Discuss the ability of a four-and-a-half-month-old boy to lift his head while lying on his stomach and the possible causes of torticollis, and provide professional advice.

Some babies have no problems with eating and sleeping. However, when they are around twenty days old, their mothers discover a lump on the right side of their neck that feels hard like a bone, while the left side is normal. I suspect it might be torticollis and wonder if it’s common for babies to have neck tilt. Infant torticollis is a common disease in infants and requires timely pediatric examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Currently, the most common method for checking infant neck deviation is with an ultrasound. For complex cases, laboratory tests and imaging studies may be necessary. The diagnosis of infant cervical curvature not only requires clear examination results but also needs to differentiate from diseases such as abnormal eye muscles, neck inflammation, and cervical deviation.

How should you massage a 2-month-old baby with torticollis?

There’s no need to worry about newborn torticollis. You can apply talcum powder or high-quality powder to protect the skin on the neck, then gently rub the affected area with the pad of your fingers, twice or thrice a day, for about 5 to 10 minutes each time. After rubbing, hold the baby’s head with both hands to perform passive neck exercises, such as gently bending the neck left and right 10 to 15 times, and rotating the head left and right 10 to 15 times. Additionally, when the child is suckling, allow the head to hang down to the healthy side, or support the head with your arm to tilt it towards the healthy side; this will provide excessive compensation. After adopting these methods, there will be a noticeable effect on both sides, and the patient can recover within 4 to 6 weeks.

A mother discovers a painless, hard, and smooth tumor in her 15-day-old daughter’s right sternocleidomastoid muscle, seeking possible causes and treatment methods.

If a baby’s head consistently tilts to the left, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly for a diagnosis of torticollis and to begin early treatment.

Understand the causes and the importance of early treatment for a four-month-old baby with torticollis, and provide professional medical advice for parents.