It’s 3 AM, and your baby is crying again after another feeding. The spit-up stains on your shirt tell the story – this is the third outfit change tonight. You’re exhausted, worried, and wondering why your little one can’t seem to keep their milk down.
Key Takeaway: If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Reflux affects up to 50% of infants, but here’s what most parents don’t realize: the root cause often isn’t just an immature digestive system. There’s usually something deeper going on with your baby’s nervous system that’s affecting their ability to digest and process food properly.
Proudly serving families in Cooper City, Davie, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Weston, and throughout Broward County, FL.
What Is Infant Reflux Really?
Infant reflux happens when stomach contents come back up into your baby’s esophagus. While some spitting up is normal, true reflux involves frequent episodes that can cause discomfort and interfere with feeding.
You might notice your baby:
- Spits up frequently, especially after feeds
- Arches their back during or after eating
- Seems uncomfortable or fussy during feeds
- Has trouble gaining weight
- Refuses to eat or shows signs of difficulty latching
- Coughs or chokes during feeds
The Difference Between Reflux and Normal Spitting Up
Normal spitting up is usually effortless and doesn’t bother your baby. Reflux, on the other hand, often involves discomfort and can significantly impact feeding and sleep patterns.
The key difference is how it affects your baby’s overall well-being and development.
The Real Root Cause: Your Baby’s Nervous System
Most parents are told that infant reflux is just something babies “grow out of” as their digestive system matures. While there’s some truth to this, it doesn’t explain why some babies have severe reflux while others don’t.
The missing piece is understanding how your baby’s nervous system controls digestion. The vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down through the neck and into the digestive organs, plays a crucial role in coordinating the muscles involved in swallowing and digestion.
How Birth Trauma Affects Digestion
During birth, your baby’s delicate spine and nervous system can experience stress, especially in the upper neck area. This is true even in “normal” births – the twisting and pulling that naturally occurs can create tension in the nervous system.
Did You Know? When there’s interference in the nervous system, particularly around the upper cervical spine, it can affect the vagus nerve’s ability to properly coordinate digestion. Studies published in the AAP journal Pediatrics show this leads to issues like poor coordination of swallowing muscles, delayed stomach emptying, increased muscle tension in the digestive tract, and difficulty transitioning between feeding and resting states.
- Poor coordination of swallowing muscles
- Delayed stomach emptying
- Increased muscle tension in the digestive tract
- Difficulty transitioning between feeding and resting states
The Perfect Storm Framework
We often see infant reflux as part of what we call the “Perfect Storm” – a combination of birth trauma, environmental toxins, and chronic stress that overwhelms your baby’s developing nervous system.
This isn’t about blame or fault. It’s about understanding that your baby’s body is doing the best it can with the resources it has, and sometimes it needs a little help to function optimally.
Ready to take the next step?
Call us at (754) 203-5907 or book your visit online.
Why Traditional Approaches Often Fall Short
If you’ve already been to your pediatrician about your baby’s reflux, you’ve probably been offered medications like acid reducers or been told to wait it out. While these approaches can provide temporary relief, they don’t address the underlying nervous system dysfunction.
The Problem with Acid-Reducing Medications
Acid reducers work by decreasing stomach acid production. But here’s the thing – your baby’s stomach acid is actually important for proper digestion and nutrient absorption.
These medications might reduce the burning sensation of reflux, but they don’t fix the coordination problems that are causing the reflux in the first place. Plus, they can sometimes lead to other digestive issues down the road.
Why “Wait and See” Isn’t Always Best
While it’s true that many babies do improve as they grow, waiting can mean months of discomfort for your little one and stress for your family. More importantly, if there’s nervous system interference causing the reflux, it’s likely affecting other aspects of your baby’s development too.
Early intervention to support nervous system function can help your baby not just with reflux, but with overall growth and development.
A Neurological Approach to Infant Reflux
At Alive & Free Chiropractic, we take a different approach. Instead of just managing symptoms, we look at how your baby’s nervous system is functioning and work to remove any interference that might be affecting digestion.
Gentle Neurological Assessment
Our evaluation involves gentle, non-invasive techniques to assess how well your baby’s nervous system is coordinating basic functions like swallowing and digestion. We look at things like:
- Muscle tone and coordination
- Reflexes and nervous system responses
- Spinal alignment, especially in the neck area
- Overall stress patterns in the nervous system
Specific, Gentle Adjustments
Quick Tip: When we find areas of nervous system interference, we use incredibly gentle adjustments to help restore proper function. The pressure used is often no more than you’d use to check the ripeness of a tomato. These adjustments help remove interference from the nervous system, allowing the body’s natural healing mechanisms to work more effectively.
Supporting the Whole Family
We also recognize that when your baby isn’t sleeping or eating well, it affects the whole family. That’s why we provide guidance on feeding positions, sleep strategies, and other lifestyle factors that can support your baby’s healing.
Sometimes simple changes like adjusting feeding positions or creating a calmer environment can make a significant difference when combined with nervous system support.
Ready to take the next step?
Call us at (754) 203-5907 or book your visit online.
What Parents Are Noticing
From Our Practice: I remember one mom from Weston who brought in her 8-week-old daughter. The baby was spitting up after every feed, hardly sleeping, and the whole family was exhausted. Mom had tried everything – different formulas, feeding positions, even medication. During our evaluation, we found significant tension in the upper cervical area, likely from a challenging birth. After just a few gentle adjustments over two weeks, the baby was keeping her feeds down, sleeping better, and the whole family dynamic changed.
While every baby is different, according to the Mayo Clinic, many families notice improvements in:
- Frequency and severity of spit-up episodes
- Comfort during and after feeding
- Sleep patterns and duration
- Overall mood and contentment
- Weight gain and growth patterns
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chiropractic care safe for my baby with reflux?
Absolutely. Pediatric chiropractic care uses incredibly gentle techniques specifically designed for infants. The adjustments are so light that babies often sleep through them. We’re trained in specialized techniques that are completely different from adult chiropractic care.
How long does it take to see improvements in reflux symptoms?
Every baby is different, but many families notice some improvements within the first few visits. The nervous system can respond quickly to gentle corrections, especially in infants whose systems are still developing rapidly.
Can my baby still take reflux medication while receiving chiropractic care?
Yes, chiropractic care is safe to use alongside traditional medical treatments. We always recommend working with your pediatrician and never suggest stopping prescribed medications without their guidance. Many families find they need less medication as their baby’s nervous system function improves.
What if my baby also has colic along with reflux?
It’s very common for babies to have both colic and reflux, as they often stem from the same nervous system imbalances. The ICPA research library shows our neurological approach addresses the root cause that may be contributing to both conditions simultaneously.
Will my insurance cover pediatric chiropractic care?
Because we are neurologically-focused rather than a typical back-pain chiropractor, most major medical insurance plans do not cover what we do. Our approach is more specialized and more intensive than what insurance was designed for. However, we accept HSA and FSA — which many families have and don’t realize they can use for this. We also offer family discounts and flexible options to make care affordable. We always find a way for families who are committed to their child’s health.
Your Next Step Toward Relief
If your baby is struggling with reflux, you don’t have to just wait and hope it gets better. Understanding that the root cause often lies in nervous system function opens up gentle, natural options that can help your little one find relief.
At Alive & Free Chiropractic in Cooper City, we’re passionate about helping families in Pembroke Pines and surrounding areas find answers beyond just managing symptoms. Dr. Cody Capeloto specializes in gentle, neurologically-focused care that addresses the root causes of infant reflux.
Your baby deserves to be comfortable, and your family deserves peaceful nights. If you’re ready to explore a different approach to your baby’s reflux, we’re here to help. Call us at (754) 203-5907 or schedule your consultation online today.
Remember, you’re not alone in this journey, and there are gentle, effective options available to help your baby thrive.
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