Osteopathy for babies in Sheffield
Does your baby prefer to look one way?
We can help explore why your baby may favour one side, so that you can feel clearer about what’s going on, and confident about what to do next.
Testimonials
What our clients say
Helping you understand why your baby prefers one side
Many parents first notice something isn’t quite right when their baby seems to have a favourite side.
Perhaps they always turn their head to the left. Maybe feeding feels easier on one side than the other. Sometimes parents notice that their baby seems reluctant to look in a particular direction.
When you notice changes in the way your baby moves, it’s natural to have questions and want to understand why.
At The Osteopathic Practice, we’re here to listen, understand your baby’s individual story and help you feel reassured about what you’re noticing.
Supporting babies with torticollis
Torticollis is a term used when a baby consistently holds their head in a particular position or finds it easier to turn their head one way than the other.
You may notice that your baby:
- Prefers looking in one direction
- Finds it difficult to turn their head equally both ways
- Feeds more comfortably on one side
- Always sleeps with their head turned the same way
- Becomes frustrated when encouraged to look in the opposite direction
Sometimes parents discover torticollis because another professional has identified it. More often, they simply notice that their baby seems to have a strong preference for one side.
Every baby has their own story. At The Osteopathic Practice, we take the time to understand your baby as a whole, including their pregnancy, birth and early weeks, as well as how they move, feed and respond.
How we think about Osteopathy
Parents often come to us because their baby has been given a diagnosis such as tongue tie, reflux, colic, plagiocephaly or torticollis.
From an osteopathic perspective, we’re less interested in the diagnosis, but more in the baby in front of us.
We want to understand your baby’s pregnancy, birth and early experiences, and how their body has adapted along the way.
Rather than treating a condition, we use gentle osteopathic techniques to identify and address patterns of tension, strain or restriction that may be affecting a baby’s comfort and function.
By helping babies feel more comfortable in their bodies, we aim to support their natural growth, development and ability to adapt.
What is baby torticollis?
Torticollis is when a baby tends to hold their head turned or tilted more easily to one side.
It can become noticeable during the early weeks of life when parents begin to see that their baby consistently prefers looking in one direction.
Some babies may find it easier to look one way than the other, which can affect how they feed, rest and explore movement.
Rather than focusing only on the head position, we look at how your baby is moving as a whole and what may be contributing to their individual pattern.
Why does torticollis happen?
Babies spend a lot of time in certain positions during pregnancy and birth. After birth, some babies appear to find it easier or more comfortable to turn their head in one direction than the other.
When this happens, they naturally spend more time looking the same way.
Over time, this can influence how they move, feed and position themselves.
Rather than focusing solely on why this pattern developed, we’re usually more interested in understanding how it is affecting your baby now and what support may be helpful moving forward.
Recognising the signs of torticollis
Torticollis can sometimes be subtle, especially during the early weeks. Parents may notice that their baby:
- Always looks in the same direction
- Has difficulty turning their head both ways
- Feeds more comfortably on one side
- Sleeps with their head turned the same way
- Seems frustrated when looking in the opposite direction
- Has a preference for certain positions
Because babies spend so much time resting on their backs, a strong preference for one side can sometimes contribute to the development of a flat spot on the head.
This is one reason torticollis and plagiocephaly are often discussed together.
How Osteopathy can help
Every Happy Baby Check begins with a listening session. We’ll take time to understand your baby’s story, including:
- Your pregnancy journey
- Your baby’s birth experience
- Feeding and sleeping patterns
- How your baby moves and settles
- Anything that has been worrying you
The second part of the appointment is the comfort check. This is where we gently assess your baby’s movement, comfort and overall function.
When a baby has torticollis, we’re interested in understanding how easily they move, how comfortable they appear and whether there are patterns of movement that may be contributing to the head preference you’re seeing.
Parents are often surprised by how gentle this process is. There is no forceful manipulation, clicking or sudden movements. Instead, we use gentle osteopathic techniques to assess and support the baby’s comfort and movement.
Many parents tell us that having somebody take the time to listen, assess and explain what they are seeing helps them feel more confident about what is happening and what to do next.
How we work together
Book an appointment
Share your experience and feel heard
Get started on your baby’s customised treatment plan
A gentle approach to understanding your baby
Every baby has their own story. Understanding what has happened from pregnancy through to those first few weeks helps us build a clearer picture of how they are adapting.
Your appointment gives you time to talk through your concerns, ask questions and understand what may be happening.
We’ll gently assess your baby’s movement, explain what we notice and discuss whether osteopathic care may be appropriate.
If suitable, and with your permission, treatment can often begin during the same appointment.
Why early assessment can be helpful
Babies grow and change incredibly quickly during the first year of life.
When a baby consistently spends time looking in one direction, it can influence their movement patterns and the way pressure is distributed across the head.
This is why many families choose to seek advice sooner rather than later.
An early assessment gives you the opportunity to understand what is happening, receive reassurance and discuss ways to support your baby’s comfort and movement.
What happens during a Happy Baby Check?
Your appointment begins with a listening session, where we’ll take time to understand your baby’s journey so far, including pregnancy, birth experience, feeding, sleep and any concerns you may have.
We’ll then carry out a gentle comfort check, looking at your baby’s movement, comfort and overall function, talking you through anything that we notice.
If osteopathic care may be appropriate, we’ll explain everything clearly before beginning any treatment. Babies’ bodies are still developing, so we use very gentle techniques adapted to their age and stage.
There is always an opportunity for feeds, cuddles and breaks whenever they’re needed. We’ll make a recommendation about how many sessions we think will be required to have your baby feeling comfortable in their body.
Our aim is to help you better understand your baby and provide reassurance that comes from feeling listened to, supported and informed.
Frequently asked questions
Every baby is different. The timescale depends on factors such as your baby’s age, how long the pattern has been present and how easily their movement improves.
During a Happy Baby Check, we’ll discuss what we find and what we would typically expect for your baby.
Many parents choose osteopathy when their baby has torticollis because it provides an opportunity to assess their baby’s movement, comfort and overall function.
Treatment is always tailored to the individual baby and their specific presentation.
Specific exercises may sometimes be recommended by healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists.
During a Happy Baby Check, we can discuss any simple positioning or movement strategies that may be appropriate for your baby.
Gently encouraging your baby to explore movement in both directions during everyday activities can sometimes be helpful.
This may include thinking about feeding positions, where toys are placed during play and how your baby is carried or held.
Because every baby is different, we recommend an assessment first so advice can be tailored to your individual child.
No. You can book directly with The Osteopathic Practice without a referral.
Further reading
If you’d like to learn more about how osteopathy can support your baby and family, you may find these pages helpful:
