10 Signs Your Baby Needs to See a Chiropractor
What? Getting a Baby Adjusted?!
Taking your infant to a chiropractor might sound intimidating—especially if you’ve never been adjusted yourself! You might be thinking, what do you mean, someone is going to crack my baby’s neck?! No way!
Thankfully, that is not at all what a visit to a pediatric chiropractor looks like. So, let’s clear that up.
What Is a Pediatric Chiropractor?
A pediatric chiropractor undergoes extensive training focused on assessing and caring for children of all ages. The objective is to balance your child’s nervous system through gentle spinal manipulation.
So don’t worry, mama! There’s absolutely no cracking or popping involved. Adjustments for babies are incredibly safe and gentle. In fact, chiropractors use the same pressure to adjust your little one as they would to check the ripeness of a tomato. Some babies even sleep through their adjustments!
Okay, so maybe having your baby adjusted isn’t so scary. But why would you even bring them in?
Why Would My Baby Need a Chiropractor?
This specialized field can promote a spectrum of benefits in infants, such as aiding in digestion, improving sleep, soothing colic and reflux symptoms, supporting growth milestones, and more. Chiropractic care works to gently realign your baby’s spine and nervous system, which can help resolve issues that are often hard to treat.
Here are some of the top reasons to have your little one seen by a pediatric chiropractor:
1. Birth Trauma
After giving birth to my little one, I immediately felt the physical toll on my body. I knew I needed to get adjusted. Just like the mother, the birthing process takes a toll on a baby’s body, too. They’ve been in a cramped spot for 9+ months, followed by the challenging journey of being born. The birth process, whether natural or assisted, can exert significant pressure on a baby’s spine and cranial structures. Labor complications, use of forceps, vacuum extraction, or even a very rapid or prolonged delivery can lead to subtle misalignments in the infant’s delicate musculoskeletal system. Infant chiropractic care can help your baby recover from the strain and restore their body’s natural balance.
What to look for? If your baby shows signs such as favoring one side, discomfort when lying down or being held in certain positions, or an asymmetrical head shape, a visit to a pediatric chiropractor could be beneficial.
2. Torticollis or Head Tilt
Torticollis occurs when a baby’s neck muscles are tight or strained. Babies with this condition tend to hold their heads at an angle, favor one side, and have difficulty turning their head in both directions. Torticollis is often seen in newborns and can impact breastfeeding and overall comfort. This condition can result from positioning in the womb, birth trauma, or muscle imbalances and can even contribute to flat spots (plagiocephaly) on the head. Pediatric chiropractic care is a gentle, safe, and non-invasive option for helping to resolve torticollis in infants.
What to look for? If your baby consistently tilts her head, struggles to turn her head equally in both directions, or seems to prefer one side while sleeping or feeding, it could be torticollis. You might also notice difficulty breastfeeding on one side or discomfort when being held in certain positions. Chiropractic care can gently release muscle tension, improve mobility, and help your baby move their head freely and comfortably.
3. Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly)
Flat spots on a baby’s head are often caused by spending too much time in one position, such as lying flat on their back. This can result from a preference for turning their head to one side or underlying tension in the neck muscles. Gentle adjustments and mobility exercises can relieve tension and encourage proper head shape development. Addressing these issues early can prevent the need for helmets or other corrective interventions.
What to look for? If you notice flattening on one side of your baby’s head, difficulty turning their head equally to both sides, or a preference for facing one direction while sleeping or eating, chiropractic care can help.
4. Colic
You’re postpartum, feeling like your insides are going to fall out, trying to figure out a new normal, wondering when you last showered…and now your baby…
Won’t.
Stop.
Crying.
Colicky babies are no joke! Take a deep breath, mama—you’re doing an amazing job. Everything is going to be okay. While colic can feel overwhelming when you’re already navigating your new postpartum life, it’s very common, and there’s hope! A gentle chiropractic adjustment can realign your baby’s spine, improve blood flow to their brain, and often reduce fussiness and crying for good.
What to look for? If your baby cries inconsolably for hours at a time, has a rigid body, or appears uncomfortable despite being fed and changed, it could be colic.
5. Reflux or Spitting Up
Infant reflux is one of the most common conditions we see as pediatric chiropractors. Reflux occurs when the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach isn’t functioning properly, and the stomach contents come back up. While some spitting up is normal for newborns and infants, frequent or painful reflux may indicate an issue with the baby’s nervous system or alignment.
What to look for? If your baby spits up excessively, arches her back during feedings, or seems fussy, gassy, and uncomfortable after eating, chiropractic care may help.
6. Trouble Breastfeeding
There are few things more heartbreaking than struggling to breastfeed your baby. Whether you’re dealing with a painful latch or worrying if your baby’s getting enough milk, having her evaluated by a pediatric chiropractor can help. By assessing your baby’s neck and jaw, a chiropractor can relieve tension that might be preventing your little one from eating with ease. We are also trained in identifying oral restrictions and can inspect your baby’s mouth for signs of a tongue tie or lip tie.
What to look for? Signs like a painful latch, a weak latch or difficulty staying latched, blistered lips, a clicking sound while breastfeeding, favoring one side while breastfeeding, gas or reflux symptoms, a failure to gain weight/thrive, or frustration during feedings could indicate tension in your baby’s neck or jaw—or a possible tongue tie—that a chiropractor can help address.
7. Sleep Issues
Sleep is critical for both parents and babies. Your little one needs adequate rest to grow and develop all those amazing skills they’re learning! While it’s normal for your little one to wake up during the night, excessive restlessness or difficulty sleeping could indicate discomfort caused by misalignment in the spine or neck. Even small misalignments can put a subtle strain on your baby’s body, leading to disrupted sleep patterns. A gentle chiropractic adjustment can help restore comfort and calm, improving your child’s sleep patterns and leading to better sleep for the whole family.
What to look for? If your baby seems unusually fussy, struggles to fall asleep, cannot maintain a peaceful sleep for a reasonable duration, or has difficulty settling even after feeding and changing, these could be signs of disrupted sleep patterns that chiropractic care might help improve.
8. Constipation
Nobody likes to be constipated… yikes! Before jumping to medications, consider bringing your baby to a pediatric chiropractor. Constipation in children is sometimes a result of nervous system disturbances that affect the body’s digestive system. Gentle and precise adjustments can help release gas and improve blood flow, getting things moving—literally!
What to look for? If your baby strains during bowel movements, has infrequent bowel movements (less than once a day), has hard, dry stool, or seems gassy and uncomfortable, a gentle adjustment might help get things moving.
9. Not Reaching Milestones
Comparison is the thief of joy… seriously. As a parent, it’s hard not to compare your baby to others, especially if your child seems to lag behind in reaching developmental milestones such as holding up their head, rolling over, crawling, or walking. It’s important to remember that every child develops at their own pace, but regular chiropractic care can improve mobility and motor skills, helping your baby reach milestones.
What to look for? If your baby is showing significant delays in rolling, crawling, or other motor skills compared to her peers, chiropractic care can support their mobility and overall development. Also, look for abnormal crawling patterns, such as asymmetrical crawling, hitch-crawling with one leg out, scoot-crawling, etc. A normal cross-crawling pattern is especially important for a child’s brain and motor development.
10. Frequent Illnesses or Ear Infections
Your baby’s immune system is still developing, and regular chiropractic adjustments can help ensure that her nervous system is balanced and functioning optimally to support immunity. Regular chiropractic adjustments can also help our bodies fight off infections and regulate our immune responses.
What to look for? If your baby seems to get frequent colds, ear infections, or other illnesses, chiropractic care may boost their developing immune system.
Bottom line? There are so many reasons to take your baby to a pediatric chiropractor! If your baby is struggling with colic, reflux, torticollis, constipation, trouble breastfeeding, sleep problems, or delays in reaching milestones, pediatric chiropractic care can offer gentle, natural solutions. Introducing your infant or child to chiropractic care at a young age can be one of the best ways to help set them up for a lifetime of good health.
Next Steps
We’d love to help your little one feel their best at Well Family Chiropractic! Our office in Mequon, WI is focused on pediatrics, pregnancy, and family care. With a special interest in improving the lives of children with pediatric chiropractic adjustments, we want to give the kids a healthy start in life. To learn more about the benefits of pediatric chiropractic care or get started, contact us or request an evaluation today.
