“Is it really safe to get my newborn baby’s spine adjusted?”
We hear this question from parents of newborn babies all the time.
The short answer is: Yes!
In fact, Dr. Arpad DeNagy of the Rockefeller Institute completed research that determined that interference with the nervous system due to spinal misalignments results in serious damage within a short period of time. He recommends stabilizing biomechanical care as soon after birth as possible.
The second most common question is: “Why would an infant need chiropractic care?”
Many people do not realize that more than 80% of all infants suffer from injuries to the cervical spine (the neck) during the birth process. Dr. Towbin, a researcher in Harvard Medical School’s pathology department, found that even under the most optimal conditions, the birth process has the potential to cause brain stem or spinal cord injuries. Unfortunately, these injuries often go undiagnosed, resulting in ongoing problems that have a lasting impact on the child’s growth and development.
Trauma is the most common cause of subluxation (or spinal misalignment). Subluxation occurs when a spinal bone loses its normal position, restricting motion and irritating the spinal cord and nerve fibers that branch out between the spinal bones.
The birth process has the potential to be one of the most physically traumatic events of our lives. Labor and delivery are difficult for both mom and baby! Suboptimal positioning and prolonged labor can result in spinal misalignments.
Other causes of subluxation during infancy can be:
- Prolonged amounts of time in a car seat or other infant seat
- Rapid growth spurts
- Accidental falls from furniture
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Minor tumbles or more serious falls while learning to crawl and walk
When subluxations go undetected and uncorrected, they can interfere with a baby’s development. Subluxations can also impact sleep, which is crucial to the growth and development of babies and children.
In addition, spinal misalignments can be the cause of:
A chiropractor is the only health professional trained to detect and correct subluxations in patients of all ages. Infant spinal adjustments are very gentle, and infants tend to see results much quicker than adults since their subluxations have not been there as long. When an infant has an uncorrected subluxation, it can lead to significant problems later in childhood or even into adulthood. Correcting spinal misalignments early in life allows for an optimally functioning nervous system throughout your child’s growth and development.
At Family First Chiropractic, we make it a priority to check children because young bodies can repair themselves faster than older ones, and chronic childhood conditions that progress into adulthood lead to increased dysfunction and degeneration. Children in all developmental stages can benefit from chiropractic care.
How Our Chiropractic Care for Newborns and Infants Works
1. Help Them Advance Early
Our mission is to improve the alignment of the spine and the nervous system, which are essential for the proper development and function of the body and the brain.
2. Keep Them Healthy
Chiropractic care can prevent or treat common childhood issues such as ear infections, colic, asthma, allergies, headaches, and more, by enhancing the immune system and reducing inflammation.
3. Optimize Their Outlook
Our goal is to foster a positive attitude and a sense of well-being in your child by relieving stress, pain, and tension and promoting a healthy lifestyle and habits.
Common Childhood Conditions That We Help in West Omaha, NE
Colic
The 3-3-3 rule commonly defines colic.
Unexplainable and uncontrollable crying in babies 0-3 months of age:
- for 3 or more hours a day
- 3 or more days per week
- for 3 weeks or more
These episodes of crying usually occur in the late afternoon and evening hours. Colic is such a common condition that it affects up to 40% of children in their first year of life.
Colic is stressful for both parents and babies alike. Medical doctors have very few potential pharmaceutical options to address colic, and the available options lack effectiveness. Parents can find some relief for colicky babies with other interventions such as swaddling, warm baths, position changes, burping, rhythmic movement, white noise, or pacifier use. However, these interventions don’t address the root cause of colic.
A growing body of research shows that chiropractic adjustments effectively reduce or even eliminate colic symptoms. When a chiropractor can find and correct spinal misalignments, this can relieve excess pressure on the nervous system and allow better communication between the baby’s brain and body. While babies can’t verbalize the specific symptoms that are causing distress, correcting subluxations is likely to result in a reduction or elimination of pain or discomfort and restoration of function to one or more of the baby’s body systems.
In addition to chiropractic adjustments, the doctors at Family First Chiropractic can suggest other dietary changes, herbal remedies, and behavioral interventions to complement chiropractic adjustments. We can address specific colic symptoms and causes based on the individual child’s health history and examination findings.
Breastfeeding Problems
Breastfeeding has many benefits for infants. Breastmilk provides nutrition tailored to each baby’s needs, with easy-to-digest nutrients. Breastmilk also contains antibodies that help the baby’s immune system mature. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of SIDS, extra protection against childhood and chronic diseases, and superior gut health. Breastfeeding is one way to help build a strong emotional bond between mom and baby.
Breastfeeding can become difficult when the newborn or infant struggles to latch properly or even refuses to latch. Oftentimes, moms report that baby struggles more on one side. This is because the birth process can result in stress to the head and neck of the newborn, causing misalignments in the spine. These subluxations can interfere with the musculature and movement in the head and neck, causing the baby to be uncomfortable when feeding. Receiving specific, gentle adjustments from a chiropractor can eliminate pressure on the nerves, allowing for more mobility in the neck. As a result, babies are more comfortable moving their head to either side for nursing. Removing nervous system interference can also improve the suck-swallow-breathe pattern coordination necessary for effective breastfeeding.
Reflux
Everyone knows that babies spit up sometimes, but some babies seem to spit up all the time! When the baby seems uncomfortable, has an arched back, or fusses excessively after feeding, it is even more cause for concern. About 50% of infants up to 3 months old show one or more signs of reflux at least once a day. By four months, about 66% of infants show daily signs of reflux.
Infant reflux is most often caused by an underdeveloped digestive tract. The lower esophageal sphincter muscle, which stops stomach contents from traveling back up the esophagus, develops over time, and parents tend to see the reflux issue resolved by the time the child is 18 months old. This condition is commonly known as gastroesophageal reflux or GER. When reflux becomes more chronic and includes symptoms like coughing or choking, it could be considered gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD can damage the esophagus and impact the child’s quality of life.
Reflux conditions, including GER and GERD, can also be caused by growth spurts. When an infant has a period of rapid growth, vertebral subluxations can occur. These misalignments put pressure on the nerves controlling the upper digestive tract, interrupting the brain’s ability to control the digestive tract properly, resulting in reflux.
Another cause of subluxation resulting in reflux is the birth process. Suboptimal positioning in the birth canal and difficult or prolonged labor can both result in spinal misalignments that affect nerves controlling the digestive system.
Chiropractors are trained to detect and correct subluxations, move spinal bones into the proper position to eliminate interference, and help restore optimal function.
Ear Infections
The most frequent reason for physician visits for children under the age of 15 in the United States is Otitis Media, better known as middle ear infection. Approximately 10% of infants will experience an ear infection by three months, and 50% of children will experience at least three ear infections by age three.
Ear infections are the most common reason medical doctors prescribe antibiotics to children. However, bacteria do not cause all ear infections. Ear infections caused by viruses cannot be effectively treated with antibiotics. Recurring ear infections can also be a common problem. When children experience recurring ear infections, medical doctors often refer them for surgery to place ear tubes to address ineffective ear drainage.
Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of chiropractic care in helping infants and children overcome ear infections. Restoring spinal alignment and nerve function with chiropractic adjustments can help to ensure proper lymphatic drainage and Eustachian tube function, resulting in fewer ear infections. Choosing chiropractic care to address ear infections can result in fewer rounds of antibiotics and fewer surgeries for ear tube placement.
Delayed Motor Development
Young children grow rapidly, especially in the first year of life. As babies grow and develop, there is a predictable sequence of milestones for them to meet. These milestones are outward signs of both neurological and muscular development. Parents should monitor their baby’s physical development. Delays in meeting milestones—like holding up their heads, reaching for objects, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking—can be a sign of a musculoskeletal issue.
Allowing a child time to lie on both their back and belly daily permits them to move freely and work on strengthening essential muscles. If your baby has plenty of floor time for free movement and you are still seeing delays, this could indicate an interruption to the nervous system. When a spinal bone is out of place, it puts pressure on the nerves in that area, interrupting the communication needed for proper development. The musculature around the misaligned vertebra that would typically be working to stabilize that joint could be restricted, and impact its ability to strengthen and grow.
When a chiropractor sees an infant, the doctor can assess if all the joints of the spine are moving freely. If they are not moving as they should, gentle adjustments can correct the positioning of the vertebrae. This will allow for better movement and nerve supply in the previously restricted areas. As a result, the infant can experience improvement in both gross and fine motor development. If subluxations are left uncorrected, they can impede the physical and neurological development of the child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chiropractic safe for a newborn?
Yes! Chiropractic adjustments are safe for children of any age once they are thoroughly examined for subluxations and nervous system interference. At Family First Chiropractic, our doctors review every case and determine the best course of action for each child’s health and development.
Can chiropractic help with colic?
Many colicky babies experience reduced or even eliminated colic symptoms with chiropractic care. Adjustments can remove nervous system interference, making babies more comfortable throughout the day. Parents report that after receiving an adjustment, their baby is calmer, sleeps better & longer, and seems happy again.
How do I know if my baby needs a chiropractor?
Parents can watch for various signs that their baby may need chiropractic care, including:
- Feeding or sleeping issues
- Delayed growth or development
- Recurring ear infections
- Any sign that their baby is uncomfortable
The best way to determine if your baby needs chiropractic care is to schedule an evaluation with a chiropractor.
Should a child see a chiropractor for ear infections before putting tubes in their ears?
A chiropractor should examine the child to determine if subluxations are affecting the child’s nervous system and compromising the child’s natural defenses against disease. Chiropractic adjustments can remove nervous system interference and help restore proper function. Many parents like to explore less invasive options for addressing their child’s ear infections to see if they can avoid more invasive options.
Is an adjustment for a baby the same as one for an adult?
Adjustments for babies and kids are very different from an adult’s adjustments. Doctors are trained to use the smallest amount of force necessary to restore proper spinal alignment, so the pressure used to adjust a baby is approximately equal to the amount needed to check the ripeness of a tomato. Many times, when a sleeping baby is checked and adjusted, they don’t even wake up!
Book Your Child’s First Pediatric Care Exam
Exam includes in-depth whole-body analysis with provider, posture pictures and insight nervous system scans (provided if necessary). Consultation & plan of action will help you understand your care options.