If you think that chiropractic care is just for adults, consider that children and babies have a spine and nervous system, too.
A common misconception about chiropractic care is that it is just for adults with back pain. Babies and children greatly benefit from chiropractic care, too, and they respond quickly because they don’t have a long lifetime of poor spinal patterns. Their nervous systems and spines are generally very fluid and responsive.
In a study by G. Gutmann, it was estimated that 80 percent of newborns had some sort of nerve dysfunction at birth. Chiropractors are trained to address and adjust spinal misalignments that often result in nerve dysfunction. The nervous system controls the development of infants as they grow from infants to toddlers and into children and young adults. This is why any blocks in the nervous system are so vital to remove, so your children can grow up with the best possible expression of their nervous system.
Everyone benefits from having their nervous system function at 100 percent. How do you know if a child or baby needs to have his or her spine checked? For children, notice if they have had any falls, head bumps, or consistently struggle with coughs, colds, and ear aches. For babies, consider the birth process. In many cases, this is a traumatic experience with effects from the extreme force on the spine (especially the cervical spine/neck) from pulling, forceps, or vacuum extraction.
“The nervous system controls and coordinates all of the organs and structures of the human body.””
– Gray’s Anatomy
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Chiropractic is safe and effective for babies and children, although they may not have back pain. They often benefit from chiropractic care with improved posture, concentration, and an enhanced immune system. They are typically given light force, spinal adjustments with no pain or discomfort. As with anything, pick a chiropractor with a good reputation and experience adjusting children.
Learn More
Two websites with information on how and why kids should be adjusted are icpa4kids.org and welladjusted.me.
A holistic, parenting resource is Well Adjusted Babies: Your Complete Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Babies, and Beyond, by Jennifer Barham-Floreani.