Does My Baby Need to See a Chiropractor?
On episode 79 of the Learning to Mom Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Kim Tran, owner of Revive Chiropractic and Wellness.
During our discussion, we talked about muscle and tension issues that may require your baby to visit a chiropractor. We also talked about long-term problems that can arise from not visiting a chiropractor.
Eager to learn more about this topic??
Don’t forget to tune into episode 79 of the Learning to Mom Podcast, “Should Your Baby See a Chiropractor Pediatric Chiropractor? Benefits, Misconceptions, and What to Expect with Dr. Kim Tran | Ep. 79” for details!
Why Should my Baby see a Chiropractor?
There’s a wide variety of reasons why you should take your baby to see a chiropractor.
You should consider taking them if they have:
Torticollis- A spasm in their neck. Causes their head to tilt more to one side.
Problems with feeding: A lip or tongue tie, reflux, choking
Digestive issues
Sleep issues
How do I know my Baby Needs to see a Chiropractor?
There are several signs that mean your baby should visit a chiropractor:
Constant spit-up
No bowel movements for an extended period: Your baby should be going every day, but a 5 to 10-day period, etc. is concerning.
Pain during breastfeeding: Need to check baby for oral dysfunction
Baby starts to roll at 1-month (too much tension in body) or if baby hates their car seat
If you just sense that your baby is uncomfortable or in pain
Other indicators:
Baby is inconsolable
Intolerance of tummy-time
Baby takes a long time to feed (longer than an hour)
What to Expect During a Pediatric Chiropractor Visit
Generally, your first visit to the chiropractor will probably include these components:
History- A chiropractor will want to know facts such as how your pregnancy went, how birth went, etc.. This will help their assessment.
Exam- Touching your baby’s head and/or neck. Chiropractor will also examine the inside of their mouth to check oral function.
Adjustment: Once a chiropractor has looked over your baby, they will decide if anything needs readjusting or realigning.
Overall, your first visit should last about 30-45 minutes. Subsequent visits will depend on why you’re going.
During these visits, a big thing a chiropractor will test is your baby’s range of motion.
Poor range of motion is a big indicator of some changes that may need to be made (less time in the swaddle, etc.).
Why are Developmental Milestones Important? (Which ones?)
As new moms, we’re all concerned about our babies developing properly, especially since this experience is completely new.
The type of milestones your baby will hit is dependent on their age.
So, what milestones should you look for?
3-4 months: Tummy time transitions to rolling. This is a huge milestone! This change influences essential parts of physical development
6-7 months: Baby can crawl on hands and knees
9-10 months: Baby can stand independently
1 year: Baby is walking on their feet (not tiptoes)
Paying attention to your baby achieving these milestones (or not) will inform you whether or not you should see a chiropractor.
Now this isn’t to say that the ONLY expert to see is a pediatric chiropractor, but they can help so much with different things, but might be a great place to start!!
A chiropractor can help you know if your baby’s development is on track.
How Often Should my Baby see a Chiropractor?
Depending on how your baby is doing, you may need to take them to a chiropractor every week or so.
The frequency of visits differs from baby to baby.
What can happen if you don’t seek assistance from a chiropractor (or another expert on these signs)
Later in life, your child could experience:
Worse sleep & toilet habits at night
Low hand-eye coordination
High anxiety
Failure to regulate emotions/behavior
These behaviors are all indicators of a compromised nervous system.
So, is a Visit to a Baby Chiropractor Worth it?
There are many benefits to taking your baby to the chiropractor, especially for their health.
Still, you are the best judge when it comes to making decisions about your baby.
Being informed and recognizing signs of discomfort are some good ways to decide if your baby needs a chiropractic visit.
Interested in knowing more about this topic??
Check out episode 79 of the Learning to Mom Podcast, “Should Your Baby See a Chiropractor Pediatric Chiropractor? Benefits, Misconceptions, and What to Expect with Dr. Kim Tran | Ep. 79” to learn more!
