Newborn Wellness
Setting the Foundation for a Strong and Healthy Future
As a parent, ensuring the health and well-being of your newborn is (likely and hopefully :P) a top priority. You want to give your newborn tiny human the best start in life and that includes setting a strong foundation for their future health! This is where newborn wellness chiropractic enters the conversation.
Newborn wellness chiropractic focuses on the specific needs of infants, ensuring that they are able to eat, sleep, poop, grow and thrive. Infant chiropractic not only promotes proper nervous system function but also helps with common issues such as flat spots, colic, reflux, and difficulties with breastfeeding.
By embracing the holistic and gentle approach of newborn wellness chiropractic, you are empowering your child to thrive from the very beginning. Starting their life with a healthy nervous system and the ability to move freely and unrestricted can contribute to better sleep, improved digestion, and enhanced overall well-being.
Why would a newborn need to be adjusted?
Great question and the answer contains LOTS of avenues to explore. In short, newborn adjustments (no pops or clicks), craniosacral fascial (CFT) technique, a variation of other bodywork techniques, and purposeful play & at-home recommendations can help:
“Unwind” tension from how baby was positioned inside the womb and the birth process itself
Improve feeding mechanics and tension patterns from compensations
Improve reflux, gassiness, constipation, etc. by addressing body tension and assessing for underlying causes
Decrease the likelihood of needing a helmet by addressing head shape asymmetries EARLY on (finding the root cause, decreasing preferences that can cause a flat spot, etc.)
Regulate the nervous system (good bodywork puts you into rest and digest state which allows for growth and healing) and improves sleep
Decrease preferences and in - turn aiding in proper milestone development by addressing asymmetries
BABIES WITHOUT ANY CONCERNS to feel more comfortable in their bodies!
Benefits of newborn wellness chiropractic care
One of the primary benefits is improved nervous system function. The nervous system plays a vital role in the overall health and development of your newborn. Chiropractic care helps optimize nervous system function, improves mobility and symmetry to aid in achieving milestones, and decreases discomfort from tension and asymmetries impacting their ability to move, explore and learn. Addressing these issues early on through chiropractic care can prevent potential complications (such as preferences and flat spots) and support their overall health and development. This can lead to improved sleep, enhanced digestion, and increased overall well-being.
Can Chiropractic help my baby hit their milestones?
Pediatric Chiropractors are also really great for helping growing babies hit their milestones by insuring they are moving and developing optimally! If there is tension within an infant’s body, it can lead to difficulty with tummy time, asymmetrical crawling patterns, difficulty transitioning in and out of sitting, etc. Not all Chiropractors have additional training in exercise prescription or gentle fascial techniques so PLEASE ask about additional training! Dr. Dani also frequently works with pediatric physical therapists and occupational therapists (depending on the concern) to improve and expedite results.
Additionally, wellness chiropractic care for newborns can help alleviate common issues that many infants experience. Colic, reflux, and difficulties with breastfeeding are often associated with the ability to move and coordinate the neck, jaw and structures of the mouth in an optimal fashion. By gently releasing these restrictions and providing at-home exercises, chiropractors can provide relief and support the natural healing process of your newborn. Dr. Dani also has additional training in Craniosacral Fascial Technique (CFT) to help decrease fascial strain as well!
What do newborn adjustments look like?
Chiropractic adjustments for newborns are done using light fingertip pressures and are INCREDIBLY gentle! Appointments are baby led, meaning we work when baby is comfortable with us working. If your little one is crying, Dr. Dani will walk around with them as she works; sometimes, hanging out outdoors while we work is commonly helpful, etc. We find what works for YOUR infant, not force a quick appointment! These adjustments are so gentle that many babies sleep through the entire process. Newborns have a unique physiology and their chiropractic care is tailored to their needs, ensuring their safety and comfort. Check out the Pediatric Chiropractic Page to learn more about what it looks like!
If you have ANY questions about chiropractic care and newborns, please feel free to reach out to Denver’s pediatric chiropractor, Dr. Dani!