Pediatric Chiropractic
First Steps
Is chiropractic care safe for children?
Yes! There have been several large-scale research studies verifying the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care for kids. The amount of force used to adjust an infant is comparable to the amount of force you use to test a ripe tomato at the grocery store. Chiropractors have been helping kids lead healthier lives for over 100 years. Dr Ritchie has taken several courses to be able to specialize in caring for children and their specific needs.
Why do kids need chiropractic care?
Bones model in response to outside physical stress placed upon them (a concept known as Wolff’s Law) and proper joint motion is needed to distribute these forces for optimal bone development. There are periods of time when skeletal growth is accelerated commonly known as Growth Spurts) during which balance in the muscles and joints is especially important. Just like the bones of the skeleton, your child’s nervous system is also developing at a rapid rate. The nervous system includes the brain, the spinal cord, and all the millions of nerves that serve every inch of your body and control most of its functions. Just like the bones need proper joint motion for optimal development, so do the nerves in order to develop optimal communication (or innervation).
When should I start bringing my kids in?
It is never too early to bring your child to the chiropractor. Infants just minutes old are often checked by the loving hands of the family chiropractor and it is not uncommon to stop by the chiropractor’s office on the way home from the hospital. The birthing process is physically strenuous for both mom and baby, so it is best to get them both cared for as soon as possible afterwards. That being said, it is never too late either!
Children may enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care at any age or stage of development.
Here is an example of our recommended Well-Child schedule:
– First month of life (ASAP!)
– Every 3 months for the first year
– Every 6-12 months for every year thereafter
Other times to consider bring kids in for an appointment include:
– Major milestones (such as starting to sit up, crawl, walk, etc.)
– Any trauma or falls
– If you notice any signs of imbalance (limping, head tilting, etc.)
How often should I bring them in?
Chiropractic for kids will vary as much as chiropractic for adults. As mentioned above, it is often difficult to know when your
kids need to see the chiropractor because they do not generally present with pain. To help with this issue, we recommend setting regular Well-Child visits, the same way you would with your dentist and pediatrician. These help catch minor issues before they turn in to major problems and allow kids to truly maximize their healthy potential.
Common Childhood Conditions
Here is a list of common childhood conditions that families have seen great impact from chiropractic care that you may not have thought of as chiropractic issues. Chiropractors do not necessarily treat or cure these conditions, but they have been shown to help in profound ways by treating the children suffering from them and enhancing their general health.
– ADHD & Autism Spectrum Disorders
– Ear infections
– Common Cold
– Colic
– Constipation
– Growing pains
– Scoliosis
– Bed wetting
– Breastfeeding difficulties
– Birthing Trauma
– Sports injuries (like Little League Elbow)
*Dr. Jasmine Ritchie has undergone specific advanced training to be able to address the special needs of children. She combines her clinical nutrition training with chiropractic care and her passion for this population to provide the unique, tailored support that these families require.