Infants, Babies and Chiropractic Care

Infants, babies and small children are all born with the same spine and nervous system that we have as adults.  Just the same as adult spines, the "wee smaller" spines can also be subjected to stresses that can lead to subtle misalignments.

In one study conducted my medical doctors, published in the Manual Of Medicine in 1987 by Dr. G. Gutman, 1250 babies were examined 5 days after birth.  Out of the 1250, 211 of the babies were suffering from gastric distress and sleeplessness.  95% of the 221 babies were found to have subluxations in the upper neck.  Subluxations are slight misalignments of the spinal bones.  

The most common cause of subluxation in this age group is the actual birth process. When the infant is being delivered, the doctor guides the baby with a pulling force through the baby's head and neck.  The vast majority of time the head is rotated to one side as the doctor pulls.  This force places an abnormal stress on the spine and can cause the subluxation.

In the study cited above, the infants were given chiropractic adjustments and almost immediately there were improvements in the baby's health which included: quiet calm, cessation of crying, muscular relaxation and sleepiness.

The authors reported in the study that a baby with spinal alignment issues could result in central nervous system impairment, lowered resistance to infection (ear, nose and throat).

In my experience with 30 plus years as a pregnancy care  and pediatric chiropractor, the children who have subluxations in their neck and do not see the chiropractor care seem to be the children that develop health issues such as colic, croup, ear infections, ADHD and even asthma.

After 9 months of pregnancy and prenatal chiropractic care, the next logical step is to have your baby checked for subluxation of the upper spine.  The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association recommends that in a babys 1st year of life there are 6 times that are extremely important to see the chiropractor.

1. After the birth process

2. When the baby starts to hold their head up

3. When the baby sits up

4. When the baby starts to crawl.

5. When the baby starts to stand.

6. When the baby starts to walk.

I would add, also anytime you notice that your baby has had a tough fall or when ever the baby has symptoms of a cold (chiropractic's immune system benefits).

Chiropractic care is 100% natural, no drugs, medications or needles and babies love to get adjusted.

FYI:  Infant chiropractic care is not the same as an adult. NO bending, twisting, cracking, just gentle, low force pressure with our finger tips and our very low force adjusting instruments (which the older kids call our tickle gun). 

Author

Dr J. Zimmerman, Chiropractor Dr. Zimmerman is a practicing chiropractor from Galloway, NJ with 30 years of chiropractic practice.