Why That First Adjustment Could Be the Best Thing You Do for Your Newborn

As a new parent, you’re doing everything you can to give your newborn the healthiest start—choosing the safest car seat, researching the most nutritious feeding options, and creating a perfect sleep space. But there’s one critical piece that often gets missed: most parents don’t realize just how much physical stress a baby’s body endures during birth, even when everything goes according to plan.

Birth Takes a Bigger Toll on Babies Than We Often Realize

In today’s world, roughly one out of every three births in the U.S. is a C-section. In addition, many deliveries involve interventions such as inductions, vacuum or forceps use, or other forms of manual assistance. A deeper look into delivery practices across developed countries reveals some surprising—and concerning—statistics.

But even intervention-free, natural births are physically demanding for our little ones. The stress of labor and delivery places significant pressure on your baby’s head and neck. This pressure can lead to subtle birth trauma and subluxation—misalignments that create neurological interference and can affect your child’s regulation, development, and overall health right from the beginning.

The First Weeks: More Than Just "Newborn Fussiness"

It’s not uncommon for parents to experience a whirlwind of sleepless nights and emotional exhaustion when their newborn struggles with latching, sleeping, reflux, or inconsolable crying. While these issues are often labeled as “just part of having a newborn,” they may actually be signs of nervous system stress or dysfunction that can be gently addressed with the right care.

Research published by the American Osteopathic Association found that 99% of newborns had subluxation or "somatic dysfunction"—even those born without complications. These biomechanical challenges become even more prevalent with longer labors or intervention-based deliveries.

Unfortunately, most routine newborn check-ups don’t include an evaluation of your baby’s nervous system, so this stress is often unaddressed. Even if your birth was smooth and intervention-free, it doesn’t always mean your baby’s body is completely stress-free. That’s why early chiropractic care is so beneficial—it gently checks for hidden subluxations and nervous system tension that could affect your baby’s comfort and development.

Why It’s Important to Catch Things Early

Subluxations and nervous system interference in infants don’t just resolve on their own. They can create a ripple effect on feeding, digestion, sleep, and developmental milestones. Because these stress points often occur near the brainstem and upper neck—key areas responsible for controlling movement and communication between the brain and body—their impact can be far-reaching as your child grows.

The Science Behind Birth-Related Subluxation

Infants Cannot Protect Their Delicate Spine

Babies are born with virtually no muscular control to stabilize or protect their head and neck. That means even a birth free from complications can lead to physical stress in baby's upper neck and nervous system. And when birth involves more forceful interventions, the risk of injury increases significantly.

Understanding Subluxation in Newborns

In newborns, subluxation includes three main components:

• Structural misalignment: This may contribute to nursing challenges, tight neck muscles (torticollis), or flat spots on the head (plagiocephaly).

• Lack of proper motion: Movement is essential for a developing infant as it provides the brain with proprioception—when subluxation creates fixation, it reduces this vital input to the brain.

• Neurological interference: Disruptions in nerve communication can impact every system in the body, especially during this critical period of rapid development.

  
  

The Brainstem: The Command Center of Development

Your baby’s motor tone and overall development are guided and coordinated by three critical areas: the cerebellum, brainstem, and the upper cervical region of the spinal cord. Think of this region as the body's “air traffic control” center—managing signals that help your baby move, grow, and thrive. When the nerves and muscles of this delicate system are compromised in the first moments of life, it can disrupt all motor development that follows.

And it’s important to remember: motor development IS brain development for your baby.

The Vagus Nerve: A Vital Connection

One of the most important nerves affected by birth trauma is the vagus nerve, which controls the parasympathetic system—your baby’s ability to rest, digest, and regulate. Disruption here can lead to dysautonomia, or an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, which is often at the root of:

• Reflux, gassiness, and constipation

• Difficulty sleeping or staying calm

• Poor immune response

• Emotional or sensory dysregulation

• Delays in achieving motor and cognitive milestones

  
  

Are These “Normal Baby Problems” Actually Red Flags?

If your baby is struggling with common issues like colic, latch trouble, or sleep resistance, it may be their way of signaling that their nervous system isn’t fully at ease.

• Colic and inconsolable crying may reflect an overwhelmed nervous system struggling to regulate itself.

• Feeding challenges can result from upper cervical misalignments affecting key cranial nerves that control sucking, swallowing, and other precise movements.

• Reflux and digestive issues may be linked to poor vagus nerve signaling.

• Poor sleep can stem from a system stuck in “fight or flight” mode, making it difficult for babies to relax into deep, restorative sleep.

• Developmental delays can occur when subluxation restricts normal movement patterns that stimulate proper neurological development.

  
  

The Gentle Power of Pediatric Chiropractic

Pediatric chiropractic care is incredibly gentle and safe. Adjustments for infants use no more pressure than you’d use to test the ripeness of a peach or press on your closed eyelid.

These adjustments gently release tension, restore mobility, and help re-establish clear communication between the brain and body—laying the groundwork for healthier development.

At Tiffin Family Chiropractic, we utilize INSiGHT Scans to assess the exact location of stress patterns in the nervous system. This allows us to create a custom care plan that is tailored to your baby’s individual needs.

The First Year Shapes Everything

Your baby’s first year is a time of extraordinary growth. In these first 12 months, their brain will more than double in size and form over one million new neural connections per second. These foundational patterns of movement, sensory processing, and regulation shape the health and function of the brain for years to come.

By supporting your baby’s nervous system from the earliest days, you’re doing more than easing short-term struggles—you’re investing in a lifetime of optimal health, stronger immunity, balanced emotions, and developmental resilience.

Take the Next Step

You don’t have to wait for these “normal baby issues” to escalate into bigger concerns. A proactive neurological assessment can give you peace of mind and open the door to better health for your child.

You’ve already done so much to support your baby. Let us help with the part most often overlooked—your baby’s nervous system health. Schedule a consultation with us at Tiffin Family Chiropractic as soon as possible after birth. If you’re not local, we recommend searching the PX Docs directory to find a trusted provider near you.

During your first visit, we’ll perform a gentle, non-invasive physical exam, review your baby’s health history, and use advanced scanning technology to locate areas of nervous system stress.

We understand that those early weeks of parenthood can be overwhelming—and we’re here to support you every step of the way. When you choose chiropractic care that supports your baby’s nervous system, you’re giving them a powerful head start—helping their body function at its best from day one so they can grow, develop, and thrive!