Benefits of Child Chiropractic Care

How important is your nervous system to your entire well-being? Well, the first cells to develop in utero are the cells that become the brain and nervous system. Their continued growth and development are the most important and most impacted in the first two years of a child’s life. So getting your child checked by a chiropractor early to make sure that their nervous system is developing and functioning properly is always a good idea.

The birthing process alone is a really traumatic experience for both the mother and child. A natural birth and a cesarean birth each present their own set of traumas placed on the newborn. Imagine being in a restrictive, pressurized compartment for about 40 weeks, then pushed and pulled out by your head. With as fragile as a newborn’s nervous system is, it only takes a minor amount of trauma to have a substantial impact. About 95%¹ of infant spinal misalignments are due to traction at birth. The signs and symptoms don’t have to be noticeable immediately but can have an amplified effect as they continue to grow and develop. By the time they are 5 or 6 years old they suffer from headaches and postural problems or diffuse symptoms like sleep disorders and being unable to concentrate.² All the while, these symptoms are rarely traced back to birth trauma and they could have been prevented if detected within the first few months of life.

Aside from an initial evaluation after birth, there are other times when it is important to have your child checked by a chiropractor: any trauma or falls, sports injuries, difficulties with latching, colic, sleeping or digestive issues, asthma, allergies, ear infections, and bed wetting, just to name a few. These are all symptomatic complaints that are typically not addressed until the child experiences them.

There are also benefits to having your child see a chiropractor on a periodic basis even when they have no current complaints. For a child under the age of one, it is always a good idea to have them checked at major milestones like when they start to hold their head up, sit up, crawl and start walking. At these stages in their life the major curves in their spine are developing and with each transition it is important to make sure that there is no interference in their nervous system. Your child will also benefit with a strengthened immune system. Studies show that children who receive regular chiropractic care experience less colds and flus, greater emotional wellbeing, improved ability to concentrate, and are more adaptive to physical and emotional stressors. How could you not want your child to have all of these benefits from a simple visit to the chiropractor?

Here is a breakdown of how often your child should see a chiropractor for a Well-Child visit:

• First month of life!
• Every three months for the first year
• Every 6-12 months for every year after that

Other times to bring them in other than for Well-Child visits:

• The major milestones (mentioned above)
• Any traumas or falls
• Any signs of imbalances (limping, head tilting, favoring one side for anything, etc.)
• Any of the above mentioned symptoms (i.e. bed wetting, colic)

 

Dr. Karis and Dr. Cassi have undergone specific advanced training in pediatrics, child chiropractic care and family wellness. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call the office at 360-693-3030.

 

 

¹Symposium on operative obstetrics, Donn, MD: Vol. 10, No. 2, June 1983

¹Martin F. Rosen DC, CSCP, CSPP at ICPA SOT CranioSacral seminar

²Journal of Manual Medicine, Springer, Velag 1992