If you are like most new or expectant mothers and fathers, the months spent ‘waiting for baby’ are filled with advice from friends and family, hours researching what to expect and, of course, lots of excitement!

Did you know that one of the most important things that you can do for your new baby is get him/her adjusted?

I know many people tend to shy away from the idea or perhaps reject it altogether saying things like “I don’t want to injure my baby,” or asking “How can a baby even have any back pain?” The answer is this: the birthing process is traumatic for newborns and their tiny bodies are often knocked out of proper alignment as a result. Many subluxations won’t present themselves as back pain, but will appear through other symptoms like difficulty sleeping, nursing or even colic.

Studies have demonstrated that 90% of all newborns suffer birth trauma along with strain to the neck and cranial areas. As a result, their joints may not be working properly (just the same as an adult who has suffered trauma to the body might experience).

Did you know that your baby’s first year of life will also be the period of time when the spine is lengthening nearly 50%?

With all this growing and shifting going on, you will want to help your baby stay healthy by making sure that he or she is properly aligned so that the spine can grow symmetrically.  By getting adjusted, you will also help your baby develop a healthy nervous system. If the nervous system does have problems, the growth and development of the child can be permanently impacted.

Some of the most common ailments which are treated with chiropractic care include the following:

  • Colic
  • Difficulty Nursing
  • Nerve Damage
  • Fussiness
  • Sleeping Issues

As children age, there are more conditions that are commonly treated with chiropractic care as well:

  • Ear infections
  • Bed Wetting
  • Nervousness
  • Headaches
  • Sleep Problems
  • Scoliosis

…and so many more!

If you are still concerned with the safety of chiropractic care for your child, consider the following fact – it’s estimated that only 1 of every 250 million pediatric chiropractic adjusts results in any adverse outcome. That is safer than most medical procedures and the benefits are plentiful. In fact, the CDC found that chiropractic care for children is the second most common form of alternative medicine for children.

Many times, regular chiropractic adjustments can result in less “fussiness,” improved reflux and even an improvement in colic. These issues are often tied to subluxations. For example, when a baby is fussy and has sleeping problems, there is likely a misalignment occurring at the top of the neck.

Another point to keep in mind is that pediatric chiropractic adjustments are not done with the same pressure as an adult adjustment. In general, the amount of pressure that will be applied to the joints of a newborn is comparable to the amount of pressure you can apply to your eye without pain.

It’s normal to be a bit apprehensive at the thought of anyone treating your baby but time and time again, chiropractic care proven to be a safe and effective way to treat the trauma of birth and the stress of growing rapidly.

If you would like to know more, feel free to contact me for a consultation!