Crying Babies and Chiropractic: Effectiveness and Safety

Problems in babies and children

Even at a young age, problems in the spine can occur. This can be the result of a difficult or complicated birth, such as a caesarean section, vacuum extraction or a premature birth. In addition, falls, bumps, bad postures or other minor traumas can contribute to movement disorders of the spine. These can affect the nervous system and cause symptoms such as excessive crying, poor sleep or a preferred position.

A chiropractor examines infants and children for movement disorders and, if necessary, applies gentle adjustments specific to the child’s age. Scientific research supports the safety of chiropractic care for infants and young children when performed by a trained professional.

Effectiveness: Research from Denmark

A Danish study published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies examined the effects of chiropractic care on colicky babies. The study involved 104 babies with unexplained crying, also known as colic. After a series of chiropractic treatments, 50% of the babies showed significant improvement in their crying, compared to only 16% in the control group. This suggests that chiropractic care may be effective in reducing symptoms of colicky babies, possibly by improving biomechanics and nervous system function.

The study also highlighted that chiropractic care was safe, with no adverse events or complications reported. This supports the use of chiropractic as a safe and conservative treatment option.

Common Symptoms of Spinal Movement Disorders in Babies

Babies with movement disorders may show symptoms such as:

• Excessive crying, even after eating or when changing.
• Preferred postures and overstretching.
• Poor sleep and easily startled.
• Therefore complaints and difficulty with bowel movements.
• Excessive spitting up and frequent hiccups.
• Grabbing at ears or back of head.

Although these symptoms often subside spontaneously after a few months, the underlying movement disorder may persist. This can cause problems later in childhood, such as:

• Neck and headache.
• Concentration and motor disorders.
  • Chronic ear infections.
  • Conditions of the spine such as scoliosis.

Ear Infection and Chiropractic

In ear infections, impaired drainage of fluid from the middle ear due to a poorly functioning drainage system can contribute to infection. Movement disorders in the neck can affect this drainage. Chiropractic adjustments focus on restoring normal drainage, which removes the breeding ground for bacteria and allows the infection to heal. Research shows that this approach can be effective when combined with other medical treatments.

Conclusion

Chiropractic care offers a safe and effective option for treating colicky babies and supporting healthy nervous system development. Through gentle, age-appropriate techniques, it can relieve symptoms and potentially prevent future problems. The safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care for babies is supported by scientific research, including studies such as the one from Denmark. This makes it a valuable adjunct treatment for parents seeking solutions to colic and other conditions in their infants.