Should I get my baby adjusted at the chiropractor?
We are asked all the time if a new baby should get chiropractic adjustments or if bringing a baby to the chiropractor is even necessary. Here’s what we advise new parents at our clinic in the Steele Creek, North Carolina area.
Having a baby comes with many new routines including feedings, bathing, and figuring out sleep and wake windows. A routine to consider implementing for your new, growing baby is investing in chiropractic care.
Dr. Lauren doing a very gentle chiropractic adjustment on a new baby
Babies spend months cramped inside the womb which puts stress on their head, neck, and spine. In addition, the birth process is often traumatic on a baby’s body which can cause imbalances in their overall health. The majority of babies endure misalignments during the birth process due to pressure on their neck and spine. Getting a baby adjusted at the chiropractor can ensure proper realignment and functioning of their entire system.
As your baby grows and learns, their brain and body experiences falls, stumbles, and trying to learn and process countless new skills. For all these reasons and more, chiropractic care is beneficial for your baby’s optimal growth and development.
How chiropractic care can improve your baby’s health and development
Chiropractic adjustments are beneficial for everyone at any age, but there are additional benefits for babies which include:
Improved breastfeeding
Decreased ear infections
Improved reflux
Improved sleep patterns
Strengthened immunity
Chiropractic care to improve breastfeeding
Research shows chiropractic care for infants can help with nursing and latching problems.
Breastfeeding is a journey that can occasionally be frustrating for new mothers and babies. A struggle to latch may be the result of improper positioning in the spine and neck. Research has concluded that this can directly impact a child’s ability to nurse. With proper realignment of the spine, the baby may be more comfortable to latch and nurse.
Chiropractic care to decrease ear infections
No one wants their child to experience ear pain and discomfort, which is why chiropractic adjusting is beneficial for decreasing or eliminating these issues. Sometimes fluid builds up in the baby’s ears and could result in an ear infection. When the function of the tubes are restored with adjustment, the baby is less likely to experience ear pain and infection.
Chiropractic care to improve reflux and sleep patterns
Getting a baby adjusted helps reset their parasympathetic nervous system which aids in their digestion, metabolism, and relaxation. When this system is reset by frequent adjustments, the baby’s body is able to properly digest and rest more soundly.
Chiropractic care to strengthen immunity
In today’s world, we want to take all possible measures for maintaining a healthy immune system such as exercising, consuming nutrient-rich foods, and taking supplements. Chiropractic adjustments should most certainly be included in these routines! Frequent adjustments help to maintain maximum functioning for our immune system. The nervous system communicates with the entire body, including the immune system. Because the immune system is directly connected to the spine, getting adjusted can boost immunity by up to 200% according to studies.
How Soon After Birth Should My Baby Be Adjusted?
A baby can begin getting chiropractic adjustments as early as hours or days after birth! Because most neurological development occurs within the first year of life, we suggest getting baby checked as soon as possible after birth.
95% of infants have misalignments after birth. An estimated 60-90lbs of force is used on an infant’s neck during "normal" delivery. Chiropractic care helps the baby’s system with realignment.
How Often Should My Baby Get Adjusted?
The frequency of adjustments varies for each individual according to the level of need. If there are no issues, then at the very least one adjustment per month is suggested to maintain proper growth and development. If there are issues such as latching or colic for example, then the frequency of adjustments will need to be more often.
If the labor and delivery was traumatic, even if the baby displays no symptoms of trauma, our preference at Golden Family Chiropractic is to see the baby more frequently to promote optimal development.
What to Expect With Baby’s First Adjustment
During the first adjustment, there will be an initial consultation discussing the baby’s history, birth experience, current symptoms, and goals for the child. There will also be a physical exam where the baby lays in a pillow to be evaluated by Dr. Lauren. She will check the primitive reflexes, signs of hip dysplasia, and neurological tests to ensure proper functioning. The next phase of the physical exam includes a gentle spinal and cranial exam, followed by the adjustment.
How Do You Adjust a Baby?
Babies are adjusted using different techniques than an adult adjustment. Adjustments for babies are very gentle.
At Golden Family Chiropractic, Dr. Lauren Golden uses less force than required when checking the ripeness of a tomato or avocado. Dr. Lauren is skilled at identifying areas of misalignment and will adjust accordingly. This could be as gentle as the touch of a finger to improve alignment.
ICPA Certification
Dr. Lauren Golden is an ICPA certified chiropractor. This means she completed an additional course of study for prenatal, postpartum, and pediatric chiropractic care. This certification provides further insight into adjusting techniques for women and children, evaluation methods, and how to assess for proper development.
If you’d like to speak with Dr. Lauren about getting your baby chiropractic care, book an appointment here.
