As a parent, you naturally only want the best for your children. So it can feel overwhelming and upsetting when you have an irritable crying newborn baby, and nothing you do seems to help.
fter some research, you may find that a baby chiropractor and chiropractic adjustments may help your baby or child. But that brings more questions:
Does it hurt? Is it safe? What can it effectively treat?
It can be even more overwhelming with the Facebook groups and parenting forums that claim chiropractic adjustment can help everything from colic to acid reflux to asthma.
Here is what you must know before taking your infant, baby or child to a chiropractor.
IS PAEDIATRIC CHIROPRACTIC CARE SAFE FOR BABIES?
Several studies have shown no adverse events resulting from chiropractic care for the infant. A study from the AECC clinic of over 7000 treatments found no adverse events with the most common side effect reported being better sleep.
What parent doesn't want better sleep for themselves and their families with newborn babies?
A pediatric chiropractor has trained to apply Chiropractic care is safe for newborn babies within the first several weeks following birth.
When it comes to child and infant care, chiropractic treatment usually focuses on physical assessments and holistic health advice followed by, if necessary, gentle manipulations or what a chiropractor calls gentle adjustments.
Your licensed family chiropractor will have been trained in performing age-appropriate chiropractic manipulation. Also known as spinal manipulation, these adjustments aim to restore motion and alignment in your baby's spine and skull. This can help improve your child's overall function and comfort.
You may recognise that these adjustments on adults frequently lead to the signature 'cracking' sounds you see in viral videos when a joint releases an air bubble. This might make you wary of taking your children to a chiropractor.
Not to worry: pediatric chiropractic care is modified for smaller frames and frequently involves gentle adjustments, spinal massage, baby massage and exercises. Children will not receive spinal manipulations the same way as adults do, so treatments will not result in that unsettling popping sound. The pressure of an adjustment on an infant is as much as gently pushing on your eyeball with your finger.
WHY WOULD YOUR CHILD'S SPINE BE MISALIGNED?
Misalignment of the Mother's Pelvis
Research suggests pelvic distortion (misalignment of the pelvic bones) can lead to misalignments of the spine (subluxations) and skull or head in a newborn baby.
Accidents falls or bad posture or previous traumas or injuries left uncorrected may cause the joints in the mother's pelvis to migrate into abnormal positions.
When the joints of a mother's pelvis are misaligned, the layers of muscles, ligaments and other connective tissue that surround a growing baby may be pushed out of position. Some research suggests this can result in an unequal tightness of the uterus and restrict the baby's movement within the pelvis. This is known as an intrauterine constraint which can affect the baby to turn.
As a baby grows, this movement restriction may affect the development of the spine, brain and nervous system. This restriction of movement may also affect the baby's brain stem's response and how they learn to move while in the womb.
Birth Stress
Research has shown that there is an association between difficult births and excessive crying, or infant colic. Which can be a challenging and stressful time, especially when things do not go to plan.
It has been suggested that difficult births can lead to neuro-musculoskeletal problems in infants and children. Particularly when they cannot sleep comfortably on their back.
Birth can be extremely taxing on a babys head shape (cranium) and spine, resulting in subluxations (misalignments) and severe cranial tension or a misshapen head shape or funny shaped heads in the form of brachycephaly and plagiocephaly.
The way this can show up is having difficulty feeding or experiencing an unconsolable baby, that has difficulty being in a certain position for any period of time or lying and sleeping comfortably on their back. This is normally protective to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
This can be exacerbated by more factors during the birthing process such as; false labour, abnormal labour times, failure of the cervix to dilate, the use of medicines to boost contraction intensity, the use of vacuum extraction or forceps and foetal distress.
Chiropractic care strives to restore balance and "unwind" stress and improve motion to enhance spinal and cranial function while eliminating nerve dysfunction and interference to bring comfort and soothe pain.
Other Physical Causes
The spine of a newborn is exceedingly fragile, and inappropriate handling by adults or older siblings may also contribute to vertebral subluxation in babies and result in a number of symptoms.
Occasionally, nerve, baby's skull(cranial) and spinal disorders cause children's heads to tilt to one side, causing one ear to sit higher than the other or result in a misshapen head shape. Unfortunately, accidents can also occur in which newborns fall from change tables or strollers, or adults carrying infants slip and fall.
Sometimes, a baby always looks to one side, or a child's head may be rotated or turned more to one side. This may merely be a preference of the baby, or it might have been propped in an unnatural position for extended periods of time, thereby causing neck pain or strain (torticollis) on the infant's spine and neck muscles.
Infant unable to turn their head equally in both directions can later result in an asymmetrical head shape or a flat head baby otherwise known as positional plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome (brachycephaly).
This may hinder the infant's ability to breastfeed or bottle feed efficiently and fully integrate into the world as they grow.
WHAT CAN PEDIATRIC CHIROPRACTIC CARE HELP WITH?
Chiropractic care mainly focuses on restoring the balance between the physical body and the nervous system to improve and restore motion and aid in the comfort of your baby.
Many parents have reported that their children's health problems, such as feeding, colic and sleep issues, responded favourably to regular chiropractic care despite the fact that chiropractic
does not 'treat' these particular conditions.
It is important to note that a chiropractor for babies is not a replacement for medical care and you should always consult with your midwife and GP alongside your paediatric chiropractor.
Chiropractors examine your baby's and child's spine, pelvis, cranial bones and neurological system for any imbalances or spinal misalignment. If imbalances are recognised and proper alignment and motion are restored, the body tends to be more comfortable and able to function better.
That said, here are some possible benefits of chiropractic care that might help you and your baby!
Colic Symptoms
Colic may be caused by a digestive system that is underactive or immature, leading to gas buildup and digestive problems.
Leaving this ignored may cause gas to become stuck in your infant's digestive tract, causing discomfort and bloating.
If your child's GP or paediatrician diagnoses them with colic, they might suggest drug therapy or merely wait for a child to outgrow the problem, which is commonplace in conventional medicine.
Gentle chiropractic manipulations to the spine and skull and specific baby massage over the ileocecal valve may stimulate nerve flow to the small intestines and promote peristalsis. This may help move gas and fluids through the body thus causing a relaxation response, more comfort and the baby to sleep.
Here is an example of what the ileocecal valve release looks like and a chiropractor adjusting a baby.
Ear Infections
Ear infections are another typical ailment that infants face. This condition occurs when extra fluid accumulates in the Eustachian tubes of the ear. When this component fails to drain, excessive pressure can build up in a baby's ears, causing infection and discomfort.
A chiropractor may aid in reducing birth-related trauma to the nervous system in infants and children. This is because chiropractic adjustments and specific ear adjustments may help alleviate pressure in the musculoskeletal system, which may unblock the Eustachian tube, thereby draining it.
Newborn Feeding and Breastfeeding
Have you noticed that your newborn baby may regularly wean from one breast but fuss more on the other side?
In these instances, the baby is likely experiencing a mix of pressure and discomfort to the nerves and vertebrae and muscles of the neck, or the jaw or skull bones. The strain on the baby's joints, muscles and nerves may not only create pain and discomfort but may also affect the transmission of nerve messages to the stomach and other digestive organs through changes in tone to the vagus nerve.
This is a common occurrence in infants, and trained chiropractors assist the body to improve posture, and restore balance and motion in the skull and spine thus assisting in positioning and comfort to assist with breastfeeding.
Furthermore, in the case of Life Balance Chiropractic, we work closely with midwives and allied health professionals to support new parents. Our combined experience and knowledge allow us to provide natural, safe and effective non-invasive care and advice for parents wanting to establish successful breastfeeding behaviours for their newborns.
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Improved Overall Health
The healthy functioning of your baby’s spine and nervous system plays an integral role in the overall health of your child.
Chiropractic can improve biological processes in newborns and older children, resulting in a happier baby. The nervous system is the body's central relay system, and when a child has problems with his or her spine, nerves, or muscles, it can lead to a variety of health concerns such as pain, irritability and discomfort.
In addition, when you ensure that their bodies are developing properly, they should feel happier and more active, leading to improved well-being.
LIFE BALANCE MAKES TAKING CARE OF YOUR FAMILY EASY
At Life Balance Chiropractic, your trust is our business, which is why we provide you with the knowledge to make an informed decision.
Utilising the philosophy, strength and innovation of chiropractic care, we have developed the Life Balance Method to create meaningful solutions when it comes to being recommended chiropractor for kids.
Our chiropractor for babies treat children, and pregnant women and have many years of experience treating babies through paediatric chiropractic
Life Balance is an award-winning provider of premium chiropractic services in the UK. We have a great team to help you determine the right option for you and your child. Our Chiropractic assistants will make sure you are 100% satisfied.
If you are looking for a baby chiropractor near me, live in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne, or the surrounding area schedule your enquiry about cost & availability today!
BRINGING BALANCE & JOY TO FAMILIES
Discover how our proven treatment processes have improved our patients' lives.
THE LIFE BALANCE DIFFERENCE
Step 1: CONSULT
Our experienced baby chiropractor international team do everything we can to create a pleasant, customised experience.
We take the time to listen and gather your unique health story, pregnancy experience and concerns regarding your baby in order to formulate the best care plan that supports your health goals.
Step 2: DISCOVER
We gather the most powerful data at every initial consultation. We use tests to find the cause of your baby's health issues, through our assessment of their structure and nervous system.
Step 3: REPORT
We analyze the results with you to accurately report of findings of your babies and children's spinal and physical development health insights.
Our baby chiropractor will help you feel certain about what the problem is, whether we can help your baby, and how long it will take to heal. We will also discuss no obligation recommendations for care and treatments moving forward.
Step 4: CARE
If we decide to work together, we will create a custom treatment plan for your baby and young children. This way, you can enjoy parenthood with a healthy and happy baby and child!
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THE LIFE BALANCE EXPERIENCE
Getting treated at Life Balance is a holistic, full-sensory experience that goes beyond just a spinal adjustment. Our premium price points allow us to provide you with the premium care you deserve.
Unbeatable Expertise
Our baby chiropractor has years of experience in chiropractic care have allowed us to create personalised plans that deliver optimal results quicker.
Prioritising Your Convenience
We've designed our chiropractic clinic to be easy to experience, with free parking in our car park, early opening times, and same-day new patient appointments.
Trusted & Accredited
Life Balance is accredited & registered with the General Chiropractic Council, British Chiropractic Association, United Chiropractic Association and royal college of chiropractors.
