Recently, several of my patients (especially soon to be moms) have come to me asking how soon they should bring their newborns for chiropractic care after being born? The answer is as soon as they want. Many moms and dads want to take time to bond with their baby, and that’s completely fine! Your baby can wait until you feel ready. However, at times, some babies can go through trauma during birth. The labor process can place a great amount of stress on the infant as well as the mother. Chiropractic care shortly after birth can help to correct any issues caused during birth. If baby seems to be colicky, tilting their neck to one side (torticollis), having latching problems, are example of symptoms newborns present that might be caused by restrictions on their bodies.
Infant adjustments are extremely gentle. There is no audible (“cracking”). The pressure applied is comparable to the force you use if you place your finger on your eyelid and press gently. An adjustment on babies will look like sustained pressure, gentle massages, or small compression. We can also create movement by using an instrument called an activator.
Infant to Toddler
Later in life, when babies turn into toddlers, they start falling frequently. This is completely normal! But falling might start causing restrictions on the toddler’s body. For example, their neck or back can get tweaked a little after a fall. Regular chiropractic care can help to correct any structural restrictions resulting from daily activities such as learning how to walk, play time, and more.
It is never too early or too late to begin chiropractic care for your child. If you want to know more about chiropractic for infants and adults, you can contact me at drdelgado@clechiropractic.com. I’m here to help!
Dr. Shirley