Warning: the following article may have far too many pictures of adorable babies (sorry, I couldn't help myself ... they're even cute when they cry).

Most people don’t think about taking a brand spanking new baby to a chiropractor, but perhaps they should. Keeping a baby’s spine in alignment is essential; misalignments will only compound as they grow. A properly aligned spine presents the best opportunity for healthy development. Chiropractic care for infants has been shown to improve many conditions that a sweet but suffering baby can’t explain. If your child is suffering with any of these ailments, consider bringing your little bundle of joy to Gulph Mills Chiropractic to discuss how chiropractic can improve your baby’s new life.

Colic:

Colic is every parent’s worst nightmare. If your baby is crying relentlessly, and seems to have abdominal pain, it’s likely that they’ve been diagnosed with colic. Many traditional medical professionals will tell you that there’s nothing you can do but wait it out. Um, no thanks. According to a study published on the US National Library of Medicine’s website, chiropractic reduced the symptoms of colic in 94% of 316 infants treated in 50 clinics by 73 chiropractors. Yes, please.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, causes infants to spit up – a lot. These poor sweet babies suffer from pain caused by acid leaking from their stomach into their esophagus. Traditional doctors generally prescribe an acid blocker to alleviate symptoms, but do nothing to treat the source of the problem. Often, GERD is caused by a misaligned spine putting pressure on the diaphragm. This upsets the digestive system and causes excessive regurgitation. Once a chiropractor realigns the spine, the pressure is relieved and symptoms can often be reduced in just a few adjustments.

Difficulty Latching: 

Once again, the US National Library of Medicine’s website presents a helpful study addressing Mommy’s 5 am nightmare: baby won’t latch on properly. In a nutshell, the study concluded that neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction (in English: a misaligned jaw, neck, and shoulder) and may influence the ability of an infant to suckle successfully and that intervention via chiropractic adjustments may result in improving the infant's ability to suckle efficiently. Can I get a 5am “Whoop, whoop!”?

Irritable Infant Syndrome:

What now? Apparently, some babies are just downright crabby for no obvious reason. When a traditional doctor can’t find a traditional medical reason for crying, difficulty sleeping, and general fussiness in an infant, they chalk it up to this fun new syndrome. Not helpful. Many times, the symptoms are a result of spinal misalignment. The baby could be struggling to develop properly, given that their immune system is compromised due to subluxations, which can impede nerve flow. Yikes. Chiropractic may be able to help with this mysterious issue.

A word about an infant adjustment:

You probably have a vision in your head of an adult adjustment. Nope, get that out of your head. An adjustment of an infant’s spine is considerably different. In general, it’s a very small movement, a tap, basically. Chiropractors are specially trained in infant adjustments. Dr. Roger Walker, of Gulph Mills Chiropractic Center, has experienced first hand what a difference chiropractic care for a newborn can do to improve their health and their parents’ sanity. Call 484-751-5037 to schedule an appointment.