Pediatric Chiropractic
Chiropractic Care for Infants and Toddlers
Caring for newborns is where lifelong health begins. Dr. Matt and Dr. Luke have seen children as young as just a few hours old after birth. Many people wonder why a newborn would need to see a chiropractor, but the truth is that we all begin life with a spine that protects the vital messages sent throughout the body by the brain and spinal cord.
An infant’s nervous system is extremely delicate, as it is still developing, and even the slightest misalignment can produce symptoms. The birthing process itself can be physically demanding on a newborn. Significant stress can be placed on the neck and spine as the baby moves through the birth canal.
For this reason, it can be very beneficial to have Dr. Matt and Dr. Luke evaluate your newborn to determine whether any misalignments are present that could be interfering with proper nervous system communication. If no misalignments are found, they will let you know that an adjustment is not needed. Not adjusting when it isn’t necessary is just as important as providing an adjustment when it is.
In addition, we offer guidance on nutritional and lifestyle considerations to help support the long-term health and well-being of your entire family.
When your child begins to crawl, their spine starts developing the natural curves it needs for proper posture and function. Crawling also helps form the arches in the wrists and hands that are essential for fine motor skills, coordination, and overall spinal development. This stage is an important time to have your child checked, as bumps, falls, and everyday exploration are all part of learning to move and grow.
Parents should observe their child’s crawling patterns for anything unusual. Signs such as using only the hands to crawl, favoring one side, or skipping the crawling phase altogether may indicate the potential presence of subluxations. Crawling allows infants to strengthen the muscles of the torso, shoulders, arms, legs, and hands while supporting healthy spinal development.
For this reason, walking too early is not something parents should strive for. A child benefits from spending several months crawling before learning to walk. Devices such as walkers, which encourage children to walk before they have developed adequate muscle strength and coordination, are best avoided.
No matter what stage your child is in, we are here to support their health and help them recover from the falls and minor issues that naturally occur as they learn to crawl and walk. One of the greatest benefits of chiropractic care for children is how quickly they respond. In many cases, when children return for a follow-up visit, no additional adjustment is needed because the previous adjustment was sufficient and effective.
Kids and growing teenagers
As your child grows and becomes more active in school and extracurricular activities, chiropractic care continues to play an important role in supporting optimal health. The body is incredibly powerful, and by keeping the connections between the brain and body functioning at 100%, children can achieve amazing things.
At this age, kids may roll an ankle, fall on their wrist, or experience other minor injuries. Chiropractic care is not limited to the spine—it can also support proper function in the ankles, shoulders, wrists, and other joints. Often, maintaining proper nerve communication from the spine helps children recover faster. In some cases, bones in various joints may become misaligned and can be assessed and adjusted as needed.
Regular chiropractic care every few months can help keep children less susceptible to injury, support recovery from minor accidents, and improve overall health and well-being.