Reflux, Torticollis, and Back Arching
“Can torticollis and reflux cause baby to arch their back a lot?”
ANSWER - Reflux. is. so. hard! AND, it can absolutely be a big contributing factor to why a baby may be arching their back or extending their body! With reflux or any sort of belly discomfort, you may see arching of their back frequently in positions, even your arms - often it's thought to be related to trying to 'get away' from that discomfort, but it can absolutely ramp up during tummy time! That is also why you might see a baby who is struggling with belly discomfort roll from their belly to back earlier than we would expect, like in the first 6 to 8 weeks, because when that happens, it's often a sign that they are struggling with something and they may be extending/arching to get away from the discomfort, which results in an accidental roll.
Torticollis can often also goes hand in hand with reflux/belly discomfort AND in turn lots of extending/ arching. The theory behind that connection is that with the muscle that's involved in torticollis (the sternocleidomastoid primarily), which is responsible for tilling your head in one direction and rotating it in the opposite, ALSO is closely tied to the vagus nerve, which controls rest and digestion. The theory is that when that muscle is tight (and thus overactive), it can create over activity in that nerve as well, which can potentially contribute to reflux symptoms and belly discomfort even more!
So What Can You Do About Reflux?
Regardless, we KNOW that the stronger your baby gets through floor time and free movement, the quicker reflux improves- but how are you supposed to let your baby do that if every time you lay them down they spit up?!?!
The ultimate goal is obviously to be flat on the floor, but when that just doesn’t feel possible, here are some quick tips that may help build tolerance to floor time and reduce the discomfort they’re feeling:
Elevated back play on your legs or a pillow
Elevated tummy time- over legs (easy to play with the angle for increasing or decreasing difficulty- with knees MORE bent, it's easier for baby because they have a smaller range of motion to lift against gravity!) This can also be done over a boppy, couch cushion, etc. This one is great because the dip between your legs is typically right where their belly lays, so pressure on the belly is majorly reduced.
While sidelying on BOTH sides is important for general development reasons and symmetry, if your baby is really uncomfortable, focus on LEFT side lying first, as laying on your left side keeps the stomach below the esophagus, which allows gravity to aid in keeping stomach contents down.
**In sidelying- focus on dropping the top leg forward, bottom arm at shoulder height, a firm surface behind them to reduce tendency towards arching back, and a toy above eye level on a diagonal**
For babies 6+ months, tall kneeling against a couch cushion on the floor is another great alternative- this will give similar tummy time benefits (and pre-crawling skills) while reducing the pressure on their belly.
If you need to see these tips in action, you can watch this reel too!
Hope this helps!
Want More?
For developmental questions, tips and guidance related to milestones about tummy time, rolling & sitting, crawling and walking, check out KC’s developmental Masterclasses linked here.
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KC is a pediatric doctor of physical therapy, wife and mom of three! She has spent her career working with children and young adults of all ability levels, and currently specializes in birth to three years.
