Short answer: the best time for a baby’s first chiropractic check is right after birth. Most of our newborns come in within the first 5 to 10 days of life, some on the way home from the hospital, and Dr. Kelli does home visits for families who birth at home. The second-best time is now.

Why right after birth?

Birth is a huge event for a little body, however it happens. The head and neck take a lot of force in a vaginal birth, and a caesarean is a different kind of physical stress, not the absence of one. Chiropractors describe the result as a subluxation: an area of the spine, very often the upper neck, that has lost proper movement and is sending stress signals to a brand-new nervous system.

That nervous system is the master controller of everything your baby is learning to do: breathe, feed, digest, sleep, turn the head, and later crawl, walk and run. A gentle check makes sure nothing is in the way.

What a newborn check looks like

Extremely gentle. The pressure we use on a newborn is about what you would use to check a ripe tomato, and we use our pinky fingers. Babies are usually checked in your arms or while feeding, and most either sleep through it or smile. There are no cracks, no twisting, nothing that looks like an adult adjustment.

We start with a relaxed conversation about the pregnancy, the birth and how the first days have gone. Then a hands-on check of the spine, the neck and the way your baby moves and holds their head. When babies can sit still for a moment, an INSiGHT scan adds an objective look at the nervous system.

Signs a baby’s body is stuck in stress

A baby cannot say “I am stressed”, but their body can. Parents come to us with:

A baby who seems to prefer turning the head one way, or dislikes one side when feeding
Difficulty latching or feeding well on one side
Reflux, gas, constipation or colic-type crying
Trouble settling and sleeping
A history of a long, fast, assisted or caesarean birth

These are signals that a little body is having trouble adapting. Where we find stress or restriction in the spine, we help the body clear it so it can develop and regulate as it should.

What we are not

We do not treat diseases and we do not replace your pediatrician. We work alongside them. Our job is the spine and the nervous system; diagnoses and vaccinations stay with your doctor.

Nursery, play area and the whole family

The studio has a nursery for feeding and nappy changes (post-adjustment nappies are a thing, especially if a little tummy has not been working at its best) and a play area so older siblings can play while you get adjusted too. Many families come together.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe for a newborn? Pediatric adjustments use a fraction of the force of an adult adjustment and are adapted to the baby’s age and size. Dr. Kelli is trained specifically in pediatric care through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA).

How many visits will my baby need? Usually far fewer than an adult. After the first visit you get a clear recommendation and the reasons behind it.

Can you come to us? For families who birth at home, Dr. Kelli does newborn home visits. Ask us.

Ready for your baby’s first check? Book a pediatric assessment, or message us on WhatsApp if you would rather ask first.

When Should a Baby First See a Chiropractor? (Hint: Sooner Than You Think)