Why would a kid ever need to go to a chiropractor?
Isn’t my baby too small to be adjusted?
What age should a child see a chiropractor?
All of these are very valid questions and are among the more popular internet searches regarding kids and chiropractic care. The short answer is yes; kids need chiropractic care. They need it for many reasons beyond what people typically think, and this is why it is so inspiring to see the looks on a parent’s face when they tell me how much their child’s health is improving after they begin to receive adjustments.
For many parents, the thought of bringing their child to a chiropractor may seem invasive or unnecessary. For so many years, it has been ingrained in us that if our child is sick or having behavioral issues, you take them to the pediatrician. What we are finding more and more in our office is that parents are trying chiropractic care as an alternative to medication because they believe that their child is not reaching their FULL potential!
Let’s start with the WHY
When a baby comes into this world, traveling through the birth canal can be a traumatic process. Due to the pressure on the spine during birth, babies can often get misalignment (Subluxation) along their spine. The gentle adjustments that babies receive can help them recover from hard deliveries and possible birth trauma. We see these little ones in our office soon after birth and very gently help their bodies heal through specific adjustments to their spine and cranial bones.
As the infant grows, learning to hold up his or her head, sit, crawl, and walk are all activities that affect spinal biomechanics and alignment. In fact, it is in the first year of life that the spine begins to develop the proper curves and sets that child up for their overall spinal health for life! These milestones are an important time to have a child evaluated by a chiropractor. Chiropractic for babies offers a proactive approach and helps babies achieve developmental milestones and avoid impaired nervous system function down the road.
How are these adjustments made?
Adjusting a child is much different than adjusting an adult. Instead of the harsh movements people often associate with chiropractic care (which we do not use…stay away from YouTube!), adjusting a child is very gentle and specific and uses no more pressure than you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato. It is gentle, it’s specific, and it is life-changing.
What are the benefits?
Children benefit from chiropractic care in many ways, but some of the most common reasons children come to Excelsior Family Chiropractic are:
Reflux/GERD - Colic/Irritability
- Sensory Processing Disorders
- ADHD
- Bed Wetting
- Ear infections
- Boost their Immune System
- Constipation
- Asthma
- Sleep Disturbances
Some babies don’t have the typical symptoms listed above. Sometimes, the effects of their spinal misalignment don’t show until they’re much older and have structural issues within their spine and nervous system.
One of the most common reasons for parents to seek chiropractic care for their child is physical trauma from an injury of some sort. The spinal misalignments that may occur at the time of the injury will not necessarily result in immediate pain or symptoms. In addition to physical stress, parents should be aware that emotional and chemical stress affect the child’s nervous system and may also warrant a spinal check-up.
Regular chiropractic check-ups can identify potential spinal dysfunction resulting from these stresses, and chiropractic adjustments may help to enhance future function and well-being.
At Excelsior Family Chiropractic, we have a passion for helping families stay healthy and grow healthy. We are here to help families take a more conservative approach to their child’s health before diving into expensive medications and unnecessary procedures. In the end, we all want one thing, our kids to be the healthiest version of themselves possible!
If you want more information about how chiropractic care can help your baby or child, or if you would like to join our Facebook community where we share tips and tricks for raising healthy families, click HERE.
For additional questions about what it might be like for your infant or child to get specific chiropractic care, message us here, or give us a call, (636) 345-4816.
Because “I wish I would have known” shouldn’t have to be your story!
Excelsior Family Chiropractic
17684 Chesterfield Airport Rd.
Chesterfield, MO 63005
(636) 345-4816
Social Account links
https://www.instagram.com/excelsior.chiro/
https://www.facebook.com/ExcelsiorFamilyChiropractic/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFOxIOAUH6IldEPO8PTLgEw
