Why Would A Baby Ever Need To See A Chiropractor?

I hear this a lot when people find out I’m a pediatric chiropractor. 

I get it. If you have only heard of chiropractic care for back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain or headaches, then a baby seeing a chiropractor seems really weird, right?

Most parents bring their babies to me for colic, reflux, constipation, spitting up, not turning their head both ways or torticollis.

Today I want to talk to you about colic, reflux, treatment options and how chiropractic care helps.

The digestive tract is controlled by the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system. This is the branch that controls resting and digesting, and is the opposite of the fight or flight branch, or sympathetic nervous system. 

Have you ever watched a baby being born? Contractions put a lot of pressure on the baby, and depending on how they are positioned in the womb, can put a lot of stress on baby’s spine, especially on the neck. When you think of them being pushed out of the birth canal, or pulled out of the belly during a C-section, you can see how additional stress on baby’s neck occurs. 

Spinal stress activates the fight or flight response and shuts down the rest and digest response. This can lead to colic or reflux or other digestive complaints like constipation or diarrhea.

Pediatric chiropractic is a safe and gentle treatment for colic, reflux and other common complaints in babies. By using gentle pressure (about what you use to check the ripeness of an avocado), the pediatric chiropractor can remove spinal stress which allows the parasympathetic nervous system to kick in, improving your baby’s digestion. 

If you are looking for safe and gentle colic or reflux treatment near you, consider finding a pediatric chiropractor. Our office is in Woodland Hills and we see parents from Simi Valley to Chatsworth and Topanga to Encino. 

Our consultations are always free, so if you have questions, call or text us at 818-661-6369.