Pediatric Chiropractic Treatment in Chicago
Chicago Chiropractic Care Pediatrics for Infants & Babies
Welcoming a new child to your home is a wonderful, crazy, life-changing event. That little one is the most important part of your life, so we want to make sure they get the best start in theirs. While you’re scheduling your child’s wellness checks, it is absolutely crucial to bring your baby into our pediatric chiropractor for their initial 5 wellness checks and exams!
I know what you’re thinking; I hear it all the time. “Why on Earth would a baby need to go to the chiropractor?” No one says it better than our family chiropractic practitioner, Dr. Schey, when she replies, “Even babies have spines!”
The early stages of life are a time of rapid development and change. From birth itself, which places a significant amount of strain on a newborn’s spine, to the many tumbles that come with learning to sit, crawl, and walk—there are many opportunities for small misalignments to occur. Chiropractic care for babies and children isn’t just about treating pain; it’s about promoting overall health, supporting proper growth, and ensuring their nervous system is functioning at its best.
At Advanced Spine & Sports Care, we specialize in Pediatric Chiropractic Treatment in Chicago, providing gentle and effective care that supports your baby’s growth from the very beginning.
Why Pediatric Chiropractic Care is Crucial
In the first year of life, a baby’s body and nervous system experience unparalleled growth, and it is crucial to ensure the nervous system is functioning properly during these critical months of growth. Pediatric chiropractic treatment aims to support healthy spinal alignment, which in turn promotes optimal nervous system function.
Some parents are initially hesitant to bring their baby to a chiropractor, thinking, “Why would my baby need an adjustment?” The answer lies in the natural stresses of early life. Even the process of birth itself can cause strain on a baby’s spine, leading to minor misalignments or subluxations that can disrupt the nervous system. These subluxations, while small, can affect everything from digestion to sleep quality, making early chiropractic care a valuable tool in your baby’s wellness journey.
Common Pediatric Issues That Chiropractic Can Help
Parents often seek out chiropractic care for their babies when they notice common issues such as:
- Colic: A colicky baby is a challenge for any parent. Gentle spinal adjustments can help soothe digestive discomfort and reduce crying episodes.
- Ear Infections: Recurring ear infections can be related to spinal misalignments, and chiropractic care can help improve drainage and prevent infections.
- Reflux: Gastroesophageal reflux in babies can cause discomfort, but chiropractic adjustments can assist with proper digestive function.
- Sleep Problems: Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep can sometimes be related to discomfort caused by misalignments in the spine.
- Difficulty Latching: For breastfeeding mothers, chiropractic care can help babies with latch issues by improving alignment and reducing discomfort during feeding.
These are just a few of the ways chiropractic treatment for babies and kids in Chicago can make a difference. By addressing these concerns early, you can help ensure your child develops without unnecessary discomfort or health obstacles.
The truth is, no one needs a chiropractor more than a baby in the first year of his or her life.
There is no other time in which a person’s body changes so much, so quickly! It’s not just their body doing the growing, either. Did you know that 65% of all neurological development occurs in the year directly following birth? It’s of the utmost importance that the nervous system is properly functioning during this explosion of growth and learning. Visits to our pediatric chiropractor in Chicago can also help with colic, earaches, gas pains, troubles latching, reflux, and sleeping problems.
The next question is always, “But what could even happen to a little baby to cause a subluxation in their short little life?” Well, actually, a lot. To begin with, birth itself! Most people suffer their first subluxation during their birth. Birth puts a lot of stress on the body of both the mother and her baby. Even a natural birth with no intervention puts a lot of force on that tiny little cervical spine! If forceps or cesarean are required for a safe delivery, even more, force is applied. It doesn’t take very much pressure at all to misalign an infant’s vertebrae.
Then, think about all the trips, falls, and tumbles they take while learning to sit up, crawl across the floor, pull his/herself up to standing, and, finally, to take those first, wobbly steps all by themselves! Again, it doesn’t take very much pressure at all to cause a subluxation at this age.
A very close third when it comes to frequent questions has to be, “But doesn’t such a small child get hurt or scared during an adjustment? Surely it can’t be safe for someone so little!” I think I know where it’s coming from. Most people don’t think to see a chiropractor until they’ve had a subluxation for a long time as an adult. They’ve developed long-standing muscle tension and have started to show symptoms of long-time nerve suppression.
However, chiropractic is more than solving painful problems. Our main goal is to provide holistic, preventative care before those problems even arise! If we can help rid your child of subluxations at an early age, the adjustment is as gentle as you would be checking a piece of fruit at the grocery store. There aren’t even any popping sounds until 6 months of age or even later. The doctors tell your child “Get ready to make some popcorn!” That way they’re expecting a fun, familiar sound.
As to the question of whether or not it’s safe, we’ll let our malpractice insurance rates speak for themselves. Chiropractors have the lowest rates in the entire industry! (Yes, lower than your pediatrician and Ob-Gyn.) That’s because insurers feel confident that a holistic, gentle, preventative, drug-free approach to pediatric care is safe.
Hopefully, now that you know chiropractic is essential, effective and safe, your only question will be, “So when should I bring my child(ren) in?” We’re hoping to see them for all the milestones, namely:
1. As soon as possible after birth
2. When s/he begins to sit up
3. After your baby begins to crawl, scoot, or otherwise move about the floor
4. When s/he first pulls his/herself up to standing
5. While s/he is practicing those first wobbly steps
Basically, the times your child is falling a lot are the times s/he needs the most support from a Doctor of Chiropractic. We wish you and your family the best of health, and hope to see you all in soon! Crawl ins are welcome!
The Importance of Early Chiropractic Care
Birth is an extraordinary event, but it’s also a physically demanding process for both mother and baby. The pressure exerted during birth, even in natural deliveries, can sometimes lead to misalignment in the baby’s delicate spine, particularly in the cervical (neck) area. These tiny subluxations might not be immediately noticeable but can later manifest in issues like feeding difficulties, colic, or general discomfort.
As your baby grows, they continue to face physical challenges as they learn to sit, crawl, and walk. Each tumble and fall, no matter how minor, can cause slight misalignments that may impact their development. Chiropractic care provides a gentle, natural way to ensure your child’s spine remains healthy and well-aligned during these crucial developmental stages.
How Gentle is Pediatric Chiropractic Care?
One of the biggest concerns parents have is whether chiropractic care is safe for infants. Rest assured, pediatric chiropractic adjustments are extremely gentle. In fact, the amount of pressure used during an adjustment on a baby is comparable to the pressure you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato. These gentle manipulations help realign the spine without causing any discomfort.
Unlike adult chiropractic adjustments, which may involve the familiar “popping” sounds of spinal realignment, adjustments for infants are often silent and performed with the utmost care. Many parents report that their babies remain calm, or even fall asleep, during the treatment. This gentle approach ensures that your child receives the care they need without any fear or pain.
