Written by Dr. Aliya Visram, Chiropractor and Acupuncturist at Yoga Mamas
One of the most frequent questions I am often asked by parents is – “Why does my baby or child need to see a chiropractor?”
To keep it short and sweet, I often ask my patients why they come in to see me for treatment? The most common answers include: “to feel good”, “to get aligned”, “to make sure my spine is in the right place and that my nervous system is working”. All great answers!
Now think of it this way – babies and kids have spines and nervous systems too! Essentially, the nervous system is like the information highway. It coordinates all types of bodily functions including breathing, digestion and immune responses. If the communication to the nervous system is interrupted misalignments (subluxations), we experience all sorts of information errors including pain, headaches, high blood pressure, digestive problems.
In babies and kids, this communication breakdown may present in various ways including poor sleeping habits, developmental/motor delays, digestion issues, difficulty breastfeeding and more. Often, a newborn baby could have experienced a difficult birthing process or suffered from distress during his journey through the birth canal.
Chiropractic focuses on restoring function to the nervous system so that the body can work optimally and efficiently; invariably, letting the body heal itself.
Chiropractic adjustments for adults differ greatly from those performed on children and are very gentle using light fingertip pressure. Most babies often fall asleep during treatment – mom win!
Here are my top 3 reasons why your child may need to see a Chiropractor.
1) Difficulty Breastfeeding
Issues with latching or maintaining a latch could be a result of baby feeling pain or discomfort with feeding position. Jaw and neck tightness can be relieved by gentle yet effective chiropractic treatment.
2) Head Tilt or Irregular Head Shape
Have you noticed that your baby tends to look to one side more than the other? This preference may indicate that baby has tight neck muscles or restricted joints. Neck restriction can also lead to flat spots at the back of the head. Seeing a chiropractor will help loosen any neck tension and help encourage proper range of motion.
3) Sleeping Issues
Many times pain or discomfort in the spine can cause babies to be so uncomfortable that sleep becomes interrupted. Chiropractic care may help to ease discomfort and help settle babies sleep patterns.
Taking these things in mind – it may be time to have your little one checked by a Paediatric Chiropractor.