Babies in Balance – A Beautiful Thing
By Dr. Melanie Smith
I love working with babies. They are a perfect example of true chiropractic philosophy in action and the impact of helping a baby is not only far-reaching, it gives me such a sense of professional satisfaction. Every day that I get to treat a baby brings a special smile to my face. Babies don’t come see me for aching low backs – they come see me because they have colic or ear infections or maybe they suffered some trauma at birth or maybe even because they’re experiencing what traditional doctors call “failure to thrive.” Parents who bring their babies often come out of desperation after they’ve tried everything else without success and are ready for a different paradigm.
The chiropractic paradigm is based on the fact that the body is self-healing and self-regulating – as long as there isn’t interference. That interference can be a slight sublaxation, or a misalignment in the spine, which chokes off vital nerve supply to the body and its functions. That interference can be chemical – like poor nutrition, food sensitivities or allergies, or even medications. That interference can also be emotional, which is something easily overlooked. As we all know, when we’re under stress, we often aren’t functioning at 100% – and babies and infants are subject to stressors, just like parents are.
I get to work with families every day and help them identify where the interference is. We then come up with a plan to reduce or eliminate that interference and then sit back to watch miraculous healing take place. When parents see balance restored in their babies, they “get” chiropractic.
I often joke with my clients that the “side effect” of chiropractic is that their pain improves (definitely a perk!), but the real work in action is restoring balance to the nervous system. And when I can help restore balance in a baby, I’m helping to restore balance in a family, which helps to balance the community… and, well, you get the picture.
