What to Expect When I Treat Babies and Children?

By Paul Doney - Chiropractor | Craniosacral Therapy & Myofascial Release

For many people it seems strange and a little scary that a chiropractor would treat babies or even children. However, treatments with babies are exceptionally gentle. Children find the experience fun!

Most babies that come to me have problems with one of the following: colic, settling, constipation, failure to thrive, unexplained crying, uneven hips or legs, wry neck (torticollis) or a flattened head. Other children are simply brought for a post-birth check-up. These are usually babies of mothers that I have cared for during their pregnancy.

A baby can be brought to me at any time after birth. The earlier, the better, but it should be when the parents feel comfortable with doing so. I treated my own son at birth, in the delivery room. Most babies come in the first 3 to 6 weeks for a check-up.

Whether your baby has a problem you are aware of or not I will go through the same procedure. I will take a history of the pregnancy, birth and your baby’s life to date. There are many clues in this as to what I might find. Next I will examine your baby. I will look at her “posture” (usually laying down) but also at how her body copes with gravity in whatever developmental stage she is up to at the time (tummy-time, sitting, crawling, standing, walking, etc). I am looking for symmetry of alignment, muscle tone and movement.

When I identify a problem I will generally hold your baby in a way that supports what her body is already trying to do. This will generally facilitate a release of the muscle and connective tissue that is restricting balanced, healthy function and development.

When significant muscle release occurs in small babies there is often a shift in fluids within the body that the baby experiences as thirst. If a baby starts crying within one of our earlier treatments it is often because they have developed a sudden and unexpected thirst. Stopping to feed is all part of the treatment.

After a treatment your baby may be more thirsty than usual and will probably sleep much longer than you are used to that night. Muscles that have relaxed after prolonged dysfunction will release accumulated waste products into the blood stream over the next day or two. This will irritate nerve endings in joints and the skin and make your baby feel uncomfortable. In an adult the sensation is like a flu coming on. The best way to clear these toxins through the kidneys is to keep lots of fluids up to your baby for the next 48 hours. Never the less, your baby may be irritable for 1 to 2 days after the treatment while this process occurs.

Other possible reactions are that your baby may have a large and/or dark bowel movement as it clears toxins from the body.

However, you will often notice immediate changes for the better in your baby. They may make sudden leaps in development (e.g. starting to smile or crawling), sleep better or be happier! The more dramatic the problem the more likely the response will be immediately noticeable.

Many problems are sorted out in 2 to 4 treatments. Some require on-going care. Whatever your baby’s needs there is something that I can do to contribute to her health and development.

Leading chiropractor, craniosacral and myofascial release practitioner Paul Doney is a regular contributor to the much celebrated ‘Natural Health Booster’ fortnightly ezine with 1,000+ subscribers. If you’re ready to jump-start and optimise your health, wellbeing and fertility, get your FREE tips now at www.boostyourhealthnow.com or www.boostyourfertilitynow.com.

Paul has private consultations available, to make an appointment please phone Julia or Carolina on 1300 85 84 90.

Keywords: Babies > Children > Chiropractic