Have you noticed more and more infants and young children seeing chiropractors? There is a good reason why and the answer is simple: whether we have an “adult size” spine or a tiny human spine, if that spine is creating nerve interference due to a spinal misalignment (subluxation), then our magnificent bodies cannot operate smoothly as it was designed.

The nervous system is the master controller of the body and if its pathways for sending messages from the brain into the body is disrupted, becomes distorted, fuzzy, or damaged, then we experience all sorts of communication errors. For infants and children, this ineffective communication may present as colic/irritability, poor latch/difficulty with breastfeeding, bad sleepers, digestion issues (let’s talk constipation- kids should be pooping every day), behavioral problems, headaches, etc. – the list goes on. Regardless of what symptom your child may be experiencing, all roads lead back to one common issue: the nervous system’s inability to self-regulate and adapt to life at it’s peak potential.

While chiropractic may be able to help with a number of these health concerns, our focus is not treating or curing ailments; our focus is ensuring the nervous system has every chance to work efficiently and effectively.

How do little kids get subluxations/spinal misalignments and nerve irritation? In more cases than not, our children are born with their first subluxation that developed in-utero due to abnormal positioning, intra-uterine constraint, exposure to toxins, and the birth process itself. The birth process is a major stimulus that creates a subluxation from long, arduous labors, vary fast labors, the use of forceps or caesarean delivery. The result of physical, chemical, and emotional stressors which are ‘insults’ to our health create an environment in our bodies that we are no longer able to adapt to these stimuli on their own, thus resulting in the subluxation and reduced capacity for the body and nervous system to function at the greatest capacity. When we appreciate how important the nervous system is and how easily it can be altered it makes sense that all children deserve to have a well-adjusted spine and high functioning nervous system as part of a healthy lifestyle.

10 reasons parents take their kids to see a pediatric chiropractor:

1. To maximize brain plasticity (did you know the brain grows 2.5-3x from baby’s birth to first birthday?)
2. To enhance the child’s overall health and wellbeing.
3. To strengthen immunity, reduce the incidence of colds and ear infections prior to the start, and support the body through allergies.
4. To improve spinal posture.
5. To improve their child’s ability to focus and concentrate (yes, kids naturally have energy! But they need to be able to focus, too).
6. To help with colic and irritable baby syndrome.
7. To help with asthma and other breathing difficulties. (the nerves in the upper back control the function of the lungs).
8. To assist with behavioral difficulties and enhance emotional well-being.
9. To alleviate digestive problems (again, let’s get these kids pooping more regularly).
10. To assist with bed-wetting and sleep issues.

Your child’s health is their greatest asset. Major Bertrand DeJarnette, a founding father and major developer of pediatric chiropractic states that “the only true subluxation you ever see is in a child prior to the age of 7 years [after this, our subluxations are compensatory] and left uncorrected, will become a primary source of stimulus through life. The remedy would of course be careful chiropractic care from birth through the seventh year of life.”

Dr. Melanie Schwitters earned advanced credentialing in pediatric care from Palmer College of Chiropractic. She is a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatrics Association and is certified in the Webster Technique which is specifically designed to care for pregnant mothers.