Babies are born with a ‘C’ shaped spine. A curve in their neck develops as they gain control of their head movement, and the curve in their lower back forms when they begin to sit up and crawl.

During their first year a baby’s spine will increase in size by 50% and continue to grow quickly until 5 years of age.

As babies begin to sit up, crawl and walk they will experience lots of jolts, bumps, trips and falls, all of which are an unavoidable, but important, part of growing up.

In fact by the time a child reaches 7 years of age they have sustained 2,500 significant falls!

Any pain associated with these falls is usually soon forgotten as children are incredibly flexible and resilient. Their bodies usually recover quickly and easily from these stresses, however every now and then the altered spinal movement and nerve interference may remain, giving rise to some longer lasting and significant effects on the health of your child.

Tension builds over time in response to these stresses and as a result, children can gradually become less flexible. The normal development of your child’s spine may then be compromised.

Like tooth decay, spinal problems can build up over time without you being aware of them. Many cases of spinal degeneration and other problems often seen in adults are the result of injuries and stresses that happen during childhood.
From the age of 5 there is steady and continual growth in a child’s spine. Children of this age typically enjoy and respond very quickly to Chiropractic because they heal rapidly and they have not yet developed long term altered movement patterns and spinal degeneration.

During adolescence children go through a series of growth spurts until they reach physical maturity.
As they grow into teens, their need for emotional understanding and support will increase as will their need for excellent physical and mental health. Hormonal changes will take place that will be regulated by the brain and central nervous system.

Keeping the nervous system healthy and subluxation free will be essential in avoiding the rise of health issues now and in the future.

Chiropractic care should be enjoyable! If you or your child have any concerns please discuss these with your chiropractor so your family can get the most from their care.

• Have your child checked by a Chiropractor on a regular basis to help their nervous system function at its best, reduce the impact of falls and other stresses, monitor for the development of scoliosis and to help them be as happy and healthy as possible.
• Show your child lots of love, warmth and affection. This helps your child feel secure and supported.
• Pay attention to your child’s individual interests and talents. Encourage them to do things they love.
• Aim to develop healthy eating habits early in your child’s life and encourage them to try lots of different healthy foods. What they eat when they are young can greatly impact the foods they choose for themselves as adults.
• Give your child a high quality omega-3 fish oil supplement daily. Omega 3 fatty acids are an essential nutrient, meaning, your child can’t be healthy without a sufficient supply. Omega 3 fatty acids have been proven to play an important role in growth and development, brain and nerve function, digestion, immune function, heart function and vision as well as improving reading, spelling and behavioural problems.
• Encourage your children to be social and make their own fun. While television is a good time filler it can be stressful on their brain development and encourage anti-social behaviour.
• Sports are fun ways for children to exercise, learn and socialise. Encourage your children to play sports that interest them, but avoid heavy contact sports or those that are particularly stressful to a child’s body.
• Having boundaries helps children learn about appropriate behaviour. Decide on reasonable rules and
  be consistent.
• Treat your child’s concerns with respect and don’t just dismiss them – their problems might seem minor to you, but can be a really big deal to them. Being open, supportive and a good listener will help build your child’s self esteem.
• Keep in mind that your behaviour, thoughts and values will be one of the greatest influences your child has – be a great role model for your child.

Remember, your Chiropractor is not treating your child’s symptom(s). Chiropractic works by restoring optimal spinal alignment to remove interference from the nervous system. Once your child’s nervous system is working at its peak potential, symptoms may improve. Chiropractic does not cure anything, the human body does. We put your body in the best position to maximise your healing ability.

Chiropractic care for children is extremely safe. It is gentle, effective and can boost your child’s health significantly, without the need for medication.

Each Chiropractic adjustment builds on the previous one. Building a strong and healthy foundation requires consistency and adherence to other crucial developmental and lifestyle recommendations.