Examination of a Baby

“Are you going to crack my baby’s spine?” a mother asked me this morning.  “Gosh no,” I said as I was taken back by her question.

Having evaluated, examined, and adjusted thousands of children over the years, I sometimes forget that chiropractic for babies is new to some people, and they really don’t know what to expect.

An initial evaluation of your baby includes a detailed history their life thus far, the health of the mom during pregnancy, the details of the delivery, and anything else that might be relevant to understanding your baby’s needs.

The physical evaluation includes assessing the alignment of the spine as well as the cranial bones.  Measurements, skin folds, reflex development and more are a part of the process.  We are looking for neurological disturbances that will affect growth and development.

Often times the baby sleeps right through the evaluation; which really shows you how easy the process is on them.

Why would a baby be assessed?  During the birth process, even under natural and controlled conditions, the baby’s skull and neck are put under force as the baby descends through the birth canal.

Right now, the chiropractor is the only health professional trained to evaluate, diagnose, and correct these nerve disturbances.  Hopefully in the near future, other professionals such as pediatricians will be trained to do so, as early diagnosis and correction optimizes the development of your child’s neuro-musculo-skeletal system (the nerves, muscles, and bones).

There are a few signs parents can look for that may be an indicator of a spinal problem:

• Your baby’s head is consistently tilted to one side
• Restricted neck rotation to one side
• Difficulty nursing from one side and fine on the other
• Colic-type symptoms
• Repeated ear infection (more than once per 24 months)

While this list is definitely not exhaustive of the types of symptoms you can see, they are the most common for sure.  Obviously, I believe that having a spinal evaluation at an early age gives your child a significant advantage and great start for their health; and I encourage you to find a family chiropractor for you and your family. It’s Kid’s Month in our office and to celebrate our amazing little humans we are offering FREE spinal check-ups for all children under the age of 16.  Please call the office at 519-743-6339 to book an appointment for your family!!