I’ve been asked often, “Can you really adjust a baby?” The answer might surprise you, but the answer is “Yes!”. Just like adults, babies can experience misalignments in their spine, known as subluxations. These can occur during the birthing process, even with a “natural” and “non-traumatic” birth, or in the early stages of life.
You might wonder how a tiny baby could benefit from chiropractic care. Here are a few reasons we see babies at OWL Chiropractic:
Improved Breastfeeding: A gentle adjustment can help alleviate neck and upper back tension, making breastfeeding more comfortable for both mom and baby.
Reduced Colic Symptoms: Many parents report decreased colic symptoms after chiropractic care. This could be due to improved nerve function and digestion.
Better Sleep: Chiropractic adjustments can help relax your baby and promote better sleep patterns.
Overall Well-being: By ensuring your baby’s spine is aligned, you're helping to support their overall health and development.
We find many parents are hesitant to bring their baby to a Chiropractor because they don’t know what to expect. At OWL Chiropractic our first appointment for your baby includes a health, pregnancy, and birth history, infrared thermal scans (no radiation - perfectly safe for a newborn!), and a physical exam where we will check things like reflexes and mobility. Our second appointment for babies includes a review of our findings, treatment plan, and education on the benefits of chiropractic care. If the parents decide to move forward with care, we can start adjustments at the second appointment.
It's important to note that chiropractic care for infants is gentle and specific. It also looks nothing like an adult or even child adjustment. Baby adjustments utilize finger pressures with the same amount of force as you would use to check the ripeness of a tomato or put a contact in your eye.
At OWL Chiropractic we know that a correctly aligned spine throughout every stage of growth helps to ensure an adult spine that is aligned correctly. Once a spine reaches maturity (21-23 years old), the misalignments that were present prior become known as “chronic” issues. These chronic issues become very hard (if not impossible) to correct because the body has adapted to those misalignments throughout growth. That doesn’t mean we still can’t improve mobility, reduce pain, and increase nerve function for those who come to see us as adults - but getting the ideal structure back becomes less likely.
How soon can a baby be adjusted? We’ve adjusted many of our patient’s newborns a few hours after they were born! We welcome babies (and adults) of any age into our office.
If you have concerns about your baby's health or well-being, it's always a good idea to consult with your pediatrician. However, many parents find that chiropractic care complements their child's healthcare plan. At OWL Chiropractic, we believe in the power of gentle, effective care for patients of all ages. If you're considering chiropractic care for your baby, we'd love to chat with you.
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