Kiddos
30 minutes of thorough care with your practitioner offers the time and space to be comfortable, receive thorough care and take the time for soothing, feeding, changing and playing when necessary.
Why might I bring my infant or kid to the chiropractor? Let’s dive in…
During the first six years of life, during which the first two are particularly vital, the brain considers input more important than output. Observing and downloading our outer world, while growing rapidly.
During the first two years of life and development, we are laying down the neurological infrastructure which we will depend on for the rest of our lives.
During an infant’s adjustment we will be considering the whole body; alignment, shape, tension, tone, function. You will come to find that to do so, we tend to put a particular focus on the sacro-occipital system; that being the skull, the pelvis and the gentle structures the surround and suspend the brain and spinal cord (the dura).
The skull is made up of 22 bones that surround a rapidly growing brain (doubling in size just the first year). The shape of the skull is determined ultimately by internal forces (growth) and external pressures (tension and compression). The shape and mechanics of the skull not only lay the foundation for aesthetics but also provide a scaffolding that influences the function of the brain. And we know, the brain is the master coordinator of all systems and functions of the body.
What do we assess?
Symmetry, sutures/fontels, shape, and most importantly function. Mechanics, primitive/neurological reflexes and developmental milestones are all the true window into the nervous system.
Cranial and cervical mechanics can have a great impact on future development for things such as:
sucking, feeding, swallowing
airway health- think nasal, oral, dental, neck and ribs
speech
vision
digestion
coordination
the list goes on..
Whats it like?
No more pressure than a you’d apply to a ripe avocado! Yes, the system responds to just that. At about the age of 1 we continue to use sustained contact holds with our hands and may also begin use of a small hand held tool called an activator, which offers a specific percussive input.
Infants: cranial mechanics, primitive and neurological reflexes, developmental milestones
Toddlers and beyond: All factors listed above but now we also consider a mobile child that is interacting with their environment; crawling, walking, running and jumping means inevitable bumps and falls. Exposure to more immune stressors from being interacting more independently with their environment and with others.
What factors could lead me to seeking out care outside of general wellbeing?
Altered birth positions while in the womb
Delivery that is stalled, very quick, hands on and c-sections
Difficulty turning head
Difficulty feeding
Mouth breathing
Frequents colds, clogged tear duct, ear infections
Slips, bumps, falls