Chiropractic for Babies and Children in East Ivanhoe
Chiropractic care for babies and children is a safe and effective healthcare choice from the day they are born. Chiropractic adjustments for newborns differ significantly from those performed on an adult, often involving light fingertip pressure on the baby’s back or neck, or using an instrument called an ‘activator’ to adjust the baby’s spine.
65% of neurological development occurs in the first year of life, it is the most important time to see a chiropractor to ensure your baby has every opportunity to develop and grow to their potential.
Indications your baby or child may benefit from chiropractic care:
- A difficult or assisted birth (forceps, vacuum, caesarean, cord wrapped around neck, breech position)
- Baby is difficult to settle and get to sleep
- Baby dislikes being held a certain way, dislikes lying on his/her back, arches his/her back
- Difficulty breastfeeding, or only feeding well off one breast
- Cries during a nappy change
- Reflux or vomits after feeding
- Consistently lies in an abnormal posture, or head tilted always to the same side
- Delay in meeting motor and developmental milestones
- Failure to cross crawl, bottom scooting
- Clumsy, uncoordinated child
- Difficulty concentrating, at school or a task, short attention span
There are times during a baby’s growth and development when it is especially important that their spine and nervous system are free of nerve interference.
Key times when your baby should be checked by a chiropractor
- Soon after birth – the birth process is traumatic; even a natural and unassisted birth places enormous stress on a tiny baby’s body
- When baby starts to hold his/her head up – development of the neck curve
- When baby is able to sit – balance and motor control, first loading of the spine against gravity
- When baby starts to crawl – motor patterning and brain development
- When baby starts to stand – development of lower back curve, balance
- When baby starts to walk – think of all the falls to the bottom during this time!
How do I know if my child has spinal subluxations (altered spinal motion and nerve interference) that might be interfering with their health and development? The only way to know is to have your child examined by a chiropractor. Like tooth decay, spinal subluxations may have no apparent symptoms for months or even years.
Chiropractic care is not a cure for disease; it helps the body to function more effectively, promoting better health by reducing interference to the nervous system.
If you are interested in finding out more, please call Vital Spines in East Ivanhoe at 03 9499 7005 to set up an appointment.
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