Explore our blog that focuses on holistic care for any and all ages - pediatric well-being, pre/post-natal health, and adult vitality.
As parents, the well-being of our children is our top priority, so we are always trying to stay informed about the choices we make for their health. Today, we dive into a topic that affects countless families – the use of antibiotics in infants and young children. Antibiotics can play a pivotal role in saving lives, but as parents, we must be aware of their potential impact on our children’s health. This blog aims to empower and educate on the far-reaching effects of antibiotics.
If you have young children who have been on antibiotics in their early years, this is for you. We will dive into the dangers of antibiotics in kids and the associated risks, both short-term and long-term. As well as the intricate impact of antibiotics on autoimmune and neurodevelopmental health in children. And most importantly, the natural strategies for recovery.
Every year, an increasing amount of research highlights the risks associated with administering antibiotics to children. Despite decades of awareness, pediatricians, urgent care centers, and other conventional medical systems persist in overprescribing antibiotics at alarming rates. Furthermore, early exposure to antibiotics is one of the top three contributing factors in what we call “The Perfect Storm.” This refers to the pathway leading to conditions such as autism, ADHD, anxiety, autoimmune disorders, and other chronic illnesses prevalent in our children today.
Antibiotics, though life-saving, can disturb the balance between your child’s immune system and gut microbiome. This disruption has been linked to a higher risk of conditions such as asthma, allergies, and even obesity in children.
The connection between the gut and brain is very delicate and antibiotics can disrupt. This interference can affect neurotransmitter production. These are essential for higher brain function, cognition, and emotional regulation – potentially contributing to neurodevelopmental challenges like Autism and ADHD.
The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of bacteria, plays a pivotal role in a child’s overall health. Antibiotics, unfortunately, disrupt the natural balance of the gut microbiome by killing both harmful and beneficial bacteria. This leads to imbalances and potential gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea and, in some cases, could cause severe colitis.
While allergic reactions to antibiotics are rare, they can range from mild skin irritations to severe, life-threatening responses like anaphylaxis. It’s crucial for parents to be aware of any past reactions and communicate them to healthcare providers.
Perhaps one of the most pressing concerns is the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. When antibiotics are used excessively or inappropriately, bacteria can evolve to become resistant to these drugs. Making infections harder to treat and leading to increased medical costs, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality. Overuse of antibiotics can also lead to the development of secondary infections.
The overuse of antibiotics extends beyond individual health; it’s a global issue. It contributes to the rise of superbugs, bacteria resistant to most antibiotics, posing a severe threat to global health security.
While antibiotics remain pivotal in emergencies, there’s an alternative for families under regular chiropractic care at RCW. We offer a safe and natural way to support your child’s defenses against viruses, bacteria, and infections.
As neurologically-focused pediatric chiropractors, we aim to strengthen your child’s body’s natural defense systems. Rather than directly treating an infection or illness they catch. Adjustments focus on improving their body’s “drainage and plumbing,” providing relief from sinus and ear pressure, facilitating easier fluid movement, and transforming dry coughs into productive mucus-clearing ones.
In essence, by enhancing the body’s “plumbing” and “wiring,” your children can clear congestion, inflammation, and infections more efficiently and naturally without resorting to antibiotics or other medications.
So many parents share with us how consistent chiropractic adjustments and a healthy lifestyle lead to less sickness for their kids. And when their children do get sick, they recover from colds and respiratory challenges faster and easier after adjustments.
If you would prefer to reserve antibiotics for emergencies rather than the standard first option, consider changing your “batting order” of providers. Begin your journey with us at RCW!
As a parent, when you’re told your baby has something called torticollis, it can often leave you feeling helpless and unsure where to turn. As pediatric chiropractors specializing in infant care, we empathize with the challenges and uncertainties that come with a torticollis diagnosis. In this blog, we aim to empower parents with the knowledge and understanding they need to navigate this journey successfully.
Let’s dive deep into the journey of Nathan, a resilient little guy whose early life was marked by the impact of torticollis. Traditional treatments fell short, leaving his mom, like many others, desperate for a solution. It was during a late-night research session that Nathan’s mom discovered the transformative effects of chiropractic care specifically designed for pediatric cases.
In recent years, there has been a significant rise in birth interventions, leading to an alarming increase in torticollis cases. Unfortunately, traditional medical approaches often lag behind in understanding the root causes and effective treatments. Birth trauma, a major contributor to torticollis, results from interventions like forceps delivery, vacuum extraction, and C-sections, subjecting the baby’s delicate neck and head to undue strain. Try not to let your child’s challenges go unnoticed.
Unresolved torticollis in your child can also increase their risk of ear infections. Tight muscles in the upper neck region affect the Eustachian tube, leading to fluid buildup and bacterial growth. This connection extends to respiratory issues, including croup, chronic cough, and RSV, as torticollis limits your baby’s body’s ability to drain fluid and move secretions.
Prioritizing your child’s torticollis care now is essential for a healthier, happier future.
At the heart of torticollis lies subluxation, a complex phenomenon with three primary components:
In simpler terms, the more severe the torticollis, the more pronounced these subluxation patterns become, which can affect your child’s development, temperament, and overall well-being.
Why Pediatricians Might Miss Mild to Moderate Cases:
Pediatricians, while experienced at performing physical exams, may not possess the specialized training and experience required to detect subtle neuromuscular challenges such as torticollis.
Even when diagnosed, the traditional path of referral to physical therapy and helmets often falls short, with reported discomfort and limited effectiveness in many cases. They can even aggravate the condition because it would leave your child in a sustained state of fight or flight tension, something known as dysautonomia. Put simply, these methods do not get all the way to the root cause.
Parents are increasingly turning to Neurologically-Focused Pediatric Chiropractic for a more natural and effective approach – that gets right down to the root cause. Our three-step methodology involves:
In fact, if you put Pediatric Chiropractic as the foundation and first choice for your child’s torticollis, it then makes all the physical therapy stretches and positioning work easier and far more effective. As PX Docs, we love to work in conjunction with your child’s therapy team for maximum results!
INSiGHT Scans offer a deeper understanding of the neuromuscular system, allowing us to identify stress and dysfunction within your child’s nervous system that may be overlooked by traditional methods. This sophisticated technology aids in crafting precise and tailored care plans.
Results often become evident within a few visits, but each child’s journey is unique. Join us for a personalized care plan discussion during the Report of Findings visit to understand the duration and specifics of your child’s care plan.
One month into Nathan’s care plan, his digestive issues and eczema cleared up. In month two, his mom saw a huge difference. His mobility improved drastically, he started hitting milestones, and said goodbye to ear infections!
If your mom or dad’s “gut” is telling you there is more going on than your pediatrician or therapist can fully explain and address, then Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care is perfect for you. We specialize in diving deeper and doing a more thorough assessment than anyone else out there, making sure we get to the true root cause of your child’s torticollis.
Don’t hesitate to reach out today to Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness to schedule your initial consultation for INSiGHT Scans. As you navigate the path to healing for your child, remember you are not alone. Our dedicated team is here to support you every step of the way. Together, let’s ensure your child experiences the joy of unhindered development and well-being as they grow. If you are not local to us, be sure to check out the PX Docs directory to find a local office near you!
One of the most challenging issues faced by older children is bedwetting, also known as Enuresis. This condition can be embarrassing, emotionally distressing and significantly impact your child’s quality of life. When your little one is struggling with bedwetting, it breaks your heart and can be challenging to find a solution.
If you have tried various methods such as sleep studies, nighttime alarms, water restriction before bedtime, and waking your child up to use the bathroom but still haven’t found answers or resolutions, please know this, you are not alone. There are steps you can take to empower your child and address their bedwetting. It is time to delve deeper and explore the role of the brain and nervous system in Enuresis.
Enuresis occurs when involuntary urination happens during sleep, after the age when staying dry can reasonably be expected. It’s important to remember that bedwetting is not your child’s fault and is entirely beyond their control. Enuresis can disrupt your child’s sleep, leading to daytime sleepiness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating in school, which just intensifies this struggle.
As parents, we have the power to take charge of our child’s health. While traditional medical approaches may recommend waiting it out or managing symptoms, there are things you can do to seek out solutions that address the root cause.
Neurologically-Focused Pediatric Chiropractic Care is a specialized form of chiropractic care that offers a personalized approach to achieve lasting results. We focus on restoring and optimizing the function of the nervous system, which plays a vital role in overall health, including bladder function. It regulates the communication between your child’s brain and bladder, ensuring proper coordination and control.
When there is a disruption in the neurological communication between the brain and the bladder, or when the nervous system remains in a sympathetic fight-or-flight mode, the bladder may not function properly during sleep.
Numerous complex factors can contribute to a dysregulated nervous system and disrupted communication pathways. Emotional stress, developmental challenges, sensory processing disorder, inflammation, and even difficult or traumatic birth experiences can all play a role.
After being stuck in an excessive fight-or-flight sympathetic response throughout the day, the brain and nervous system “overreact” at night. This overreaction leads to an excessive parasympathetic response, causing the muscles of the bladder to relax excessively during sleep, resulting in bedwetting.
This is where Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care comes in. We can make a significant difference in your child’s health journey using advanced technology called INSiGHT scans, which can detect subluxation in your child’s nervous system. Releasing tension and restoring communication within the nervous system can help your child regain control of their bladder function.
If your child is struggling with bedwetting or any form of Enuresis, it’s time to take action. Don’t wait for them to outgrow it or settle for temporary solutions. Give us a call today to schedule a consultation with our team. We can’t wait to help! Or if you aren’t local to us, get connected with a Neurologically-Focused Pediatric Chiropractor in our PX Docs network today.
Your child deserves to live their best life, free from embarrassment and frustration, and achieve optimal growth and natural healing. We are here to work side by side with you to make sure that happens!