Like adults, your child’s spine houses the entire nervous system, but on a smaller scale. That’s why it’s so vital for kids to maintain good spinal health. Many issues can be prevented or fixed through chiropractic adjustment. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should consider chiropractic care for growing healthy kids.

Catch birth trauma early

Whether born naturally or through C-section, newborns can experience birth trauma. In fact, it’s estimated that 80% of babies are born with some degree of vertebral misalignment (subluxation), in which one or more bones of the spine move out of position and irritate the spinal nerves. This can lead to sleep disturbances, colic, feeding problems and reflux – or in extreme cases, seizures.

It’s never too early for your child to receive chiropractic care. A very gentle and non-invasive check by a chiropractor in those first couple of weeks can help them begin life on the right foot (and with an aligned spine). While it may not turn up any subluxation, it’s always best to check early and clear out any interference to the nervous system.

Understand pain signals

Your little one’s cries can be hard to distinguish. She may be hungry, sick, tired or ready for a diaper change. But those cries could also mean she’s manifesting pain, and they’re her only way of telling you that something is wrong.

Pain isn’t easy for children to communicate in the early stages of development, and parents can’t bank on knowing what all the different cries mean. However, infants and toddlers may exhibit certain behaviors that can clue parents in that there’s a problem. If your baby only wants to latch on one side, it may be that he cannot turn his head to the other side and he needs a gentle adjustment. Or if your toddler walks or runs with a limp, she may have experienced trauma from all her falling down while learning to move on her own two feet.

It’s a smart idea to get little ones checked out early to rule out any nervous system interference or catch minor issues so the rest of the body can keep working the way it’s supposed to.

Protect young athletes

As kids get older, many take up playing contact sports like football, soccer and hockey. Kids sports are getting more and more competitive, which means young players are hitting each other harder and are becoming more susceptible to injury.

Chiropractic care should definitely be part of any young athlete’s health plan. Getting checked to see if they need an adjustment can prevent minor traumas from escalating, both on and off the field. Even kids who check out OK in the off-season should come back for an on-season scan to make sure their spine and nervous system are in good shape.

Strengthen your child’s health

Finding minor issues early means they can be corrected before they become a major problem. Our pediatric adjustments are gentle, safe and effective. Dr. Collins is highly experienced in this technique and can realign the tiniest of chiropractic patients. Read stories from parents of our young patients, or contact us to schedule your child’s wellness check today.