Top tips for crying babies – These simple tips may help you
Find a Chiropractor who has experience working with babies
Your baby’s nervous system is influenced by the function of the spine. Good spinal health is vital to ensure there are no disruptions to the signals from the brain, down the spinal cord to the relevant muscle, organ etc. Gentle Chiropractic treatment has been shown to be effective for helping babies.
How is your breastfeeding technique? – Seek advice via your midwife, lactation consultant, Chiropractor
As discussed in my blog ‘Are you Struggling to Breastfeed’, seeking the right advice can transform your breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding can be challenging for both mother and baby, so please don’t worry you are not alone.
The birthing process is an important consideration. Even a natural birth without any intervention can result in stresses to the newborn’s body if it isn’t perfectly positioned to pass through the pelvis. If intervention is necessary to aid the birth further forces are exerted on the newborns, resulting in increased traction on the head, neck and body.
Pressure through the skull can create distortions in the cranium and or jaw, which can contribute to some babies struggling to breast feed.
Evidence has shown Chiropractic adjustments can safely and effectively address dysfunction and help restore natural, efficient suckling patterns for infants.
The importance of burping your baby
During the first six months of life your babies gut and stomach continues to mature. It is important we help them with expelling excess gas in the early stages, feeding them small amounts frequently, and winding after feeds. We have some gentle techniques we can show you in clinic if you are struggling with this.
How often should I burp my baby?
- Bottle fed babies, who cry excessively (more than 2.5hours a day for a newborn) it is advisable to burp them after every ounce of milk.
- Breast fed babies, every time he/she comes off the breast, as this is a common sign of excess gas building up.
While breastfeeding it may be wise to cut out common triggering foods
There are a number of foods and drinks which appear to be linked to excessive crying. It is suggested you avoid the following:-
Drinks – Wine, champagne, fizzy drinks, coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks.
Foods – Chocolate, acidic fruits (oranges and berries), heavily spiced foods, lentils, split peas (eg pea and ham soup), garlic, cabbage broccoli, cauliflower and secondary proteins such as beans.
While breastfeeding avoid Cow’s milk
Some breastfeeding mothers find cutting out dairy, particularly in the early stages can improve symptoms. The best way to test for allergy or intolerance is to trial a dairy free diet for 1 week and see if you notice any improvement. If there is improvement it is likely that your baby has an allergy or intolerance to the protein or sugars found in milk. If this is the case, you should seek further allergy and dietary advice and try to source alternative calcium rich foods.
Carrying position and Stomach massage
It is suggested that carrying your baby across your forearm with their stomach facing down can elongate their abdominal area. This appears to provide infants with some relief, which in combination with stomach massage is designed to help relax the stomach.
Doctor of Chiropractic, Karen Habershon frequently works with paediatrics (babies). Many people don’t associate Chiropractors with paediatrics, however they have some fantastic results. Karen uses specifically tailored Chiropractic techniques for babies. Treatment pressure would never exceed that used to test how ripe a piece of fruit is (very different to treating an adult!). Techniques include cranial therapy and touch & hold techniques. Excessive crying is very common and it’s hard to know what’s wrong checking your baby for musculoskeletal tension can be a good investment.
Our experienced Chiropractor Karen will use appropriate gentle treatment techniques. Please contact KH Chiropractic & Sports Massage Aldgate / Liverpool Street to book your baby for an assessment
Call: 0203 633 0565
Email: info@khchiropractic.com
