Chiropractic is not just for athletes.  Take a moment and look around your child’s or grandchild’s school.  You’ll see a playground, sometimes a carnival or an amusement park will make its way through town, and for every 100 children you see, at least three of them have probably visited a doctor of chiropractic at least once.

According to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 3 percent of children have been treated with chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation.

The numbers are rising. In 2000, a survey found that there were about 30 million pediatric visits to chiropractors1; by 2009, that figure had more than doubled, to 68 million.2 The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ most recent practice analysis, issued in 2010, found that about 17 percent of chiropractic patients were under age 18 — approximately 7.7 percent aged five years or younger and some 9.4 percent between ages six and 17.

With chiropractic care for children and babies evolving, it’s important to understand the benefits of treating children and babies.

Benefits

Posture and Overall Health

A properly aligned spine can have a direct effect on a child’s posture; having good posture as a child will help set you up with good, healthy spinal posture well into adulthood. Moreover, an aligned spine can help clear the neural pathways. This, in turn, helps the nervous system do its job which is vital to healthy living.

Immune System

It can be very difficult as a parent to have a sick child; they have to miss school, activities and they feel terrible. As a parent, all you want is for them to feel better. Since chiropractors aim to reduce interference with a child or baby’s nervous system, this can help an immune system heal more efficiently.

Breathing Difficulties

Asthma and respiratory illnesses like bronchitis are all too common in children these days; however, a chiropractor can help address these issues. The normal flow of the lymphatic system can be disrupted by tight neck muscles. As this system is interrupted, it causes the immune system to become overloaded and can cause difficulty breathing. A chiropractic adjustment to loosen the neck muscles can open the lymphatic system allowing proper drainage; this can directly help the respiratory system making chiropractic care ideal for anyone with allergies, asthma, or other breathing-related issues.

Breast Feeding

When it comes to breastfeeding, if your baby has trouble latching or staying on, this can be helped with chiropractic care. The birthing process not only takes a toll on a mother but also on the baby itself. By realigning a baby’s spine, neck and shoulder, a chiropractor can make it more comfortable to feed the child.

Sleeping

One thing kids and babies are often pretty good at is keeping parents up at night. If you are struggling to get your baby or kids onto a normal and healthy sleep schedule, it may be due to a misaligned spine. This can cause discomfort or disrupt the nervous system. A Chiropractic adjustment could be a solution to help your kids sleep and yourself catch some z’s.

Minimize Injury Risk

Babies’ bones are flexible, keeping up with chiropractic care while they learn to crawl and walk can be beneficial in preventing injury. By making sure the joints and ligaments are functioning properly, can minimize the risk of injury as babies become more active.