Chiropractic Care and Babies

Hi H., I dont know if this will help or not. I was seeing a chiropractor several years ago. His wife was expecting. He told me that he did and full body adjustment on the baby just as soon as the baby was born. My thougts are better safe than sorry I would ask my pediatrican what his or her opinion is first. Good Luck. I hope Lucas's problem will resolve soon.

H.,

When I was a child I had the same problems as your son. I did wear a patch, which did not help and eventually had to have corrective eye surgery which did fix my eyes, thank God. I go to a chiropractor and he has adjusted my daughter several times. She is almost a year old but we started going when she was 4 months old. She just thinks that he's playing with her. It doesn't hurt her at all. From my prespective, I would let yhim try an adjustment. I was four when I had surgery, and remember it vividly. It did hurt, my eyes were sore for a long time and still are sensitive to bright light, chemicals and have a tendency to get red easliy. Surgery is a big deal, all kinds of things could go wrong. I would definately try an adjustment, before surgery. Hope this helps.

We've been having our son adjusted since he was about 4 months old. He gets an adjustment once a month when my husband goes in. My chiropractor has been treating me since I was pregnant so he knows me and my son well. They recommend adjustments for babies, saying that it will help the children stay healthy and stave off ear infections among other things. The adjustments do not appear to hurt my little boy and he's really needed them since he's started trying to walk. I think it'd be worth a shot to try to treat your little boy. Good luck!

I have gone to a chiropractor on a regular basis since I was a year old (I'm now 33). My mom took me because I had one leg shorter than the other and the medical doctors said my only option was to wear a lift in my shoe. My mom truly believed chiropractic care would help me and figured that, at worst, it wouldn't do anything for me. Luckily for me, she tried it and my legs are the same length.

I take both of my daughters to a chiropractor. Even given my prior experience with chiropractic, I was hesitant to take my children and didn't start until 6 months ago when they were 3 and 1 1/2 respectively. I am so grateful that I did. My oldest was having recurrent ear infections and pneumonia. She's been healthy for the last 5 months. My youngest wasn't having the same chronic health problems, but I started her anyway. She used to be a horrible, restless sleeper. She's sleeping great. The adjustments they receive are very gentle- it doesn't take much pressure to move their vertebrae back into the right place. I would be a little leary of a chiropractor that wants to take x-rays of your son. I know some who do take them of kids and some that don't. I am of the belief that in kids they really aren't necessary- the chiro can feel what's wrong. But if the chiro feels that things are out of place, s/he may want to see your child several times a week at first to get things back in place and staying there.

As for the eye problem, it most likely is due to a muscular problem. I've had my youngest at the eye doctor since 6 months because I thought she might have a lazy eye. The muscle may just need to develop more. The chiro care may help, though. The muscle isn't going to work right if it's not getting the right signals from the brain. Our nervous system runs down our spine, and if a vertebrae is out of place, it pinches off that nerve ending attached to it. If the chiro gets the vertebrae back in place, then the nerve can work at 100% and get the right messages to the muscles and other body parts that are affected by that nerve. The nerves attached to the C1 and C2 vertebrae (the top two vertebrae) affect most of the head area, including eyes, ears, sinuses, etc.

I would do the chiro care and continue to follow-up with the eye doctor. The two don't have to be mutually exclusive, but rather can work with each other to make sure the eye muscles are getting the right messages from the nervous system and getting stronger.

If your pediatrician actually gives you a referral to a chiropractor, please let me know. I have never met a doctor that believed in chiro care too. Hopefully your pediatrician will see the benefit and give you the referral. But if s/he doesn't, don't let that discourage you from taking your son to one. Best of luck to you and feel free to email me if you want to discuss this more.

Hi H.. I highly recommend the chiropractor. My husband and I go regularly for preventative measures and we truely believe in Chiropractic care, which it sounds like you do as well. I have two small children who were both seen in the hospital by our chiropractor. There is nothing wrong with her adjusting his little bones. She knows what she is doing and will know how to tend to him correctly. No matter how young they are, their spine can quickly get out of alignment. It's unbelievable how much they can be misaligned just from birth itself. Please do it. You won't regret it!!! He may cry, but it's okay. Let him. He cries when he gets shots I'm sure. This is better!! Mine have been adjusted from birth and my oldest is 3. :)

I was hestitant too, but after numerous convential doctors were doing nothing that helped my son we gave it a try. He is now 6 months and went for the first time at about 4 months. I have been very pleased. The chirpractor we see actually specializes is pregnant women, postpartum and babies! You may email me personally if you want to hear more about our experience :)

I would have to tell you that Pediatricians or Family doctors will rarely if ever recommend a chiropractor to a patient. I know that for a fact. If you live in Jacksonville take him to Dr. Schilsky's office and they will look at him for free and if your insurance doesn't cover it I think that they have a low base pay for adjustments! I was in a car accident back in November and both of my babies were in the car with me. After the car accident they were more irratible and couldn't sleep through the night. My youngest cried a lot as well. I went to the chiropractor and took them with me for a free evaluation! After their first adjustment they were able to sleep through the night and after the second adjustment they were back to their normal happy healthy selves! Don't discount the option of Chiropratics. . . IT WORKS!

H.,

As a big believer in chiropractic care, I say you should go for it. Chiropractic care will not hurt your child's developing bones or your child, given the chiropractor is reputable and knows what he/she is doing (there are good and bad doctors in every field.)However, I don't think you should go into this with the expectation that this will "cure" your child. Have the mind set that this will make your child healthier and could possibly fix the eye problem (many eye problems can be fixed with chiropractic care but not all are a result of misaligned bones.)You definitely won't lose anything by allowing the DC to adjust your child and you could gain alot.

It won't hurt to have your chiro check him. Babies are super easy to adjust, so they barely have to push at all. My son was first adjusted (by my BIL) at one week old. It looks more like a massage than an adjustment when they are babies.

The nerves in his neck go to his face...so it's possible something is being pinched and is causing problems. Birth is pretty traumatic, so it's not unusual to have some problems that can be helped by adjustments.

I hope that helps!

S.

My chiropractor told me he could cure colic- that made me nervous. But hey, it may be worth a shot, especially if your insurance covers it or if you get a discount. You should be able to tell after a few visits if your son is improving.

Adjustments on a baby are not the same as adjustments on an adult- they are much gentler. My chiropractor said he only uses his fingers.

I used a chiropracter when I was pregnant w/ my first daughter (didn't have the option w/ the second *sigh*), and after I had her I took her to my chiro. It was awesome. We traveled alot and she would help my daughter by realigning her spine, even as a 2 wk old. Find out if your chiro has had training in children and infants. If she does, I would definitely take your son in to see her.

I work at a Chiropractic office. I would definetly reccomend having your son seen. I have seen many "miracles" through Chiropractic in children. My Doctors that I work for work on children...they don't do the same kinds of adjustments that they do on big people for that reason, developing little bodies! Trust your doctor. My daughter sees my doc several times a month just for ear infections and colds.

First of all, I would like to say thank you to your boyfriend for fighting for us!!! Please send my many thanks and blessings!!!

Secondly, yes, chiropractic is wonderful for babies and kids! I can't speak to it "curing" his eye problem, but if it happens to be something being caused by a pinched nerve or something, it could very well be just what he needs. I have never heard of a doctor referring to a chiropractor as they don't believe in them, so to speak...they are, in my opinion, threatened by them and their practice because they don't understand it. I can tell you that I've seen doctors for stomach problems, had many tests, switched doctors and gone through so much...ended up back at my chiropractor's office because of some lower back pain and ended up after 2 adjustments getting almost completely rid of my stomach problems! After many different meds, doctors, tests, etc...2 visits to the chiro and a world of difference...it's truly amazing to me how much good chiropractic care does!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a huge believer myself and now that my chiropractor is back in town, I'm taking my daughter without a doubt! I'll admit I'm still finicky about who my chiro is and who I'll truly trust to adjust my daughter, so I'm very tickled that she's back in town so I can get my daughter started on the right track to health!

Anyway, good luck on whatever you decide and trust your gut. If you don't trust your chiro with him, find another you do or just don't take him. You're the mom and you'll make the right choice based on your situation.

I don't have much info right now but I can get it for you if you'd like.....but I have a friend who's little one (a few months younger than your son) has a similar eye problem and has another issue with his neck that only allows him to turn his head one way. She has seen a specialist for his neck and they are going to try PT for it for now. I know she hasn't been to the eye DR yet for him but I can find out what his Ped said and recommended for his eyes if want. I don know the DR said it has something to do with the muscles that allow the eyes to move either being weak or not the proper size.

I agree with you about it messing with his bones. Babies bones are still soft at this age and I'm not sure if a chiropractor would help or hinder him either.

If you want me to talk to my friend and she where she is at with her son's eyes, send me a message and I'll find out what I can for you.

S.

Hi H.,
If you feel uneasy about it do not let your child see the chiropratic doctor. Both of my boys had eyes that turned in, my 13 had one eye that always turned in even as a newborn. When I asked his doctor about it he said it was a lazy eye and he would out grow it. He now wears glasses and has since he was 3, the glasses have kept his eye straight. My 7 yr. old had the eye surgery on both eyes because at times they would both turn in. It was a muscle problem not a bone problem they just shortened the longer muscle and now he is fine. The surgry was out patient so there was no stay in the hospital and he was back to his normal self by days end.

Hi H.,

I'm a mom that has raised 3 boys and have had a little personal experience with chiropractors. As young as he is I really don't think she could damage any bones. What she is talking about is an adjustment of some kind. If you want to give it a try, just be sure to hit her with every question you have. Do not be afraid of that, this IS your baby. And be present and make her explain every move she makes. If at anytime you feel uncomtorable, grab up your little guy and stop the whole thing.

There are some amazing treatments out there that regular physicians refuse to go with or will support and unfortunately we also deal with most practitioners working under corporations and fear of malpractice suits if they do not follow protocal. By going with the chiropractor you could be saving both you and your child a lot of pain. The worst thing that could happen is that it wouldn't work. Just get a thorough explanation. Even if you have to here it a dozen times.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

T. Dunn
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www.momonajourney.com

I think that in this case it is good to do what the doctor says.

I used to frequent a chiropractor myself. My doctor did some work on my son too, though he didn't have a problem with anythihng except that one of his legs was shorter than the other. All she did was pick him up under his arms just like you would pick up your son to hold him with her fingers between his shoulder blades and swung him very gently between her legs, back and forth a few times. Then she rechecked him and he evened out just from that. I don't know what they would do foryour son's eyes, but I would definitely ask them to explain EXACTLY what they are going to do BEFORE letting them do anything. I wouldn't allow them to do anything invasive. Good Luck!

I am 33 years old and I went through the same thing your son is going through when I was almost 2 years old. I wore the patches, did the eyedrops, had the surgery, and saw the doctor all the time. I will tell you this...it took both my parents and my 11yr old brother to hold me down to put those eyedrops in my eyes. I was 2 and can still remember how badly they hurt. Not to scare you...b/c now my vision is fine. I don't even wear glasses. I just want to prepare you for what will be a very difficult time. My mom was a fanatic about making me nap (rest my eyes) and making me go to bed earlier than anyone else I know. We're talking 730 or 8pm even when I was 10 years old. Personally, I would try anything I could to help my child. I vote that you try the chiropractic. I've heard wonderful stories of how immune systems were helped as well as other maladies by using a chiropractor.

Sounds like a crock to me - massage for babies is beneficial, but chiropractic care? My chiropractor says "NO!" When I was young I had a similar eye problem, and the eye dr. gave me eye exercises to do every day. Trust your pediatrician, and maybe even go to an eye specialist. You don't want to take chances with your precious child. Perhaps try holding objects in front of your child's face, and slowly moving it around to let him follow it. Good luck.

The one thing I did not see mentioned in people's responses is to make sure your son is seeing an opthalmologist that specializes in pediatrics. If the time comes that your son needs to have eye muscle surgery, you'll want to feel confident in the doctor's ability and experience. I want to encourage you follow the doctor's instructions. The earlier the intervention, the better chance for correction. My son started wearing glasses and a patch when he was 3. In the beginning, he had to wear the patch for much of the day. Sounds like it would be awful to have your stronger eye patched most of the time, right? He did great with lots of encouragement and sticking to the routine consistently. As time goes by, the patching is shorter and shorter. When my son was 4, he had eye muscle surgery on both eyes. I was sooo nervous, but he did great. Kids are very resilient. He is now almost 9 and his eyes are doing well with glasses.
To sum up my advice and encouragement for you -
see a doctor that you trust, follow the treatment plan consistently, make sure that you thoroughly understand everything about your son's condition and treatment, gently reassure your son if he has difficulty with any of his treatment, but be firm in letting him know that it is just part of his necessary routine. If you handle glasses, patching, drops, ... matter of factly, he will just think it's part of his normal routine. Best wishes to you and your family.

Hi H.,
I am sorry to hear about your son's eye problems. You should definitely check with your pediatrician about the chiropractor but I can tell you that my sister has taken my nephews to one for a while. She says it helps with all sorts of things and they are both fine. Their ages are one and three. I hope that helps!

The eye problem is usually due to weakness in the muscles around the eye not bone. Patching the strong eye forces the weaker eye to work harder to focus and with any muscle if you use it more it gets stronger. Right now his stonger eye is doing most of the work to focus his vision. I am not sure what a chriopractor can do to help it.