Chiropractic Care for Infants & Children

New parents have a thousand questions about how best to care for their new baby and how to ensure that baby is on the path to a healthy life.  Pass Family Chiropractic offers a holistic approach to healthy childhood development and the treatment of common childhood ailments in a natural, non-invasive way. 

Dr. Allison Pass graduated Sherman College of Chiropractic in 2013 and has continued her education for pediatrics and pregnancy. Dr. Allison is certified in the Webster Technique for pregnant women and has completed an additional 300 hours of chiropractic care for pediatrics through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. 

When a new baby makes his or her arrival, families have to adjust to new schedules, develop new habits, and learn to care for a tiny human unable to effectively communicate it’s needs and desires. A baby’s cries can mean so many different things—hunger, discomfort, pain, tiredness, a spoiled diaper, a need for comfort, or any number of other things. For sleep deprived parents, figuring out what a cry means can be frustrating, especially after trying every possible remedy. A gentle chiropractic adjustment can make a big difference.

“When a child has an active issue going on, within six visits during a 2-week window, we generally see a decrease in symptoms, if not completely eliminated,” Dr. Pass explains. “I’ve had some infants and children respond after one treatment while others have responded after four treatments. Treatment times vary between patients and the severity of the issue.”

Parents, especially those whom have not experienced much chiropractic care themselves, may be hesitant to consider the practice for their new baby. Dr. Pass assures parents that pediatric chiropractic care is gentle, safe, and beneficial for baby. 

“Infant and child adjustments are very different from an adult adjustment,” says Dr. Pass. “Adult adjustments can range in force and patients may hear audible popping sounds. Infant adjustments use a very light vibrational pressure applied by the chiropractor’s finger.”

Dr. Pass compares the amount of pressure used during an infant adjustment to the amount of pressure you would apply over your closed eyelid without causing discomfort. 

“On the first visit the baby may be a little squirmy and may even cry, but most of the time babies sleep right through their adjustments,” Dr. Pass says. 

Children relax during subsequent visits, and even begin to look forward to them!

“I have toddlers who run into the room before their parents, climb on the table, and lay there to wait for their adjustment. Parents tell me that their child will ask them every week or two if they can go visit the chiropractor,” say Dr. Pass.

Children are rough on their bodies. Learning to crawl and walk as well as developing spatial-awareness comes with many tumbles, splats, face-plants and falls after knocking one’s head on a table. All of these minor impacts add up and cause spinal misalignment issues. Regular chiropractic visits through childhood can locate and correct misalignments in your child’s spine before they develop into a more serious problem. This can decrease and eliminate discomfort that your child may not be able to effectively communicate to you. The following are common pediatric health issues that chiropractic care helps with.

Cholic & Sleep Problems

Long bouts of crying multiple days (or nights) in a row make many parents feel helpless. Chiropractic care safely and naturally eases symptoms of cholic, with crying reduced by up to 50%. Many parents also experience infants who wake frequently during the night—more often than required for regular feeding. Spinal adjustments performed by a qualified chiropractor can help infants (and older children) achieve better sleep by allowing them to lay more comfortably due to proper spinal alignment. 

Torticollis

Latin for “twisted neck,” torticollis is an imbalance in strength between the long muscles on either side of the neck; this imbalance can be the result of the baby’s position in the womb or as a result of the birthing process. An infant with torticollis may have trouble turning his or her head to track a parent’s movement across a room, sit or lay with their head always in the same direction, or, if breastfed, have a difficult time transferring from one side to another.

Ear Infections

Spinal adjustments have been shown to strengthen the immune system and reduce the frequency of ear infections. Chiropractic care for infants and children suffering frequent ear also decreases the need for antibiotics, overuse of which can result in greater amounts of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Digestive Issues

Many infants experience acid reflux, constipation, and gas which may cause minor discomfort or acute pain. Some infants may spit up handfuls of milk at a time while others may have more severe projectile vomiting. Signs that your baby is experiencing severe pain include inconsolable crying, a very ridged body and tight muscles, never relaxing into parents’ arms when being held, and always having tightly clenched fists.) Gentle spinal manipulation can help alleviate many of these digestive issues.

Combined with regular well-child checks with a pediatrician, infant and child chiropractic care can pave the way for a lifetime of health and happiness. “If a parent is interested in bringing their child in for well checks it is recommended to do so monthly,” recommends Dr. Pass.

Pass Family Chiropractic is located at 2245 Stantonsburg Road, Suite B in Greenville. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 252.751.3866 or visit PassFamilyChiro.com.