For both mother and baby, infantile colic gives them something to cry about. Your chiropractor understands that when a child is inconsolable, it’s not only the child who suffers.
Infant colic can easily affect the psychological, emotional and physical health of the entire family. This is why chiropractors urge parents to seek immediate care if the infant is exhibiting signs of colic.
request an appointmentInfantile Colic is Diagnosed by the Rule of Three
Crying for more than three hours per day, for more than three days per week, and for longer than three weeks in a month for an infant who is well-fed and healthy.
- Medical experts have yet to come to a consensus regarding the cause. One of the most common theories is that the infant is having digestive difficulties, including excessive gas or reflux. Mothers who breastfeed are recommended to avoid dairy products for a week to see if it helps reduce the symptoms of colic.
- Chiropractors, on the other hand, suggest that we look to the spine. Natural childbirth can be traumatic for the immature human spine, with the neck and head experiencing a great degree of compression, rotation, extension and traction.
- When treating an infant, Dr. Lowery will look at your child’s spine, locating areas that do not appear to be aligned and/or moving properly, and then apply gentle pressure to reestablish proper mechanics for the involved vertebrae.
The result: Happier babies, and happier parents!
Research supports Chiropractic care for babies with Colic
Often, only a few adjustments are needed to produce dramatic results. In one such case, a 7-week old infant presented with medically diagnosed colic that was persistent since birth. Symptoms included reflux and disturbed sleep. Vertebral subluxation complex patterns were noted in the spine of the baby.
In less than three weeks of treatments, this infant achieved complete resolution with chiropractic adjustments to the spine.’ In yet another study, 316 infants with moderate to severe colic (average 5.2 hours of crying per day) were treated, and their responses to care were reported by their mothers in a prospective survey.
94% of the children showed a satisfactory response with an average of only three treatments within two weeks. One-fourth of these infants showed great improvement after the first chiropractic adjustment!’ In 1999, one of the most compelling studies was undertaken to investigate the effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of infantile colic versus medication.
Fifty infants were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups: dimethicone medication daily for two weeks or spinal manipulation for two weeks by a local chiropractor. The infants in the chiropractic group received an average of 3.8 adjustments. During the two-week treatment period, the parents kept a colic diary and nurses visited the families to administer a weekly infantile colic behavior profile. Although all of the chiropractic patients completed the entire course of treatments, 9 out of 25 subjects dropped out from the medication side.
During the two-week treatment period, the parents kept a colic diary and nurses visited the families to administer a weekly infantile colic behavior profile. Although all of the chiropractic patients completed the entire course of treatments, 9 out of 25 subjects dropped out from the medication side.
When parents were asked why they left the study, two described their child’s condition as “worsened” and two others described it as “much worsened.” Had these four infants completed the study, they would have significantly lowered the apparent positive effects of dimethicone. This study strongly suggests that chiropractic treatments are a valid treatment option for children with infantile colic.
This study strongly suggests that chiropractic treatments are a valid treatment option for children with infantile colic.’ It’s important to note here that none of the chiropractors delivering the care in these studies were claiming of being colic.
They were adjusting the infants who were exhibiting colicky symptoms. Next time you hear someone complaining about their baby’s incessant crying, mention to them that chiropractic care may be able to help.
Symptoms of a Colicky Baby
Colic’s cause cannot be pinpointed to one specific thing, that’s why doctors don’t have a clear way to help him. Here are a few popular theories:
- A growing digestive system with muscles that often spasm
- Gas trapped in his body
- Hormones that cause stomach pain or a fussy mood
- Oversensitivity or overstimulation by light, noise, etc.
- A still-developing nervous system
TIPS: Ways to Ease Colic
Colic should go away by the time your baby is 4 months old, until then here are a few tips to help.
- Motion helps calm babies
Walk around with your baby in a over-your-chest carrier. The combination of your warmth and rhythm will help lull your baby to sleep. Car rides are also a good way to get your baby to relax. - Use sound to calm your baby
The gentle humming of a machine can help calm your baby. Try a fan, or download a white-noise app on your phone and turn it on low volume to soothe your baby to sleep. - Calm your baby’s senses
Bright lights and loud noises are overwhelming to babies. Try to lay your baby on your lap in a dark & quiet room, and gently rub his back for some time. - Warmth helps too
Giving your baby a warm bath, swaddling him snugly in a blanket, or putting a warm bottle on your baby’s belly can help soothe your baby to sleep.