Supporting Your Baby with a Tongue Tie — How Infant Chiropractic Helps
If you’ve been told your baby has a tongue tie or lip tie (also called an oral tether), you might already be feeling it during feeds — painful latch, clicking sounds, long or restless nursing sessions, reflux, gas, or a baby who just seems uncomfortable. It can be exhausting, confusing, and emotional for parents. First, you’re not alone. And your baby isn’t doing anything wrong. Although tongue ties show up in the mouth, feeding is actually a whole-body, nervous-system process. Your baby needs to coordinate their tongue, jaw, palate, neck, breathing, and digestion just to nurse well. When there’s restriction or tension anywhere along that chain, feeding can feel hard for everyone. Why the rest of the body matters Babies’ heads and bodies are designed to move and shape as they grow. Pregnancy positioning, birth stress, or oral restrictions can create tightness in the skull, jaw, and neck. That tightness can affect how wide the mouth opens, how the tongue moves, and how comfortable your baby feels at the breast. What infant chiropractic looks like Infant chiropractic is very gentle. We use light, precise touch to help your baby’s body relax, improve head and jaw movement, and support the nervous system so feeding becomes easier and more natural — not something your baby has to fight through. For some babies, chiropractic adjustments can help function enough that breastfeeding and other symptoms improve, preventing parents from needing to pursue other interventions. However in many cases, it is a mix of care providers and their areas of specialty that help your baby latch, settle and thrive. Before a tongue tie release Before a frenectomy, chiropractic care can help your baby feel more comfortable, improve neck and jaw mobility, and support a better latch while you’re deciding next steps. It helps get their little bodies into a better state for the procedure, while also helping support effective change. After a tongue tie release A release gives the tongue more freedom, but your baby still has to learn how to use it. Post-release chiropractic helps the body integrate that new movement, reduce tension, and support smoother suck-swallow-breathe coordination so feeds feel calmer and more efficient. It’s about more than feeding When a baby’s body is balanced and nervous system is regulated, parents often notice better sleep, less reflux and gas, more frequent bowel movements and a more settled little one. When tongue tie care is needed, it works best as a team — parents, lactation consultants, release providers, and gentle chiropractic care all supporting your baby’s comfort and development from the very beginning.
Could Chiropractic Help with your Breastfeeding Challenges?
“My son isn’t latching well.” “My nipples are sore; breastfeeding hurts!” “I don’t think my baby is getting enough milk. “ “Why is my baby always fussing?” And even worse: “My doctor said my baby is failing to thrive.” “I give up.” These are far-too-common common sentiments from moms with newborns: exhausted, hormonal, and at their wits end in trying to follow through on breastfeeding their child. For a mom who wants to breastfeed, these issues can be life-altering, deeply frustrating, and can cause great emotional distress. As a matter of fact, the common feelings of guilt and failure can undermine a woman’s confidence in herself as a mom, as well as her trust in her body and it’s ability to provide for her child. Does this sound familiar? (We wish it didn’t.) But if it does, we want to tell you: 1 – You are not alone. And 2 – we just may have the answer you are looking for. Many parents enlist the help of their family doctors, pediatricians, and lactation consultants without complete resolution, and feel that there is nothing else that can be done. The truth is, there is a gentle and effective solution that can have amazing results: chiropractic care. Many parents (as well as many health care providers) are unaware of the extensive training chiropractors can have to work specifically with infants. A positive and very quick improvement in latching is one of the most celebrated results that family chiropractors see in their practices on a regular basis. Why is this?The co-ordinated movement between the jaw, palate, base of the skull and first vertebra in the neck are necessary for a successful latch. In an infant these are all in exceptionally close proximity to each other (an area no larger than a quarter). Misalignment of these areas affects the infant’s ability to open the jaw fully and can result in an asymmetric latch. Proper movement of the tongue is also necessary for an effective sucking action. The cranial nerve that controls tongue movement may become compressed between the base of the skull and the first vertebra in the neck. Compression of the ear’s eustacian tube can result in congestion & difficulty breathing through the nose. All of these can interfere with breastfeeding. 3,4 What else might a parent notice? Very often, parents do not only complain of breastfeeding or latching difficulties, but rather have complaints that are related to this problem: excessive crying, colic, excessive spitting, preferring to nurse on one side, pulling off the nipple frequently, fussing right after feeding, or noticing that the infant’s head is frequently turned to the same side. Visual indicators of cranial issues can be asymmetric facial features, or an asymmetric shape to the head (or flat head). All of these are possible indicators of structural imbalances and/or an irritated nervous system. 3,4 These imbalances are called subluxations, which alter cranial and spinal mechanics, cause varying degrees of tension, and result in interference to the underlying nerves. As the nerves are responsible for carrying messages from the brain to the body, this balance is essential to normal function and healing, as well as its link to breastfeeding. In an infant, this function is also necessary for optimal neurological development. Why would an infant have imbalances in their spines and heads? Imbalances in an infant are most commonly related to the pregnancy and birth history, as the delicate structures of an infant’s skull and neck are the areas most likely to be strained or injured during birth. In one study done on 1000 infants, it was determined that 80% of newborns had structural imbalances in the upper neck immediately following birth.2 Possible contributing factors may include a breech fetal position, a prolonged or difficult labour, the use of interventions such as vacuum or forceps, and excessively short/excessively long pushing phase, or cesearean section.1 Why wouldn’t my family doctor or paediatrician assess for this?It should also be stated that these imbalances may not be detected by hospital staff or paediatricians, as the specific assessment required is not a part of their general training. Many chiropractors have undergone specific training for providing care to pregnant women, infants and children. In our office, Dr. Amy Robinson has taken care of hundreds of newborns. In fact, most babies remain in their parent’s arms during the visits, and may even sleep through them. Correction of spinal or cranial imbalances are made through gentle and specific chiropractic adjustments, which are performed on a newborn using only fingertips, and with no more pressure than you could press on your closed eye. Issues with breastfeeding & latch tend to resolve quickly with chiropractic care – along with other related concerns – as structural and neurological balance is restored in the infant’s body. In the very least, the simple and gentle assessment could offer you a solution to your concerns. We’d love to help. Reach out today! References: 1. Anrig, Plougher; Pediatric Chiropractic; Williams & Wilkins, Maryland US. 1998. 2. Guttman, G. Blocked atlantal nerve syndrome in babies and infants. Manual Medicine 1987 (25). 3. Miller, Joyce, D.C.; Assessing the Suck Reflex to Solve Feeding Difficulties; Orignally printed in: International Chiropractic Pediatric Association Newsletter July/August 2001. www.icpa4kids.com 4. Vallone, Sharon, D.C.; Chiropractic Care for the Breastfeeding Dad; LEAVEN, Vol. 39 No. 6; December 2003-January 2004; pp126-127
5 Reasons Parents Bring their Babies to the Chiropractor – click to watch video below!
Instilling Family Health Values from a Chiropractor and Mom
After many years of study and experience running a family-based chiropractic practice, I have to admit that sometimes I still take for granted all of the learning I have accumulated over the years. After an active, nature-entrenched childhood, 20 years of competitive sports, and 20+ years in the chiropractic world – I readily admit that the biggest influence in the creation of our family’s health values has been my journey as a chiropractor, as my understanding of health, healing and the human potential has grown exponentially. However, in becoming a parent, everything I believed was put to the test. The pressure was on – as I felt that if I made poor choices as a parent, I could be running the risk of regretting the consequences on an exponential level. So while I learned a lot of theory in my years of schooling, my true education came after I crossed the stage and was faced with the many realities of life as a mother. As a mom, I wanted to be a great one. I wanted to make all of the right decisions to allow this miracle of a human being, my baby, to thrive in every way possible. Would I have the guts to follow through with trusting the innate wisdom that I believed was inside of me – and inside of my babies? Quite honestly, as an unproven entity, I didn’t truly know. But at each turn in the road, as a new decision was required, I found that my resolve became greater. As a family, we based our choices on the foundational philosophies that our bodies are smart and heal themselves, that nature works best when we don’t interfere, and that our health, happiness and full expression is maximized when we give ourselves (and our bodies) what they need to thrive: Love, rest, play, nutrients, movement, nature, connection, gratitude and a healthy brain-body connection – which is my focus as a family wellness chiropractor. For us, this meant that we had the home births we had planned. We breast fed. We co-slept (although my sleep was minimal, I have to admit). We avoided all medications. We minimized chemicals in our home. We worked our schedules to have one of us home for the first few years with our kids. We made our own baby food. We had many successes and fails, but as the years went on, and we were faced with more and more of life’s general challenges, we found that we questioned our actions less and less as we watched our family thrive with great health. From the place of always starting with WHY we make the choices we do – I realized that we have ingrained in our family a deep set of beliefs that are empowering. Our children know we make our meals from scratch – avoiding processed foods, sugars, and grains – because that is what our bodies are designed for. They know the effects junk food has on their bodies. They understand how important it is to move their bodies frequently, get fresh air and have good sleep. They understand that there can be ‘junk-thinking’ – and that it is equally as bad for them as junk food. Our children know that their bodies are smart. They know that their thoughts are powerful. They know that they are competent, resourceful, unique people – and that the best gift they can give the world is for them to thrive with great health and self esteem, and ultimately to contribute to making this world a better place. This is what we mean when we say we are living our lives’ by design’. Our family follows principles that are at the core of the lifestyle approach I teach in my practice. I have seen – and personally experienced – amazing improvements in health, performance, and happiness as a result. As a mom, I have greater peace of mind as a result . And for these reasons, I sincerely wish to pass these same foundational principles on to the people I care about in my practice and in my community. I hope you will follow us along for this journey!
What are the Benefits of Bringing Babies to a Chiropractor?
Many parents wonder why kids, especially babies, would need to see a chiropractor. After all, they don’t typically complain of back pain! While chiropractic care is often associated with back pain, neck pain, and headaches, it goes much deeper than that. Here’s something to consider: the brain controls every function in your body, and it communicates through the spinal cord. The spine is like a super-highway for this communication, so ensuring it is functioning properly is crucial, even in children. (Especially in children!) Our job as chiropractors is to assess and correct any misalignments or tension in the spine or cranium to help restore proper nerve function. This is especially important for babies, whose nervous systems are developing rapidly. In fact, brain development is at its peak in the first two years of life, and proper spinal alignment, development and movement is essential for this growth, as is releasing any undue tension in the head/cranial bones. You may not notice obvious signs of spinal issues in children, but things like breastfeeding difficulties, recurring ear infections, reflux, constipation, colic, or delayed milestones can be connected to the spine and the bones that form the skull. Even if no symptoms are present, it’s still worth checking to ensure everything is functioning and developing as it should. Chiropractic care for kids is gentle, with adjustments so light many babies sleep through their visits. It’s non-invasive and enjoyable – often with immediate changes in baby’s temperament, sleep, and digestion. After all, normal physiology is a state of balance and ease, even in little ones. If you’re curious or have questions, feel free to reach out to our office. We have over two decades of experience working with families and can help determine if chiropractic care is right for your child. For more information, visit www.icpa4kids.com.
Could Chiropractic Help with Breastfeeding and Latch Challenges?
Could our Chiropractic Approach hold Answers to your Baby’s Breastfeeding and Latch Challenges? “My son isn’t latching well.” “My nipples are sore; breastfeeding hurts!” “I don’t think mybaby is getting enough milk. “ “Why is my baby always fussing?” !And even worse: “My doctor said my baby is failing to thrive.” “I give up.” These are far-too-common common sentiments from moms with newborns: exhausted,hormonal, and at their wits end in trying to follow through on breastfeeding their child. For amom who wants to breastfeed, these issues can be life-altering, deeply frustrating, and cancause great emotional distress. As a matter of fact, the common feelings of guilt and failurecan undermine a woman’s confidence in herself as a mom, as well as her trust in her body andit’s ability to provide for her child. Does this sound familiar? (We wish it didn’t.) But if it does, we want to tell you: 1 – You are not alone. And 2 – we just may have theanswer you are looking for. Many parents enlist the help of their family doctors, pediatricians, and lactation consultantswithout complete resolution, and feel that there is nothing else that can be done. !The truth is, there is a gentle and effective solution that can have amazing results:chiropractic care. Many parents (as well as many health care providers) are unaware of the extensive trainingchiropractors can have to work specifically with infants. A positive and very quickimprovement in latching is one of the most celebrated results that family chiropractors see intheir practices on a regular basis. Why is this?The co-ordinated movement between the jaw,palate, base of the skull and first vertebra in theneck are necessary for a successful latch. In aninfant these are all in exceptionally closeproximity to each other (an area no larger than aquarter). Misalignment of these areas affects theinfant’s ability to open the jaw fully and canresult in an asymmetric latch. Proper movement of the tongue is alsonecessary for an effective sucking action. Thecranial nerve that controls tongue movement may become compressed between the base of theskull and the first vertebra in the neck. Compression of the ear’s eustacian tube can result incongestion & difficulty breathing through the nose. All of these can interfere withbreastfeeding. What else might a parent notice? Very often, parents do not only complain of breastfeeding or latching difficulties, but ratherhave complaints that are related to this problem: excessive crying, colic, excessive spitting,preferring to nurse on one side, pulling off the nipple frequently, fussing right after feeding, ornoticing that the infant’s head is frequently turned to the same side. Visual indicators of cranialissues can be asymmetric facial features, or an asymmetric shape to the head (or flat head). Allof these are possible indicators of structural imbalances and/or an irritated nervous system. These imbalances are called subluxations, which alter cranial and spinal mechanics, causevarying degrees of tension, and result in interference to the underlying nerves. As the nervesare responsible for carrying messages from the brain to the body, this balance is essential tonormal function and healing, as well as its link to breastfeeding. In an infant, this function isalso necessary for optimal neurological development. Why would an infant have imbalances in their spines and heads? Imbalances in an infant are most commonly related to the pregnancy and birth history, as thedelicate structures of an infant’s skull and neck are the areas most likely to be strained orinjured during birth. In one study done on 1000 infants, it was determined that 80% ofnewborns had structural imbalances in the upper neck immediately following birth.2 Possiblecontributing factors may include a breech fetal position, a prolonged or difficult labour, the useof interventions such as vacuum or forceps, and excessively short/excessively long pushingphase, or cesearean section. Why wouldn’t my family doctor or paediatrician assess for this?It should also be stated that these injuries may not be detected by hospital staff orpaediatricians, as the specific assessment required is not a part of their general training. Many chiropractors have undergonespecific training for providing care topregnant women, infants and children. Inour office, Dr. Amy Robinson has takencare of hundreds of newborns. In fact,most babies remain in their parent’s armsduring the visits, and may even sleepthrough them. Correction of spinal orcranial imbalances are made throughgentle and specific chiropracticadjustments, which are performed on anewborn using only fingertips, and withno more pressure than you could press onyour closed eye. Issues with breastfeeding & latch tend to resolve quickly with chiropractic care – along withother related concerns – as structural and neurological balance is restored in the infant’s body.In the very least, the simple and gentle assessment could offer you a solution to your concerns. We’d love to help.