Chiropractic and Kids: Adjusting Infants

Most people recognize the value of chiropractic care for adults, but a normally working nervous system can help everyone. Chiropractic care for children is very different from that for adults. Tailored to their age and weight, their adjustments often require no more pressure than you’d use to test the ripeness of a tomato. Assessing and treating children is a much different experience than one of an adult and involves very safe, gentle techniques.
 

 

There are many considerations involved with a growing baby but take into account the trauma of the birth process. Pulling, forcing and twisting a baby from the birth canal are common. Cesarean section, forceps, suction extraction or eager hands can cause functional problems, which can contribute excessive stresses to the baby’s cranium, spine and nervous system.

Without the language to explain what’s wrong, some newborns exhibit unexplained crying, a lack of appetite, or other difficulties. Newborns and infants often show a tendency to hold their head to one side or prefer breast-feeding from only one side. These are ways they cope with abnormal spinal function and an impaired nervous system. Chiropractors are alert to the many ways nerve interference can negatively affect your baby’s health.

It is common for children to receive chiropractic care. Furthermore, this care is safe. The ICPA presented preliminary results of their Practiced Based Research Network, listing three improvements with care noted by both doctors and parents involved in the survey:

• Improved sleep
• Attitudes and behavior
• Immune system function

When to Get a Checkup

There are various stages in development when rapid changes and additional stresses occur to the child’s spine and nervous system. These stages are ideal benchmarks to getting your child checked out. They are:

Stage 1: Within 48 hours of the birth process 
Stage 2: The2-month exam – child is lifting head up 
Stage 3: The 6-month exam – child is sitting on his/her own 
Stage 4: The 8-month exam – child is crawling 
Stage 5: The 11-month exam – child is starting to walk

It is also recommended to bring your child in to get assessed if they undergo any kind of trauma or accident. Regular adjustments can help kids heal quickly and can prevent issues from developing in the future.