There are a number of reasons to visit a chiropractor, and countless people receive the benefits of chiropractic care every day. Despite that, many are reluctant to take their children to the chiropractor, even if the benefits can sometimes be immeasurable.

There are a number of reasons people aren’t quick to send take their child to the chiropractor, but a lot of them are based on myths or misinformation. The reality is chiropractic care is safe for children – even infants – and can provide a multitude of positives from boosting the immune system to injury prevention and once your child receives chiropractic care, you will realized what you have been missing out on for so many years. Let’s talk about some of these myths that some of our medical friends seem to get all wrong. 

One of the most common myths is that spinal adjustments can be dangerous for children – particularly infants. Chiropractic adjustments are safe for children, even the smallest of them! Just like infants are very different than adults, so is the difference in the adjustments between the two. The adjustment on a baby is very subtle, and the pressure required is very minimal. The actions by the chiropractor are often not even noticed by the little one. A chiropractor can help with everything from breastfeeding issues to crawling issues to slowed development of motor skills.

It is also a common misconception that children don’t need chiropractic adjustments because they’re more resilient through the growing process. Again this is wrong. Because children are going through constant growth and development, it’s important to make sure they are developing properly. Pediatric chiropractors can navigate those growth spurts to make sure any potential problems with joints and spine are recognized and detected early. Chiropractic when used properly is proactive not reactive like most of what happens in health care. Discovering things like scoliosis is also imperative, and taking proactive steps can lead to detecting and correcting those issues early.

And just because kids may seem more resilient than their older (and usually larger) counterparts, that doesn’t mean they aren’t experiencing pain, too. Joint and muscle pain are common amongst kids, especially when they’re active. Proper spinal alignment can help mitigate some of these issues, and keep your child growing and developing properly by ensuring proper spinal alignment and communication within the central nervous system.

Kids are active. Getting dinged up with various bumps and bruises is common. However, some of those accidents can lead to misalignment in the spine, which in turn can lead to other, more serious issues down the road. Correcting those issues with spinal alignment, no matter how small, can offer a proactive solution to make sure they stay on track with growth and development.

There are many other things that chiropractic care can help in children. From asthma to scoliosis to digestive issues to growing pains, chiropractic care has proven to help solve all kinds of issues – just from making sure the spine and everything is aligned properly. Ask any parent who’s child has received chiropractic and Im sure they will happy to share their experiences with you. 

Caring for Infants : 

When a child is born there is a tremendous amount of stress on your baby spine when traveling to the outside world. In fact, multiple studies have shown around 90% of newborns suffer from the effects of birth trauma seen as misalignments in the neck and cranium. These misalignments in the spine can lead to dysfunction in the baby’s nervous system which can impact the baby’s spinal growth and neurological development.

Possible symptoms your baby could be experiencing if spinal stress or nerve dysfunction is present:

1. Colic or irritability
2. Torticollis or head tilt
3. Abnormal head shape
4. Latching difficulties
5. Poor sleep
6. Reflux
7. Delayed developmental milestones (holding up head, sitting upright, crawling)

Get your baby checked for subluxation and insure your child has the best opportunity to thrive and develop during this important time.

Caring for Kids :

Chiropractic care can also benefit the growing child. During the first 5 years of life, 90% of spinal growth occurs. It is important to have your child’s spine checked during this time to ensure proper spinal alignment or correct any misalignment which can lead to various issues in the future such as scoliosis or uneven hip and shoulder heights.
Dr. Hagmeyer is highly trained in evaluating children and provides gentle adjustments to help your child function optimally.
Some of the most common issues which improve with chiropractic care in kids are:

1. Poor postures
2. Scoliosis
3. Gastrointestinal stress (IBS, constipation, diarrhea)
4. Bedwetting
5. Poor immune system function (common cold, ear infections, flu)