In recent years, there has been an upsurge in demand for chiropractic services. According to the Canadian Chiropractic Association, an average of 4.5 million Canadians include chiropractors in their healthcare plans. However, while you may have heard of chiropractic for adults, you’ve probably never heard of chiropractic for children.
What happens during a chiropractic consultation for kids? Isn’t it dangerous for babies to undergo this procedure because their bones are so delicate and soft? Find out what chiropractic care can do for babies here.
What Is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic treatment focuses on the spine, body joints, and their relationship to the neurological system. The chiropractor uses a controlled force to restore function and mobility to the joints during chiropractic sessions. Patients that visit for a session are usually healing from injuries, falls, or stress. It’s a painless, non-invasive procedure that patients can use to improve their mobility and ease their joint pains. Chiropractic is a treatment that can be used on almost anyone. Of course, it’s important for you to discuss with your regular physician whether or not this treatment is for you.
Chiropractic and Babies
Chiropractors apply pressure to an adult’s back, legs, and shoulders in order to make the essential corrections. Is it the same for babies? According to research, during labour, newborns are subjected to tension and strain, which can result in misalignment. The sleeping and feeding cycles of neonates can be affected by these misalignments. Furthermore, some scientists believe that the strain of childbirth causes spinal injuries, which can affect neurological development.
Chiropractors, however, do not apply as much pressure on babies as they do to adult patients since babies are so delicate. Some mothers claim that the pressure demonstrated by a chiropractor was as light as a person casually touching another. As a result, there is no harsh pressure, and certainly, none that could injure the infant. Chiropractic care strives to improve rather than complicate situations.
Most families also send their children to the chiropractor for torticollis, a transitory and treatable ailment characterized by a tight neck muscle that can be treated by chiropractors. Infants who have been diagnosed with ADHD, cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, and other illnesses can be treated by chiropractors as well.
Is Chiropractic for Infants Really Safe?
Yes, it is completely safe. There is no hard pressure being exerted on your child. These chiropractic adjustments are all delicate massages and light presses, and some babies may not even feel them. Even if it’s considered safe, however, always speak and consult with your pediatrician before scheduling a visit with a chiropractor. It’s also critical for you to seek out qualified professionals for your child.
The Benefits of Chiropractic for Infants
It’s risk-free, non-invasive, and effective. Here are some of the advantages that chiropractic appointments can provide for your child.
Chiropractic care:
- Helps ease symptoms of colic
Have you ever had days or nights when your kid is overly fussy and nothing seems to help? Colic is most likely the cause of your infant’s distress. Even doctors aren’t sure why newborns get colic, but some studies link it to gas or indigestion, overfeeding or underfeeding, and kid migraines. Before you take your child to the chiropractor, have your pediatrician diagnose them. The chiropractor will gently massage the stomach area to induce peristalsis, which will help the infant’s intestines clear themselves of the extra gas.
- Helps them recover from post-birth stress
During delivery, newborns are just as stressed as their moms. During birth, the infant passes through a tight canal, and the mother’s pushing can injure the baby’s spine. Both spontaneous and cesarean deliveries can cause birth stress in newborns. Some babies may mend these injuries or misalignments on their own, but others will require additional assistance. Sleeping, breastfeeding, and movement can all be affected by these misalignments. Babies can become more comfortable while they move and eat if a chiropractor gently addresses spinal misalignments.
- Boosts organ functions
Chiropractic can help a baby’s internal organs operate better by removing excess air from the intestines. That’s not all. While the spine is straightened, the newborns are no longer uncomfortable when they feed or move around. Because everything on the inside of the baby’s body is in order, they will perform better, which will result in a well-developed infant.
- Improves your baby’s immune system
Nerve pathways might become inflamed as a result of spinal misalignment. This issue doesn’t only affect one part of the body. It can even have an impact on the entire immune system. When a chiropractor gently massages and aligns the infant’s spine and decompresses the pinched nerves, it allows your baby to develop cells that can fight off diseases. It essentially improves your baby’s health and immunity.
- Supports your baby’s physical development
Babies develop quickly. They’re completely reliant on you one minute and then begin to walk the next. While they’re developing, however, it’s possible that if your baby has any spinal misalignment, it does not get fixed on its own. As your child develops, the misalignment may become more difficult to correct, resulting in a plethora of other problems. If your kid’s diet has been poor as a result of the misalignment, this lack of hunger and lack of nutrients can lead to several problems in the future. What’s more, your baby may not be able to reach the right weight and height for their age. When your pediatrician allows, get your infant tested for spinal misalignment as soon as possible.
- Helps decrease the chances of your baby sustaining a future injury
Checking and treating your infant for misalignments will guarantee that their body develops properly. However, if this is not done, it may result in balance problems as a result of another condition. It’s typical for your baby to have bruises, bumps, and twists as soon as they start crawling because they’re still quite unsteady on their own. While you can easily see and check for physical injuries, the same cannot be said for injuries that occur inside the baby’s body. Having chiropractors examine your baby’s overall health can help prevent serious injuries in the future.
- Helps them sleep better
Babies sleep better after chiropractic treatment. After just one visit to a chiropractor, most parents report that their babies sleep better and deeper. The adjustments made by the chiropractor help babies feel lighter and much more at ease, leading to a more relaxed disposition. Chiropractors for babies provide more than just the adjustments; their major goal is to ensure that the infant lives comfortably and safely.
Having your child’s misalignment treated early on can give them a better quality of life in the future. Chiropractic for babies, toddlers, and young children is effective and safe.
If you’re looking for a chiropractor in Waterloo, Ontario, contact Fairway Chiropractic at 519-748-5535 or email us at [email protected].
