Baby & infant physiotherapy in Brisbane

Some babies prefer to look in one direction during play, feeding or rest. A head-turning preference can occur with or without torticollis, so an assessment helps us understand what is affecting your baby's movement.

Torticollis describes a head tilt or difficulty turning the neck that may be associated with tightness in the neck muscles. We assess your baby's neck movement, posture and comfort, and look at how they use both sides of their body.

We work with you on gentle, individualised activities, handling and play positions that encourage comfortable movement in both directions. Any stretches are recommended only when appropriate and demonstrated by your physiotherapist, rather than forcing your baby's head to turn.

Plagiocephaly is an uneven or flattened area of a baby's head. It can develop when a baby spends a lot of time with their head resting in the same position, sometimes alongside a head-turning preference or torticollis.

Physiotherapy can address movement preferences and help you vary your baby's positions while they are awake and supervised. We discuss tummy time, carrying, feeding and play strategies that fit your baby's age, comfort and routine.

Safe sleep advice still applies: always place your baby on their back to sleep on a firm, flat surface, and do not use pillows or sleep positioners to change their head shape. If the head shape needs further assessment, we can recommend review with your GP or paediatrician.

We also support babies who find tummy time difficult, are slower to develop gross motor milestones or have trouble moving between positions. Sessions can focus on head control, reaching, rolling, sitting, crawling and the foundations for walking.

Activities are built around your baby's current skills and interests, with short, achievable opportunities for practice throughout the day. We help you recognise progress without comparing your baby to a rigid timetable.

We start by listening to your concerns and learning about your baby's birth history, feeding, sleep and daily routine. We then observe their head shape, neck movement, posture and early movement skills at a pace that suits them.

Together we agree on goals and a plan, with practical activities you can feel confident using between visits. We review progress and, with your consent, can work alongside your GP, paediatrician or other health professionals when additional support is needed.