Chiropractors for Children?

I come from a little different background then most who are very into Chiropractic care. I did not receive my first adjustment until after I had my first child at 21. And didn't really start going until our son...which it is a long story but did not sleep more then an hour straight (NO JOKE) until he was 9 months old. At that time we took him into a chiropractor he had three adjustments then on the fourth adjustment he slept 16 hours straight that night...I am not joking at all. I remember waking up 11 hours into it (all of us even our daughter was so sleep deprived because of his waking up we all slept good that night) anyway 11 hours into it I woke up and was like man I feel so rested realized what time it was ran into his room to make sure he was still breathing...LOL he was and continued to sleep even longer. We have not been back to those short night since. We now all go as a family and all feel much healthier.

Our son had been suffering from reflux also which was causing problems and he was on medicine for and he was off the medicine two weeks into the adjustments. If you would have asked me 5 years ago to go to the chiropractor I would have laughed. But now seeing first hand the miracle of going to one I am a firm believer. We personally prefer chiropractors that preform the "diversified" treatment. we went to 5 different chiropractors before we found the one that worked for us. But once you find them you will sure feel better and so will your son.

That is just my story.

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I have been taking my 3 boys to the chiro for a very long time. I have been seeing one for over 11 years. I like that I have seen him adjust his own kids on a regular basis. Ask if they have experince with kids and how young too. If you lived near renton, wa I would give you the name of mine.

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Hi T.,

I think trying a chiropractor is a great idea. I know many people don't believe in it, or have this idea that it's not safe, espeically for younger people, but to be honest, that's because they're not educated in it enough (in my opinion). My boys have been seeing one since they were babies and I think it's a really important part of our overall health. I don't know anyone in Dayton, OR, but I can tell you what I suggest looking for in a chiropractor.

1. Someone who assesses and adjusts your entire body each visit, including your knees, feet, arms, etc. (It's not just your back and neck that get out of alignment and everything is connected so an adjustment in one place affects many others.) Also not just getting into an adjustment routine and doing the same adjustments each time. Sometimes different things are out of balance, so your son should be assessed EACH visit.
2. Someone who listens to what's going on and explains things well.
3. Preferably someone recommended (there are too many chiropractors out there that are not good).
4. Someone who's open to using an activator rather than always doing general adjusting. (Although my previous chiro didn't think that activators worked all that well, my new chiropractor uses it primarily and our adjustments last a lot longer, and it's easier to adjust places like your knee or your head [cranial plates] or anything like that if necessary.) It's also less intrusive, especially for little ones and the pressure is easily adjusted. If you're not sure what an activator is, it's just a tool with a rubbery tip that does a quick jab of pressure where it's placed (it's not painful at all!) to adjust you rather than hand pressure or twisting, etc.
5. Someone who doesn't request you to come in once a week or more without a good reason. (Sometimes initial visits should be closer together to get your body in line, but it shouldn't continue like that for too long unless there are serious issues to address.) Every two to three weeks (or less) should be sufficient for most people.
6. It's not necessary, but something that might be good is to find someone who's either a parent and/or has other patients that are children, so they will be better at making the child happy and comfortable during the visits.

I also suggest that you're somewhat open with your chiro about other issues your son might be having (digestional, headaches, ear infections, sinus issues, etc.) because adjustments can help significantly with all of that!

Although chiropractics can help with many things, I also suggest trying other things, like exercise and diet. Not just eating well, but cutting out sugars, additives, preservatives and food coloring (especially red and yellow's). Our bodies need to be balanced on many levels and often there isn't just one answer - it's a matter of finding the right combination of things that work. Sometimes it's just personality too. Although being ornery isn't easy to deal with and should be kept at bay, it's also a sign of intelligence and inner strength. (Not trying to sound all Earthy here.) ;o)

You may want to consider taking him to see a Naturopath too, so you can find out if there's anything else going on (possibly food sensitivities, or something else?). A Naturopath really takes the time to listen and help you figure things out. (Though there are always good ones and not as good ones, so be aware.) Most MD doctors will not look into things as well or as openly as a Naturopath. Most just follow their textbooks and try to whip through their appointments in 10 minute intervals (since that's how insurance companies pay them).

I hope you find someone that can help you out! Best of luck to you!

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Yes!! Most chiropractors work on children. It's very, very safe and effective for a number of complaints. The basic premise is that the longer you have a spinal misalignment (subluxation) the worse it gets over time, causing problems later such as headaches, back pain, neck pain, and other ailments depending on which nerves are affected. All the nerves that control every function of your body are housed along the spinal cord so when the spine is out of alignment those nerves cause various symptoms (sleep problems, bedwetting, colic,, allergies, ear infections, etc,)! I have worked in chiropractic for 14 years, have been adjusted since I was a child, and have had both my kids adjusted from day one! My kids are super healthy and get sick far less often than most kids we know, which can be attributed to chiropractic helping to keep their immune aysrem functioning at a higher level due to the lack of interference. You won't regret taking him!

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This is right up my alley! Youngest now 14 years old although when he was three we started him with the chiroprater. Gentle adjustments, the touch therapy was great for him. I soon learned calming this gentle giant down also a little back rub too. He has for the most part was over stimulated which is not too hard to do being a large of stature over the 100 percentile child!

Works great to also eliminate processed foods in these fine little machines:)

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My chiropractor works on infants through adults. Even horses. He swears by it. I think it is individual chiropractors. Find a chiropractor you trust. If you live in the Kent area, my chiropractor is Livewell Chiropractor, on Kent Kangley Road. I recommend him highly.

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I don't have a recommendation for a chiro but i do have a couple ideas to help with sleep my daughter did not sleep well at all at 1 1/2 yr old....this is what helped and now she sleeps 11 - 12 hrs straight every night
I got her a twilight ladybug star projector. She is bananas for it and when she gets a little scared of the dark or bored in the middle of the night she will turn it on. She loves it and it has made a big difference. The other thing which has worked magically was a marpac 980a white noise conditioner. It just makes a white noise fan like sound and since I got it she has been sleeping so deep. I got one for my new baby who sleeps in my room and was pleasantly surprised to find that I sleep much better because I don't hear the trains running by in the night anymore YAY! Right after I had my second baby I had my parents watching my first kid and they liked the white noise so much (coming through the baby monitor) that they bought one and love it. I can't express how much better all of us sleep now! BTW my 3 month old is averaging 7-9 hours a night now straight sleep it is wonderful. (only bad thing is that it cost 50$ from Amazon) but it is worth every single cent!

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I used to go to Randy Hewitt and his wife was chiropractor there too, who specializes in children I can't think of her name but if you find him, they share a practice together. They are located in Portland on E Burnside street, just east of 21st on the north side of the street.

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Not to sway away from going to the chiropractor but do you have a bed time routine? A full belly and a nice warm bath is usually very relaxing to children right before bed. Maybe give him a nice massage after bath before putting him down to bed as well. You might consider changing the "craziness and messiness" because children like routine and order. Good luck :-)

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Hi T.,

As Rose earlier suggested, Dr. Elise Hewitt (Randy Hewitt's wife) is *amazing*. I have been taking my son since he was 2 weeks old (not my idea, his father's...but I have since become convinced that this was one of the best things we could have done for our two-year-old son!). As mentioned, she's located at Portland Chiropractic Group on 20th and Burnside. (this, of course, is only convenient if you live in Portland, OR, but honestly, I wouldn't want to go to anyone else.)

I can say that, as a mother, not only have I seen some profound benefits from my son getting adjusted on a regular basis, I really like Dr. Elise's demeanor and her relationship with my son. Dr. Hewitt was the frontrunner of pediatric chiro here in Oregon (The very first) and a founding member of a group of American Pediatric Chiro...I'm not exactly sure what the official name is. She's very thorough, caring and concerned, and I've always felt we got our money's worth.

For what it's worth, a few months after my son started, I began getting both chiropractic work and massage done there and have felt a beneficial change in my body. I also see it in my son. He's had a very small handful of colds in comparison to his peers and is rarely ever ill. Chiro can be great for the immune system. Once, when he seemed down and 'under the weather', I took him in for adjustment. That afternoon, he began to have a runny nose--evidence that his body was trying to fight something off before the appt and now, with the adjustment, he was able to really start getting these germs out. I can't remember the last time I had a cold.

One more thing--it may take repeat visits to correct some problems. Our bodies tend to slip back into misalignment very easily, so give it time. Best wishes!

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A chiropractor that is trained to work on children is extremely safe and I have taken all of my children at one point or another since birth. You didn't mention what area you are in but if you are in Portland, I highly recommend Whole Mama, Whole Child in NE. Not all chiropractors work on children and as with finding the right doctor for your child, finding the right chiropractor is usually done best by word of mouth.

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T. - I've seen a chiropractor off and on since I started having back problems in my teens. My three girls have all been seen since birth. A chiropractor can help with a lot of problems such as ear infections, colic, not nursing, etc. But the main benefit is that if your children grow up in alignment, then by the time they're done growing they'll have so few problems as adults!

If you can find a family chiropractor who does a good exam first and can put your child on a once-a-month plan, you'll be set. They don't need to be seen more often than that, and if you go less often your chiropractor won't get to know your child as well and it's more difficult to hold the adjustment. It should only take a few minutes, and there is no harsh cracking or jerking involved. Just some gentle pressure in the right places, and maybe a quick turn of the neck and you're on your way.

I could list story after story of how chiropractic has helped my three girls, but there's no room for it! Blessings on you and your family.
J.

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I am one of those who recommends moms suffering with colicky or unable-to-sleep babies look into this, although my recommendation is from observation and second-hand stories, unlike that GREAT story you got below :)!

If you are in Portland (I wish Mamasource was more accurate with their 'local' feature), I prefer to take my kids to Dr. Dan Sisco, ND, at Alameda Clinic on NE Broadway just past 33rd. He's been in practice since something like 1970 and has a really 'this is just everyday' method/bedside manner ... thus far he's fixed all the bumps (some very large, like being pushed off the top of the playstructure at school) I've brought in to him. He doesn't file for insurance for you, though, so you need to be willing to fight the good fight with your insurers or pay out of pocket. (On the other hand, four? visits and a happy baby is the kind of thing I find well worth it.)

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Here is my take...try anything. Children are as independent as we are, try everything until something works, if it stops working, try the list again.
I know that Chiropractors are a thing of controversy...and I am not a band-wagoner...but it worked for my headaches, and it helped with my daughter's sleeping issues.
Do what works.

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Dr. John of Mountain View Health and Wellness Clinic in Bonney Lake is very good with children. He has helped my family.

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Most chiropractors work on children including babies. If you could find one that is a really good chiropractor that works well with children that would be awesome. Like everything else you get some that are better with children. I think Dr. Rapp (SE Portland?) and Dr. Brouse, Clackamas both are chiropractors and I believe would be good with children. Maybe they can refer you to another one if you don't live in those areas.

N.
SAH mom, wife, grandma and Wellness Coach

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Have you considered food allergies? I used to nanny a two year old whose behavior sounds like your son's, and after he was diagosed with allergies to wheat, dairy, and citrus, he was a changed child. He had no other symptoms to indicate food allergies - no skin rashes, diarrhea, vomiting - just the behavior and sleep issues. The family tried to reintroduce either wheat or dairy a year or so later, and the little guy was able to tell them that his head hurt too much; he'd probably been having sharp headaches as a toddler, but couldn't express it verbally.

I wish you luck! ~ D.

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A friend of mine has a bad sleeper and read about a woman on Whidbey Island who does some sort of cranial massage on toddlers and it seems to be working for her. Apparently there is some correlation between being vacuumed out and being a bad sleeper as your cranium is tight. She's not sure if she believes it, but because her son is two and a half, she was ready to try anything and it has been working, so she's willing to keep going... If you can't find the woman's name, send me a message and I'll try to get it for you...

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Chiropractic is safe for children. Just watch out for doctors that want to see the child several times a week. Too much Chiropractic can make joints too loose.
But, if something is "out" an appoinment with a chiropractor can help dramatically. The Chiropractor that I work for does see children and babies, as well as pregnant women.

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No, not all chiropractors work on children call ahead & find out. I think you are going the right route. I started taking my daughter after she started school. Sometimes her back pack was really loaded down. She is always 1 inch taller after she goes & so am I for that matter. She is starting second grade in September & has been going for two years. I never thought about it but, she does sleep better now that she goes once a month. If this doesn't work see if you can find someone who does or can show you child massage.

I would ignore nay sayers, most have never been to a chiropactor or only went once & didn't keep looking for the right doctor for them. Just like a shoe, you have to find the right fit with a doctor. By the way, I am ex Navy & even the military now recognizes it & offers it to service members as part of their free health care.

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It is important to find a Chiropractor who is comfortable with kids. Some are better than others.
I love my Chiro and I think he does kids
He is Dr. Stephen Ray on Hall Blvd in Beaverton.

You may also want to try Acupuncture.
Sometimes, that can make a difference for little guys.

For my son, it was food allergies. Every time he ate oranges he would come home from school and have a melt down. If it is food it is a little tricky and a lot of investigative work to figure out what it is exactly. For out family though, it was well worth it!!!

Good Luck,
M. Hawkins, LAc
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I'm a believer!
I take my 2 1/2 year old and my 10 month old. Anytime I have a health issue with them I have them adjusted and it has kept them healthy. IMO, Chiropractic should be a regular maintenance for your body, not a last resort. Why wait until things get bad to fix a problem?
my chiropractor's website has lots of info
http://www.chirotacoma.com/index.php
Hope things work out for you.

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My chiropractor works on kids who have sustained spinal injuries (like in car accidents), but I don't know if he would accept temperament complaints. Chiropractic is very safe and is successful for the right kinds of complaints. It saved me from a back brace as a kid, and I've heard of it curing things like acid reflux and migraine headaches.

I don't have a chiropractic recommendation - but have a 22 month old who is just now starting to sleep through the night. We finally figured out he just needed a bedtime snack! The last couple of weeks have been a lot better. Sometimes it's gas keeping him up so we're currently searching for something that works since the stuff we're using isn't. Good luck!

i found a new type of chiropractic that is much more gentle. no twisting or crunching. they use the activator method to do spinal adjustments. i go to atlas chiropractic in vancouver on 164th. i know they do kids too tho i haven't taken my kids there yet.

I don't know where you're located, but Renaissance Chiropractic is wonderful... They're in Tacoma, off of Tacoma Mall Blvd, across from Chuckie Cheese. Personally, I'd recommend Nicole Long for children, and Devin Long for adults.... They're both great (they're married). It's a large family practice, and they take very good care of, and genuinely care for, their patients.

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Hi T. O. I would like to reccomend consulting with Dr.Anik @ Advantage Chiropractic here in Longview. Her and her husband Dr.Darrin are amazing and I would trust either with my three year old daughter in a hot second! I've been a patient there for several years myself.
I'm quite sure you will get results as well as more sleep!!!

T. B.

I'm sorry I don't have any help for you as to child chiropractors, I'm more curious how you pin pointed his not sleeping at night to back problems? I was thinking maybe food/diet, exercise, too much stimulus (t.v., siblings), age, maybe it is even normal for him. My daughter at 6 years still wakes ups almost every night to come into our room - she falls right back to sleep. Is your son playing - wide awake? Or just waking up, peeing and going back to sleep - but lets you know about it. Maybe his bladder is waking him up. Pets? I know my pets have woken my daughter up. Noises? My daughter used to wake up screaming when planes passed over our house. Oh and transitioning from nap to no nap was a problem with our household routine for a while. If she got a nap, she woke up at night, if she didn't get a nap she was a wreck by 5pm.

Well, sorry I don't have a suggestion for a chiropractor, I hope your son gets a good nights sleep soon.

Positively,
M.