The First Year of Life- 5 Steps to a Healthy Child

         There is nothing more anticipated than the arrival of a new baby's birth. I was just beginning Chiropractic College when my oldest daughter was born and completing my degree when my second daughter was born. I was unaware of ALL the forces that were put on a baby’s spine during the delivery process until I witnessed it first-hand. In Chiropractic College we have classes in obstetrics and I knew that when I was in practice I would take advanced training in pediatric wellness. I was so committed to a healthy delivery that I delivered my son 3 years later!  This was truly an amazing experience for both my wife and I.  Joel was delivered without any tugging or pulling on his spine. He was checked within minutes after birth for proper spinal alignment to insure a healthy nervous system. 25 years later, Joel (and my girls) still gets checked regularly and is strong and healthy.

Making sure the early development of a child is healthy and on track is of a primary concern to parents.  While we revel in the stages of the first year of life, what most parents aren’t aware of is that all the forces of the delivery process can put endangering stress on the baby's spinal cord and cause abnormal neurological development. It is important to have these checkups at these critical steps in spinal development. Chiropractors are the only health care providers that are trained to perform these life changing subluxation evaluations and guide the course of a healthy spine throughout life.

A newborn has been curled up in the fetal position in the womb for months and will go through an amazing transformation in the first year after birth. The development of proper spinal curves in this first 1-2 years of life plays an important role in pediatric development and adult spinal health.

       To facilitate the wellness and development there are 5 vital times to check an infant for proper alignment.

1)      When a baby is delivered a specialized spinal checkup of the upper cervical spine should be performed. Up to 150 lbs. of stress can be asserted from the delivery process and can cause severe problems with brain and spinal cord development if the spine is out of alignment.

2)      When a baby starts to raise its head the cervical curve is beginning to form. This is the second point to have a specialized spinal checkup. Proper spinal curves form in the first 2 years of life and allow the spine to be 7 times stronger.

3)      When a baby starts to crawl proper hip alignment is important for the cross crawl reflex to be coordinated. Without proper cross crawl movement’s children have a much higher incidence of dyslexia and learning disorders.

4)      The next opportunity is when a baby begins to stand the lumbar curve begins to form and is critical in developing spinal strength throughout life.

5)      When a baby begins to walk they will fall down hundreds of times and can cause misalignments (subluxations) leading to scoliosis and future back instability.

 

After 28 years of checking newborns, and working with families with children, I have been blessed to work with their babies! If you are pregnant or have children, see your local chiropractor to have your children checked to ensure your child grows up healthy.