No. The human body is highly adaptable and can be exceptionally good at avoiding or masking painful areas. 

If tissues are injured (baby or adult), the local area may intentionally stiffen (to protect). At the same time, nearby joints and muscles attempt to compensate and do the work of the injured part. 

Our body movement often comes from multiple parts. For example, a full turn of a human head comes from approximately 10 vertebrae turning together. So even if one injured joint lost 50% of its motion, the total loss to the baby’s head turn might only be 5%!

Areas of joint inactivity after an injury can remain for months or even years. Not restoring motion can lead to a diminished joint condition and strength.

Part of the job of a baby Chiropractor in Adelaide is to carefully inspect individual joint motion and tissues and work to restore comfortable, confident, and well-distributed motion where it has been lost.

What can parents look for in their baby?

• Persistent head-turn preference to one side when sleeping. Or sleeping mainly face up
• Flat spot developing on their head (at the back or off to one side)
• Uneven head posture when baby lifts head during tummy time
• One-sided breast-feeding fussiness (especially if milk flow is the same on both sides)
• Difficulty latching/feeding in the absence of technique problems, lip/tongue tie, or high palate
• Crying/restlessness primarily when in car seat or capsule, or when getting dressed/changed
• Discomfort with Tummy Time (in the absence of reflux/excessive wind)
• Excessive irritability/crying (in the absence of other more obvious causes)

If you suspect joint or muscle problems in your baby

Schedule an initial appointment with us today to learn more and to see if we can assist. Call 8272 2862 or Book Online.

Not all babies are born with comfortable and full moving necks, shoulders, and hips. Some babies sustain muscle or joint strains or injuries early in life.

It is tempting to think that all babies are born with perfectly functioning muscles and joints. And why not? They are brand new and look so perfect.

Our Chiropractor, Dr Richard Mathers has been an Adelaide Chiropractor for a long time and have checked hundreds of infants. It is not uncommon for him to see necks and shoulders that have lost over 50% of their motion in a particular direction. Some of these babies are clearly uncomfortable in certain positions.

How can spine joint/muscle injuries occur in a infant? Two likely ways include:

1.  Awkward infant positioning in late pregnancy

2.  Delivery Forces

1.  Awkward Body Position for Extended Periods in Late Pregnancy

When a baby reaches the end of the pregnancy term, their available space to move around and vary their posture can become limited. Ideally, their body remains in a near-neutral position during this phase, where no singular joint is overly stretched or compressed.

However, a baby may settle into a position with a substantial head tilt (or turn) or their arm twisted relative to their body for days or weeks. This process is more likely with large babies or twins because of reduced available space.

In addition, if an infant’s head is engaged down in the birth canal towards late pregnancy, the head may be extended, turned, or tilted relative to the body for extended periods.

Being stuck in that position may create compressional or stretching forces in certain tissues in the neck, shoulder, or lower spine.

2.  Delivery Forces

Contraction force from the mother’s uterus and abdomen is required to drive the baby down through the birth canal.

Even in ideal circumstances, there will be some compression loading through the baby’s body during delivery.

Strain on the joints of the spine and shoulders is likely to increase with longer labour times. Additional physical assistance required to deliver the baby (forceps/ventouse) may also increase the likelihood of stress or strain occurring.

What can a parent do?

If you suspect your baby does not have a comfortable or full moving neck, shoulder or hip, schedule an obligation free check-up with us today.

Should I take my baby to a Chiropractor?

Below are some factors that may help you decide.*

What is a joint problem in a baby?

A ‘joint problem’ in a baby can be many things, but the most common presentation that we deal with at Sure Start Chiropractic Adelaide is persisting connective tissue pain, sensitivity, and joint guarding in the spine, hips or shoulders. Joint problems can prevent some babies from comfortably and effectively – sleeping, feeding, travelling in the car, lying on their front, lifting their head, crawling, weight bearing and turning their head freely enough to avoid getting a flat head.

Muscle and Joint problems are more likely in babies that have endured prolonged or excessive physical stress to their body in either late pregnancy or during delivery.

Late Pregnancy

As a baby gets larger, their available space in the womb, and their capacity to change position, reduces. If a baby is positioned awkwardly (e.g. head tilted or body twisted) for an extended period (weeks) stress or strain is more likely.

Delivery

Some physical strain on the infant’s body occurs in all deliveries, this is normal. Some deliveries however (both vaginal and caesarean) can involve greater or longer compression or pulling forces. Joint and muscle injury becomes more likely as the size, number and duration of these forces increase.

What can a parent look for?

Late Pregnancy

• Feeling like baby was firmly stuck in one position for days/weeks (especially in the last trimester)
• Feeling like baby was pushed up hard under mother’s ribs, or down into her pelvis or low-back for days/weeks
• Awkward baby positioning i.e., Posterior, Breech or Transverse
• Large baby or Twins (less available space)
• Baby’s head engaged early (spine stress may occur if baby’s body is twisted or tilted relative to the head)
• Low amniotic fluid levels (less padding for baby)

Delivery

• Long labour
• Forceps, Ventouse or heavy pushing/pulling required to help deliver baby
• Stuck shoulder
• Drawn out or complicated Caesarean delivery (not all Caesarean’s are straight forward)
• Premature birth (poor muscle control to support and protect spine in the early weeks after birth)

Observation of your Baby

• Excessive irritability/crying in the first 2-3 months of life, in the absence of other more obvious causes
• Persistent head turn, or head tilt, to one side; especially one that won’t allow you to re-position to the opposite side
• A flat spot developing on their head, at the back or off to one side
• A one-sided breast-feeding preference, especially if milk flow is the same both sides
• Discomfort with Tummy Time, in absence of reflux/excessive wind etc
• Uneven head posture when lifting head during tummy time
• Crying/restlessness primarily when in car seat or capsule
• Difficulty latching/feeding in the absence of technique problems, lip/tongue tie, high palate
• Crawling/walking delay
• Asymmetrical arm/leg use

What will happen if I visit a Chiropractor for my baby?

If you suspect your baby has a spine or joint problem, a visit to an experienced baby Chiropractor is worthwhile. A Chiropractor should be well positioned to help you further investigate what you are seeing and give recommendations. If you visit Sure Start Chiropractic Adelaide for your baby, you are never obligated to start treatment. Our initial visit is designed primarily for assessment and providing parents with answers. We will explain everything as we go and only proceed once you are completely comfortable.

Call our office on 8272 2862 or Book-Online here.

*From this author’s observation, experience and understanding in over 20 years of practice.

In many cases however, good observation at home and the right management early on can prevent a flat head from occurring.  As a Chiropractor that sees many flat head cases every year, I encourage all parents to keep reading.

There are several flat head types and causes. This article refers to the kind where a baby has a round head in week one after delivery but develops a misshapen skull in the weeks that follow.  The early stages of skull flattening can be inconspicuous, but it can progress rapidly.  By the time a parent can no longer deny that their baby’s head is becoming flat, the head shape distortion can be very well established.  Add to that the delays created by deciding what to do about it and who to see.  

Two-five months is a typical age range for babies that first make it into my office for assessment and care.  Most of these cases would have benefitted from much earlier intervention.

Head position during sleep is key!

A baby is at greater risk of developing a flat area on their skull, when sleeping on their back with their:

• Head positioned primarily ‘face up’
• Head positioned primarily turned partially (15-45 degrees) to ONE side.

‘primarily’ in this case = 70% or more of the time

The combination of a relatively soft skull and prolonged pressure in one area can create flattening.

What is ideal?

A baby is at lowest risk of developing a flat head, when sleeping on their back, if their head position alternates regularly to BOTH left and right sides, with a full or semi-full head turn (90-60 degrees).

What to look for?

Observe your child’s preferred head position when sleeping regularly from birth to six weeks.  Check them both night and day, in their bassinette, in the car and on the floor.  Parents should check head position at least weekly within the first six weeks after delivery because this is when this type of head flattening will typically begin.

• Do they alternate their head position to both left and right sides? If so, what are the ratios left:right e.g., 50:50, 70:30, 90:10?
• Do they sleep with a full or semi-full head turn (60-90 degrees), or do they sleep with a partial head turn (15-45 degrees)?
• Do they sleep primarily face up?

What to do?

If an infant prefers a head turn to one side, you may try to turn their head very gently to the opposite side when sleeping.  If your baby prefers to sleep face-up, you may try to turn their head very gently to the left and right side alternately.

If they are comfortable and remained repositioned for 60 minutes or more, you may be able to continue managing their head position on your own with regular checking and repositioning over the course of each day. 

If your baby finds it uncomfortable or will not permit you to turn their head away from their preferred position when sleeping or turns back to their preferred position within a few minutes, it is more likely that they have limited or uneven movement in their neck or shoulder.

If you suspect your baby is at risk of developing a flat head, is developing a flat head, has a fixed head preference when sleeping or has a neck turning problem pleased have it assessed without delay by a health professional experienced with musculoskeletal problems in infants.  

In many cases there is much that can be done to help.  If you have any questions on the topic, including what is involved, please do not hesitate to call 8272 2862 or contact our office via our website https://www.surestarthealth.com.au/contact-us/

Day to Day Carrying

When carrying your baby in your arms, attempt to swap the side of your body that you carry your baby on regularly throughout the day. When swapping to the opposite side of your body, also attempt to position your infant in their mirror opposite position.  Swapping sides can take some getting used to (for both parent and baby) but may help minimise any one-sided repetitive stress on your baby’s spine and pelvis (and yours!).

Bottle Feeding

When bottle feeding your baby, attempt to vary the hold of your baby part way through each feed.  Feeding can make up a significant portion of a baby’s day so changing their position or swapping sides is a good way to vary your babies’ posture and may minimise one-sided head pressure (to reduce risk of flat head formation / Plagiocephaly).

Prams / Strollers and Rockers

When placing your baby in a sitting or semi-reclined position attempt to position their bottom in the centre of the seat (not shifted off to one side).  Try to ensure that your baby’s body is also centrally positioned (not leaning or shifting off to one side). If you baby’s body consistently leans to one side, you may wish to prop / straighten them up with a small folded towel or cushion. Similarly, if your infant’s head tends to lean over to the same side each time despite trying to re-position them you may gently bring their head into a more level position with a small folded towel or cushion. NB: Do not use padded supports like towels or cushions when your baby is sleeping due to risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). I also cannot endorse the use of additional padding or support when your baby is in their car seat whilst driving due to the unknown potential risk during a motor vehicle accident.

I hope you found this information helpful. Please feel free to share it with anyone you feel may benefit.  If you have any questions on this topic please do not hesitate to contact us at Sure Start Health Unley, Adelaide.

Disclaimer:   The information in this article is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for professional help or advice.  Neither Sure Start Chiropractic nor any of its practitioners assume any responsibility for harm or injury to anyone who uses the information, or damage to any equipment. If you or your child appears to be in pain or discomfort stop the activity and consider discussing this with a spine health professional.