Newborns & Infants

Chiropractic care can start as early as birth

At Empower Family Chiropractic, the reason that we advise that all newborns and infants seek chiropractic care truly all begins with the birthing process. There are many factors that can cause birth strain in a seemingly normal vaginal delivery including: a long or very short labor, failure of the mother’s cervix to dilate, the use of drugs to increase contraction intensity, the use of vacuum extraction or forceps, cesarean section delivery because of lack of progress, cord around the baby’s neck, incorrect positioning in the uterus or birth canal, or fetal distress.

As a result, the use of force has become routine in our modern birthing technique where grabbing and twisting of a baby’s head and neck are commonly used during delivery, or forceps and vacuum extraction. Any force applied to the baby’s fragile neck may cause stress to their delicate spinal cord and nerves, not to mention create immediate tension and underlying spasms in the muscles of the neck. Studies have shown that in adults and children alike, even the weight of a dime on a nerve disrupts feedback. Compare that to up to 90-140 pounds of pulling pressure applied during delivery and the question of having a newborn’s spine checked is easily answered.

Many parents bring their kids to Empower Family Chiropractic and work with Dr. J even though nothing seems wrong. They want to make sure their children’s bodies are in proper balance to stay healthy and build up their immunity.

How often should your newborn or child be adjusted by a chiropractor?

Ideally, babies should be checked and adjusted as soon as possible after birth to help alleviate spinal strain caused by constraint or abnormal positioning while in the womb, or undue stresses during birth. After that, I advise my parents that wellness check-ups be performed at least at each developmental milestone, like lifting of the head, crawling, walking, etc. The frequency of care is based on your chiropractor’s interpretation of the stress on your baby’s spine during his/her evaluation and how quickly their body’s adapt throughout the course of care. The same is true for if you’ve brought your child in for help with a specific condition like bed-wetting or ear infections.

Common conditions for Infants & Children presenting for chiropractic care include:

  • Frequent Ear Infections
  • Difficulty Breastfeeding, Especially to One Side
  • Bed Wetting
  • Autism or spectrum disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Lip tie
  • Tongue Tie or Ankyloglossia
  • Flat head or plagiocephaly 
  • Colic
  • Unexplained or Frequent Crying
  • Chronic Colds and flu
  • ADHD/ADD
  • Constipation or bloating
  • Eczema
  • Reflux or vomiting
  • Arching back
  • Torticollis or head tilt
  • Breathing Problems, Asthma
  • Frequent Urination 
  • Fatigue
  • Poor Posture
  • Stomach Aches
  • Sleeplessness
  • Unhappy for no reason or Depression
  • Delayed Motor Skills; Crawling or Walking
  • Neck and Back Pain
  • Headaches
  • Scoliosis