Why Kids and Infants Need Chiropractic Too
When adults experience chronic pain, poor posture, or injuries from slips and falls, chiropractic care is a common solution. But what about chiropractic care for kids? Most people assume that children don’t need chiropractic care because they haven’t spent decades developing poor habits, suffering from spinal neglect, or enduring chronic conditions. However, this assumption overlooks how early spinal stress can begin—and how profoundly it can affect a child’s health.
It Starts at Birth
One of the first misalignments in the spine often occurs during the birth process. Even under ideal conditions, birth can place significant stress on a baby’s spine, especially during a cesarean (C-section) delivery or when instruments like forceps or vacuums are used. From that point forward, the physical traumas of early life—tumbles, slips, and falls during toddlerhood and early childhood—can contribute to spinal misalignments over time.
Why It Matters
The nervous system controls and coordinates every function in the human body. When spinal misalignments, or subluxations, are present, they can interfere with the brain’s ability to send messages through the spinal cord and out to the nerves that supply various organs and tissues. Read my post about subluxation to learn more.
One important nerve impacted by spinal alignment is the vagus nerve, the 10th cranial nerve—which plays a major role in swallowing, digestion, heart and lung function, and even breastfeeding. It’s no surprise, then, that misalignments in infants can be associated with issues like:
- Colic
- Ear infections
- Reflux
- Breastfeeding difficulties
- Digestive disturbances
Early Intervention, Lifelong Benefits
Correcting subluxations early can help minimize the long-term impact on a child’s health. Left unaddressed, spinal misalignments may contribute to a variety of health challenges later in life, including headaches, acid reflux, digestive disorders, and immune system dysfunction.
Chiropractic care for kids is about more than just relieving pain—it’s about supporting the optimal function of the nervous system, which governs every cell, tissue, and organ in the body. Gentle, specific adjustments from a trained pediatric chiropractor can support your child’s development and overall well-being.
Have your child evaluated by Dr. Heinecke to ensure their nervous system is functioning at its best. When we support the body’s natural ability to heal and regulate itself, we give our children a stronger foundation for lifelong health.
This is why chiropractic care for kids is important too.
Send us an email with your questions or call for a consultation.
Dr. Joe Heinecke, DC
Mountain Valley Chiropractic
(970) 314-9244
Terry J.
“I just wanted to take a moment to share how thankful we are for Dr. Joe’s incredible care. Before seeing him, my grandson would cry nonstop every time he was in his car seat and struggled with daily constipation. His discomfort was heartbreaking and caused so much anxiety for his parents — they felt trapped, like they couldn’t even leave the house. Other providers would just say, ‘Some babies just don’t like the car seat,’ or ‘He’s just a hard baby, he’ll outgrow it,’ but they knew something more was going on.
My daughter brought him in, and unbelievably, he was better that very same day! They were able to enjoy their road trip to Montana with a happy little traveler the whole way!
Dr. Joe is truly amazing — a lifesaver for our family. Thank you so much for the wonderful difference you make!”
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