When we tell our big kid patients that we love to adjust little ones, we usually observes the same reaction every time. “You can adjust a baby?” Yes! In fact, we have seen some as young as two days old. “Why would a baby need an adjustment?” This is a great question—let’s explore this more.

The first year of life is one of the most important to a chiropractor. This is because the baby is learning how to sit, crawl, stand, and walk which leads to the natural S-shaped curve we see in the adult spine later in life. Coordination and balance are also being tested, which means it’s crucial that the nervous system function at its best to allow the signals to travel from the brain to all of the other parts of the body and back (not just muscles, but the digestive system and more). Regular chiropractic care for children is a great way to ensure that their body has as little stress as possible so they can grow up to be the best big kid they can be.

Sometimes children come to the chiropractor with a more obvious ailment. Our providers have helped children who come into the office with ear infections, acid reflux, torticollis, scoliosis, constipation, headaches, and much more. Chiropractic care for these little ones is much different than the typical adult. Depending on the developmental stage of the child, our providers make the clinical decision to use a gentle hands-on approach or use an instrument called the Activator to gently stimulate the nerves and mobilize the area of restriction.

If you want to learn more about the safety and efficacy of chiropractic care for children, please visit the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association website.