Children can enjoy the many benefits of chiropractic care at any age or stage of development and it is never too early to have your child’s spine checked. The benefits of chiropractic can be maximized for your child by having mom’s spine cared for while the baby is still in the womb. The birthing process is physically strenuous for both mom and baby, so it is best to get them both cared for as soon as possible afterward.
It can be difficult to know when children need their spines checked, as they typically will not present with pain. We recommend setting regular “Well-Child” visits, the same way you would with your dentist and pediatrician (every 3 months for the first year of life and every 6-12 months each year after). Other times to bring your child in is after a major milestone(sitting up, crawling, walking), falls/trauma or if they are showing signs of imbalance, such as a head tilt, nursing form only one side, foot turning out/in, limping, etc. This will help catch minor issues before they turn into bigger problems and allows kids to maximize their full health potential.
A very gentle touch is all that is needed to adjust infants and children, with a tiny pressure comparable to the amount of force you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato. Generally, children respond much quicker and more profoundly to chiropractic care than adults do as they have not subjected their bodies to the same years of abuse that we have.
Chiropractors have been helping children live healthies lives for over 100 years, and several large-scale research studies have verified the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care for kids.
