Colic & Infant Chiropractic Care in Rochester Hills, MI
Long periods of crying can be exhausting and concerning for parents. Colic is a term commonly used for frequent, prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy infant, but crying can have many causes. Delta Chiropractic provides age-appropriate chiropractic evaluations for infants while encouraging parents to maintain appropriate pediatric medical care.
- Age-Appropriate Infant Evaluation
- Personalized Care for Babies & Families
- Convenient Rochester Hills Location
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What Is Colic?
Colic is a term used for frequent, prolonged or intense crying or fussiness in a young infant who otherwise appears healthy. It commonly begins during the first weeks of life and generally improves as the infant gets older.
Colic describes a crying pattern rather than one single underlying cause. Episodes can be difficult to soothe and often occur at similar times of day, particularly in the evening. Babies may draw up their legs, clench their fists, become red in the face or appear tense. Parents should not assume that every frequently crying baby simply has colic.
What Is the “Rule of Threes”?
The traditional definition describes crying for more than 3 hours per day, more than 3 days per week, for more than 3 weeks. A baby does not need to meet an exact formula before parents discuss concerning crying with a pediatrician.
When Does Colic Usually Start?
Colic often begins during early infancy. Crying may increase during the first several weeks and generally improves as the baby gets older, although individual babies vary.
How Long Does Colic Last?
There is no exact resolution date for every baby. Chiropractic care should not be presented as a way to shorten the natural course of colic.
What Causes Colic?
There is no single established cause of colic. Possible factors being studied or considered include normal developmental differences, infant temperament, feeding patterns, swallowed air, gastrointestinal discomfort, sensitivity to stimulation, family or environmental factors and differences in infant regulation.
These are possible factors associated with crying, not proof of a specific cause. Colic should not be attributed to spinal misalignment, subluxations, nerve interference, upper-cervical problems or birth trauma.
Is Colic Caused by Gas?
Gas and crying may occur together, but gas is not necessarily the underlying cause of colic. Babies who cry intensely may also swallow more air.
Parents can discuss burping, feeding technique, bottle flow and positioning with their baby's pediatrician or an appropriately qualified lactation professional when feeding is difficult. Chiropractic adjustments should not be presented as a way to release trapped gas or improve intestinal motility.
Is Colic the Same as Infant Reflux?
No. Colic describes a crying pattern, while reflux involves stomach contents moving back toward the esophagus. An infant may experience one, both or neither.
Feeding problems, poor weight gain, forceful vomiting or concerning symptoms deserve pediatric evaluation. Chiropractic care should not be presented as treatment for reflux. Learn more from our digestive health resource.
Why Does My Baby Seem Fussier in the Evening?
Many young infants have periods of increased evening fussiness. Accumulated stimulation, fatigue, feeding patterns and normal infant crying rhythms may be considerations. Evening crying should not automatically be attributed to spinal or neurological dysfunction.
What Can Parents Try for a Colicky or Fussy Baby?
Calm Environment
Reducing excessive stimulation may help some babies settle.
Gentle Motion
Holding, rocking, walking or other soothing movement may be comforting.
Skin-to-Skin
Appropriate skin-to-skin contact may be comforting for some infants.
Feeding Support
Discuss persistent feeding problems with the pediatrician or an appropriately qualified lactation professional.
Burping & Positioning
Feeding and burping techniques may help with swallowed air in some infants.
Support for Parents
If overwhelmed, place your baby safely on their back in an appropriate crib or bassinet and take a brief break while you regain composure or contact support.
Can a Chiropractor Help With Colic?
Chiropractic care should not be presented as a proven cure for colic. Some parents seek pediatric chiropractic evaluation when their baby is frequently fussy or appears physically uncomfortable, but excessive crying can have many causes and medical concerns should be evaluated by the child's pediatrician.
A chiropractor may evaluate age-appropriate musculoskeletal factors such as movement, neck mobility, position preference, muscular tension and general musculoskeletal comfort. If chiropractic care is considered appropriate, techniques should be modified specifically for the infant's age and size.
Learn more about pediatric chiropractic care at Delta Chiropractic and Delta's general chiropractic care approach.
What Does Chiropractic Care for an Infant Involve?
Infant chiropractic should differ substantially from typical adult chiropractic care. Evaluation may consider the parent's concern, health history, birth history when relevant, current pediatric care, feeding history when relevant, movement, position preference, neck mobility and musculoskeletal findings.
Any technique should be age-appropriate, modified for infant size, based on clinical findings and explained to the parent. Care should not be described as completely risk-free or guaranteed to be painless.
Does Birth History Matter During an Infant Evaluation?
Birth history may be relevant medical background when evaluating an infant, particularly if parents have concerns about movement, position preference or comfort.
Birth history is context, not proof of a chiropractic problem. Birth should not be described as automatically causing spinal subluxations, nervous-system dysfunction or colic, and every newborn does not automatically need chiropractic care.
What If My Baby Has Trouble Feeding or Latching?
Feeding difficulty can have many causes. Painful feeding, poor latch, poor weight gain, difficulty coordinating feeding, frequent choking or coughing and other feeding concerns should be discussed with the pediatrician and/or a qualified lactation professional.
A chiropractor may assess relevant musculoskeletal movement when appropriate, but chiropractic should not be presented as treatment for breastfeeding dysfunction.
What Is the Chiropractic Scan Used at Delta?
Delta may use a non-invasive chiropractic scanning tool as part of its assessment process. The scan does not diagnose colic, reflux or digestive disease, prove nerve interference, determine why a baby is crying, or replace pediatric examination or medical testing.
Does Colic Mean My Baby Has a Digestive Problem?
Not necessarily. Some babies with frequent crying also experience gas, spit-up, reflux or changes in stool patterns, but these do not prove that digestion is the cause of colic.
Persistent digestive concerns deserve pediatric medical evaluation. You can also read Delta's digestive health education page.
Does Colic Affect Sleep?
Frequent crying and difficulty settling can disrupt sleep for babies and parents. Chiropractic care should not be promised to improve infant sleep, produce deeper sleep or correct sleep through nervous-system changes.
When Should I Call My Baby's Pediatrician?
Parents should seek medical advice whenever they are concerned.
Prompt medical guidance is especially important with fever in a very young infant, difficulty breathing, blue or unusually pale appearance, significant lethargy, difficulty waking, seizure, repeated or forceful vomiting, green vomit, blood in vomit or stool, dehydration, significantly fewer wet diapers, refusal to feed, poor weight gain, a distended or unusually tender abdomen, a major change in crying, a high-pitched or unusually weak cry, significant injury or trauma, new weakness or abnormal movement, or when a parent feels something is seriously wrong.
If a baby has severe difficulty breathing, becomes unresponsive, turns blue, has a seizure, or appears to have another medical emergency, seek emergency medical care.
What Should I Do If the Crying Becomes Overwhelming?
Persistent infant crying can be extremely stressful. If you feel overwhelmed, place your baby safely on their back in an appropriate crib or bassinet and step away briefly while you regain composure or contact a partner, family member, trusted support person or your baby's pediatrician.
Never shake a baby.
What Happens at an Infant Chiropractic Visit?
Parent & Health History
Discuss the parent's concern, health history, relevant birth history, current pediatric care, feeding information when relevant and crying pattern.
Age-Appropriate Evaluation
May consider movement, position preference, neck mobility, muscular tension and other relevant musculoskeletal findings.
Clinical Assessment
Determine whether chiropractic care appears appropriate or whether pediatrician or other professional evaluation should come first.
Personalized Recommendations
If chiropractic care is appropriate, the proposed technique and recommendations are explained to the parent or guardian.
Learn More About Pediatric Chiropractic Care
This page focuses specifically on colic, frequent crying and infant concerns. For a broader overview of age-appropriate care for babies, school-age children and teenagers, visit Pediatric Chiropractic Care at Delta Chiropractic.
Parents who want to understand Delta's overall musculoskeletal approach can also explore our Chiropractic Care page.
Meet Your Delta Chiropractic Team
Delta Chiropractic provides individualized chiropractic care for families in Rochester Hills. For infant and pediatric visits, recommendations should be based on the child's age, size, health history, symptoms and clinical findings, with pediatrician or other professional referral when appropriate.
Provider credentials should be represented only as currently verified by Delta Chiropractic and should not be interpreted as medical pediatric, neonatal, infant-neurology or lactation credentials.
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Why Families Choose Delta Chiropractic
Age-Appropriate Evaluation
Infant evaluation considers age, size, history, symptoms and clinical circumstances.
Personalized Approach
Not every frequently crying baby automatically needs chiropractic care.
Parent Involvement
Parents should understand the evaluation, recommendations and any technique being considered.
Collaborative Care
Pediatrician, lactation professional, specialist or other referral may be recommended when appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is colic?
What is the 3-3-3 rule for colic?
When does colic usually start?
When does colic usually improve?
What causes colic?
What does colic sound or look like?
Why is my baby so fussy at night?
Is colic caused by gas?
Is colic caused by reflux?
Can overfeeding cause a baby to cry?
Can a chiropractor help with colic?
Does chiropractic cure colic?
Can chiropractic reduce crying time?
Can chiropractic help infant gas?
Can chiropractic help infant reflux?
Can chiropractic help babies sleep?
Can a misaligned spine cause colic?
Can birth trauma cause colic?
Are infant chiropractic adjustments different from adult adjustments?
Is chiropractic care safe for babies?
What happens during an infant chiropractic evaluation?
Does Delta's scan diagnose colic?
When should I call my baby's pediatrician about crying?
What should I do if my baby's crying becomes overwhelming?
Where can I find an infant chiropractor in Rochester Hills?
Infant Chiropractic Care in Rochester Hills
Delta Chiropractic
1136 S Rochester Rd Suite B
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
Phone: (248) 963-8181
Schedule Your Baby's Chiropractic Evaluation in Rochester Hills
If you have concerns about your baby's comfort, movement or frequent fussiness, Delta Chiropractic can provide an age-appropriate chiropractic evaluation while helping you determine when pediatric or other professional care may also be appropriate.