One of the most common questions I’m asked is “Should my baby be checked by a Chiropractor?”. The real question: “Why is your baby NOT under chiropractic care?!?”.
Before we can answer why infants should be checked by a chiropractor, we have to understand what chiropractic is. Chiropractors work with the nervous system- the information highway that coordinates all of our bodily functions including breathing, digestion, and immune responses. When the spine is misaligned, the nerve messages are interrupted and result in impaired nerve function. If left uncorrected, this can dramatically affect the health of a child. Chiropractic adjustments correct the misaligned vertebrae and restore proper nerve function, allowing the child to live each day at their maximum potential.
Why would my baby have nerve interference?
A recent study showed that 80% of infants have some sort of nerve interference from the birth process. Unfortunately, this problem is under-publicized and under-treated. During the average birth, a doctor will use 60-90 lbs of pressure to pull the baby out of the birth canal. The likelihood of nerve interference only increases with additional birth trauma: prolonged labor, drugs used to increase contractions, vacuum/forcep extraction, or cesarean section delivery. Imagine the effects this can have on the infant’s spine and nervous system!
What happens when there is nerve interference?
In most cases, infants may not present with any symptoms initially. Other times, newborns may experience colic, irritability, difficulty feeding or latching, eczema/skin irritations, digestive issues, sleeping problems, or neurological defects due to impaired nerve function. If this is left undetected and uncorrected, these problems may develop into learning difficulties, sensory impairments, asthma, allergies, ear infections, hyperactivity, or other health problems as the child matures.
So why is chiropractic important this early in life?
Given that 65% of a child’s brain and nervous system development occurs during the first year of life, it is imperative to ensure that your baby has every opportunity to maximize nerve function during this crucial period! Each child deserves to live life at his or her optimal level.
Is chiropractic safe for kids?
Chiropractic is extremely safe for children and adults! Infants are adjusted much differently than an adult counterpart because of their small size and age. The infant adjustment consists of a gentle fingertip contact applied to specific areas of the spine.
Get Involved
Do you take your children to a chiropractor? We’d love to hear your reason for starting, or not starting, care for your entire family. Please leave comments below!
