement or doesn’t provide varied movement for them to respond to. Baby swings, bouncer seats, and car seats are the biggest offenders. Babies should be spending as little time as possible in these devices. They should be saved for when babies need to be in a safe place for a short period of time such as when a parent is making dinner or needs to shower. They should not be places where baby is napping or spending alert and waking hours. Because of the nature of these devices, there is persistent pressure to the back of a baby’s head and limited ability for them to move their bodies which creates a perfect cocktail of conditions that result in babies developing torticollis and only looking in one direction. 

What do I do about my baby looking in only one direction?

At the first sign of your baby preferring one side over the other, it’s important to intervene. You can start by simply turning their head yourself. However, if you encounter resistance, you never force a baby’s head to turn. If this is a challenge for you and baby, holding them in different positions, placing them to sleep with their head at the other end of the bassinet, or placing them down to play in different positions can be good starting points. If you are not noticing a change in your baby despite making these changes within approximately 2 weeks, then I advise parents to seek out a pediatric physical therapist. 

A physical therapist will do a full body assessment to get to the root of why your baby has torticollis and won’t turn in the other direction. You’ll get targeted intervention strategies to help your family. The sooner you start therapy, the faster you will see results. 

If you are local to Waukesha, WI, you do not need a physician referral for physical therapy. At Foundation Physical Therapy, we are passionate about early intervention. You can come right to our clinic as soon as your gut is telling you that your baby needs more help. 

Looking for more information about torticollis? Check out The Complete Guide to Torticollis In Babies.

Physical therapy for a baby who only looks one direction

FAQ

Will my baby grow out of looking only direction? 

Newborns will sometimes have a few days in a row where they prefer to look one way. Then suddenly you’ll find them looking the other way. This is a common occurrence and not something to be worried about. However, if it has been more than a week, you are starting to notice skull shape changes, or you notice that they cannot move out of that position, those are signs that your baby will not grow out of looking in only one direction and would benefit from physical therapy. 

Can my baby looking in one direction affect how they eat? 

Yes, it can. When there is tension in the neck muscles, it is often uncomfortable for baby to nurse on one side. It can also cause tension in their jaw which can make their latch painful and their suck/swallow inefficient. 

Can I turn my baby’s head while they are asleep? 

This is a great starting point, and I encourage parents to try this. Just remember to go slow so you don’t wake baby and never push through any resistance baby’s body might have as you turn their head. 

Dr. Sabrina Thorpe is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with a decade of clinic experience. She specializes in treating pregnant and postpartum women and their infants at Foundation Physical Therapy in Waukesha, WI.