PEDIATRIC CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Infants and children can experience joint restrictions, just like adults. These restrictions may affect nerve and muscle function, which can impact overall development and well-being.
No matter how your baby entered the world—whether through vaginal delivery or C-section—birth is a major physical event. During this process, a baby’s body and spine can experience significant pressure and strain. Having their spine gently assessed can help ensure they are comfortable, adapting well, and thriving from the very beginning. There is no minimum age for a pediatric chiropractic assessment. Care can begin whenever you feel ready.
Pediatric chiropractic adjustments are extremely gentle and tailored specifically for infants and children. The pressure used is comparable to checking the ripeness of a tomato. Chiropractors do not manipulate a baby’s spine!
Dr. Christina Bagnell, Dr. Lauren Holmes, and Dr. Michaela Farrow have completed additional training in pediatric care and are dedicated to supporting healthy development from birth onward.
WHY BRING YOUR BABY TO A CHIROPRACTOR?
Oral ties and dysfunction
Latching issues (breast or bottle)
Straightening of legs
Arching their back
Baby prefers looking to one side, and/or has a head tilt (Torticollis)
A flattened skull (Plagiocephaly)
Skipped or delayed milestones
Wellness visit
A HOT TOPIC: TONGUE TIES
An oral tie (or oral restriction) is a tongue, lip, or buccal (cheek) tie that impacts movement and function of your baby’s tongue. The tongue is a muscle, and its function is very important when it comes to infant feeding.
Signs your baby may be dealing with an oral tie:
Baby struggles to latch or stay latched
Gassiness or fussiness (Straightening of legs, arching back) during or after a feed
Poor weight gain or weight loss
Clicking sound on breast or bottle
Pain with breastfeeding
Changes to nipple shape with breastfeeding
The decision to revise (or release) an oral tie comes after a thorough assessment that takes into account the entire clinical picture at hand. ie; not just whether or not your baby has a tongue tie.
The take home: Oral ties require team work.
Collaboration is crucial between health professions. In an ideal scenario, the release provider (Dentist or Medical Doctor who specializes in this area), IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), and body worker (Pediatric Chiropractor or Osteopath) work together to improve overall outcomes.
FAQ
Do you “crack” a baby’s spine?
NO! Chiropractic care in a pediatric patient is completely different in comparison to an adult patient. As mentioned above, we use enough pressure to check the ripeness of a tomato, or a peach. We do not manipulate a baby’s spine!
Is there such thing as too much tummy time?
Yes! Anything in excess is not ideal, especially when we’re talking about motor development.
Excessive tummy time (especially on a flat surface) prior to the age of 3 months that is not matched with other positions may result in asymmetries in strength in the back and tummy muscles. Think about adding in sidelying play!
My baby is army crawling, is that bad?
No! Army crawling is typically a pre-requisite to crawling and will often occur for 3-4 weeks before transitioning to hand and knees.