Babies & Chiropractic
Do you know that chiropractors can treat more than just adults?
That they can treat kids of all ages, starting from birth?
Let us enlighten you!
Many people have asked me about treating babies, so I am here to inform you on everything that I know! First and foremost, let me give you some background. I am trained in a technique called Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) which was founded in Prague. According to DNS, every single baby is born with a blueprint for development. This blueprint is extremely important for how a baby’s joints form and how the surrounding muscles pull on each joint. According to DNS, 7/10 babies are developmentally and neurologically on pace for their age because they follow said blueprint. But that leaves 3/10 babies that aren’t developing at the correct window of pace.
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So how do you know if your baby falls into the 70% or the 30%? Well, a baby can be in the 30% from the start if they have something serious internally going on like cerebral palsy, colic, and even ear infections. However, it is important to note that at any time throughout development, a baby can fall behind and temporarily join the 30%. Many times when a baby isn’t born into the 30%, but falls into it later, it can be from putting baby into a developmental position that they are not yet ready for. An example would be trying to have baby sit up or help them walk before they are able to do it on their own. It’s also important to note that between chiropractic care and functional rehab of DNS, baby can once again join the 70% and get back on track!
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But what if my baby is in the 70%? Well first it is important to know that if your baby falls into this category, they most likely do not have any trigger points or joint restriction (which adults are filled with) because they are neurologically pure so to speak. They breathe properly through their bellies and, therefore, stabilize their joints properly. If they are on target with development, then we can check them at each developmental milestone to make sure they keep on pace (these milestones include 6 weeks, 3 months, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 months).
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But what do these pediatric chiropractic treatments look like? First and foremost, I watch your baby move! I look at their primitive reflexes, postural reflexes, and assess their developmental milestones. I assess if at their current age they are on pace, ahead or behind, and then decide what care for them will look like. This could be anything from light adjustments, to functional rehab, to dietary suggestions for mom and baby. What is important for you to know is that chiropractic care will not hurt baby! It is very low force and gentle. The pressure is about the pressure you can put on your eye before it starts to feel weird - not much at all if you try it!
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So now to transition to the content in the video below! In it, I check the primitive reflexes and postural reflexes of my 4-day-old niece. What are these reflexes? Newborn babies are born with primitive reflexes, and the presence and strength of them is an important sign of nervous system development and function. These reflexes eventually disappear, each at a different pace, as different parts of the baby’s brain and nervous system develops. In the video, the primitive reflexes I test are normal in newborns, but not normal in adults.
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The reflexes performed in the video in order:
Moro reflex
Palmar grasp reflex
Babinski reflex
Rooting reflex
Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex
Traction postural test
Placing reflex
Galant reflex
Suspended horizontal postural reflex
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This baby girl is 4 days old and healthy with strong primitive reflexes! I look forward to assessing her developmental milestones as she continues to grow!
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If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the office!
