Why You Should Take Your Baby To A Chiropractor

Many people are surprised to hear that children can benefit from chiropractic care – and this is completely understandable. Chiropractic care for kids is very different with that of adults – children are not “mini” adults, their little bodies function and move in a completely different way so should their chiropractic care .
“But why does a baby get spinal problems?”
Birth, a natural and beautiful process, often places significant strain on the baby’s spine, especially the neck. Sometimes when the birth is long or difficult, when there is intervention used (such as forceps or C-section) – the strain and stress on the baby is further increased. Some studies have indicated that birth related spinal trauma is as high as 80-95%.
As the baby starts to grow, develop and learns to crawl – this is not only a huge neurological milestone for the baby, but also a huge biomechanical challenge. Some babies can develop spinal or pelvis dysfunction, very similarly with an adult doing a hard workout after being inactive for so long.
As the child starts to walk, play and explore, they will endure many falls and accidents (hopefully mild ones), again causing imbalance in their musculoskeletal system.
“What are the signs and symptoms that my baby may have spinal dysfunction?”
Some common signs and symptoms, though not limited to, that can indicate your baby might be having some spinal and/or cranial issues which chiropractic can help with:
Breast feeding issues
Poor suck
Excessive crying or fussing.
Easily startled
Preferring one breast over another
Difficulty sleeping
Sleeping in the same head position all the time
Excessive dislike to tummy time
Misshapen head or a flat part on the head
Asymmetrical facial features
Medical intervention used during birth.
“So what does chiropractic care for my baby look like?”
Adjusting a baby is very different with adjusting an adult. The techniques utilised are gentle to suit their little bodies’ needs, very rarely is manipulation performed. Most of the time an adjustment involves gentle stretching and mobilisation which normalises and facilitates the function of the baby’s growing musculoskeletal system.
“Is chiropractic adjustment safe for my baby?”
The safety of Chiropractic is well-documented. In adult studies, where spinal manipulation are used, the likelihood of serious adverse reaction to be as low as one in 5.83 million, 5 times less likely than being struck by lightning) and 250 times safer than taking a course of anti-inflammatory. In children, where much gentler techniques (mostly without the use of manipulation) are used, the risk of chiropractic adjustments is extremely low.
Ideally, every baby should be have a Chiropractic assessment as early as possible for spinal and nerve dysfunction related to birth trauma, especially if there are visible signs observed (above). An assessment can reveal whether or not chiropractic can help, if not, appropriate referrals can also be made.
Ensuring your baby has a healthy spine and nervous system is important for their normal growth and development. Healthy babies, without spinal or nerve dysfunction, are happy babies.