As parents, it’s natural to want the best for your child’s health and development. With more families turning to holistic and natural healthcare options, it’s common to ask: Is chiropractic care safe for kids? The short answer is yes. Chiropractic care is safe for children, and is an effective way to support a child’s health from birth through every stage of development, and throughout their life.
A Gentle and Natural Approach to Health
Pediatric chiropractic care is much different from the adjustments adults receive. Techniques used on infants and children are incredibly gentle, often involving no more pressure than you’d use to check the ripeness of a tomato. This is because the bones and soft tissues of kids are much different than adults, so they require a different approach. These low-force adjustments are specifically tailored to a child’s size, age, developmental stage, and most importantly, their individual needs.
From the moment a child is born, their spine and nervous system are under stress. The birthing process itself, especially when interventions like forceps, vacuum assistance, or C-sections are involved, can create restrictions/subluxations in a baby’s spine. Left unaddressed, these subluxations interfere with proper nervous system function, affecting sleep, digestion, immune response, and development.
Sometimes, these dysfunctions are evident: latching issues, constipation, and delayed/missed milestones are just a few of the many symptoms that can signal an unhealthy spine and nervous system. Many times, these dysfunctions are silent and go unnoticed until later in your child’s life, when the problem is deeply engrained into their nervous system. This could mean a problem that started at birth and could have been dealt with, may affect your child years or decades down the road.
The Nervous System Connection
The nervous system controls every organ, cell, and tissue in the body. If there is interference in the communication pathways between the brain and body, often caused by spinal subluxations, kids may experience symptoms like constipation, difficulty concentrating, or poor sleep.
Chiropractic care helps restore and maintain proper function of the nervous system, supporting the body’s natural ability to heal and thrive. That’s why parents often report improvements in their children’s health, behavior, posture, and overall vitality after beginning chiropractic care.
Is It Really Safe?
Absolutely! Pediatric chiropractic care has a strong track record of safety. A 2015 study published in JMPT (Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics) looked at more than 10,000 pediatric chiropractic visits and found no serious adverse events. In fact, the authors concluded that chiropractic care for children is exceptionally safe, particularly when delivered by a trained and experienced practitioner, which luckily, we have!!!
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Children
Chiropractic is not just about correcting problems, it’s about enhancing function. Children under regular chiropractic care often report:
- Fewer health incidents
- Better sleep
- Improved digestion and less irritation
- Enhanced concentration and reduced hyperactivity
- Better posture and physical development
Many of these benefits stem from the improved function of the nervous system, which supports everything from physical health to emotional regulation.
From Birth and Beyond
Getting checked by a chiropractor earlier in life, could potentially identify and address issues, both seen and unseen. Birth, no matter how uncomplicated, is often the first source of spinal stress, but children also experience subluxations from learning to walk, falls, backpacks, sports, and phone use. Keeping your child’s spine and nervous system healthy can help them grow and develop with fewer setbacks.
Regular adjustments can support milestones like crawling, walking, and coordination, and can
potentially benefit those with conditions like torticollis, nursing difficulties, or reflux in infants.
A Healthier Future Starts Now
Chiropractic care is a very powerful tool you can give your child for a lifetime of health. Not only
is it safe, but it’s preventive and natural. Rather than waiting for symptoms to appear, chiropractic focuses on supporting the body’s innate ability to function and heal—something that starts with a well-adjusted spine and a healthy nervous system.
So, is chiropractic care safe for kids? Yes. And more than that—it can instill habits for your child’s lifelong health and wellness.
If you’re curious about how chiropractic care can support your child’s health, we’d love to talk. You and your child’s journey to wellness can start today.
From,
The Team at Pawlovich Chiropractic