“My baby doesn’t have back or neck pain, why would I take them to the Chiropractor?”
There are many benefits and reasons why you should take your new-born baby to see a chiropractor. At Spina Vita Chiropractic, we are here to help you, the parent, understand the variety of benefits that chiropractic care has to offer your little ones. First and foremost, chiropractors are trained professionals who can help your baby with a variety of musculoskeletal and clinical conditions.
Three reasons why chiropractic care is so important for infant health
Chiropractic care for babies stretches further than just neck and back pain. When it comes to improving and ensuring the health of babies, there are three important factors that are integral for optimum health – proper sleep, eating, and healthy bowel movements. It may sound simple but there can be a lot of complexities to the development and function involved in these processes and babies must be able to do them all at once, very quickly.
All three processes are controlled and regulated by the Central Nervous System, and this is where Chiropractic care comes in and can greatly assist parents of new-borns. A chiropractic adjustment stimulates the nervous system and relaxes the joints by using very gentle and specific techniques for babies.
Chiropractic health for your baby after childbirth
The birthing process can be very traumatic on an infant’s body. Minor musculoskeletal injuries – injuries involving muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons – are very common in new-borns, and unfortunately often get missed. Here’s an example – for a baby to just breathe, suck and swallow, they will use 22 bones, 60 muscles and 6 cranial nerves.
Restricted joints – joints that are stuck, misaligned, or fixated and can’t move as they are supposed to – can also cause a variety of problems because they directly affect a baby’s ability to turn their head and body to both sides. As a result, this can affect a baby’s ability to suck, swallow and digest their food. This leads to more stress on the baby’s system which will then affect sleep patterns and can lead to conditions such as colic, reflux, constipation etc.
Untreated musculoskeletal injuries can also lead to problems later on, which is why early detection of such injuries is very important. By incorporating chiropractic care into your baby’s routine can assist them in the early stages of their life.
What assessments does my baby get at a chiro appointment?
A normal paediatric chiropractic examination includes a complete postural assessment, with a full examination of the biomechanical features of the baby’s spine, neck, cranium and TMJ (jaw joint). Furthermore, the chiropractor will conduct a neurological examination where the primitive reflexes – such as the rooting and sucking reflexes – and cranial nerves are assessed. Finally, the chiropractor will perform a developmental examination, whereby all the appropriate developmental milestones are assessed.
Is it safe to take my baby to a chiropractor?
It is normal for parents to feel nervous about taking their babies to a chiropractor, especially if they’ve had chiropractic treatment before. However, it is important to understand that paediatric chiropractic treatment differs greatly from adult treatment.
Much gentler techniques are used, with soft pressure applied over the affected areas to have the desired effect. These techniques are not painful to babies and can even go unnoticed by most. They may cry just because they are not used to the positions or because they are being touched by a stranger.
Chiropractic care is an evidence-based practice which means that the techniques used have been researched at length to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
The main reasons why you should take your baby to a chiropractor are:
- Chiropractic care helps improve a baby’s recovery after birth
- Baby chiropractic appointments can lead to better sleeping, eating and bowel movement
- Chiropractic treatment can help assist common paediatric conditions
- Through assessment and treatment, a visit to the chiropractor can help make sure your baby meets all their developmental milestones
Chiropractor at Spina Vita specialising in infant care.
To find out more or to book a chiropractic appointment for your baby, get in touch with the Spina Vita team.
