Constipation in babies can be distressing for both the infant and their parents. It often presents as infrequent bowel movements, straining, hard stools, or discomfort during digestion. While constipation is common, it is not something your baby has to live with. Instead of reaching for laxatives or bandaid fixes that come with negative side effects, it’s important to address the root cause—often found in the nervous system and gut microbiome.
How Chiropractic Care Helps Babies with Constipation
Many parents are surprised to learn that nervous system-based chiropractic care can play a crucial role in relieving their baby’s constipation. Here’s how:
1. Supporting the Nervous System for Digestive Function
The nervous system controls digestion, including bowel motility. Misalignments (subluxations) in the spine—particularly in the upper cervical region and sacrum—can interfere with the nerve signals responsible for gut function. A gentle chiropractic adjustment helps restore proper nerve communication, allowing the digestive system to function optimally.
2. Alleviating Tension in the Digestive Tract
Many infants experience birth trauma, whether from a C-section, a long labor, or interventions like forceps or vacuum extraction. These stressors can cause misalignments that create tension in the digestive system, affecting bowel movements. Through gentle adjustments, a pediatric chiropractor can relieve this tension, leading to improved digestion and easier elimination.
3. Reducing Stress on the Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve, which runs from the brainstem down to the digestive organs, plays a vital role in digestion and bowel movements. If this nerve is compromised due to birth stress or spinal misalignment, it can result in sluggish digestion. Pediatric chiropractic adjustments help optimize vagus nerve function, which in turn enhances gut motility.
The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Infant Digestion
While chiropractic care ensures that the nervous system is functioning properly, the gut microbiome also plays a huge role in digestion and bowel health. A healthy balance of gut bacteria helps break down food, absorb nutrients, and regulate stool consistency. Many babies today, especially those born via C-section, birth interventions with the use of IV antibiotics or formula-fed, may not have an ideal gut microbiome from birth.
How Infant Probiotics Can Help
Probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria into the gut, promoting better digestion and smoother bowel movements. One of the best options for infants struggling with constipation and digestive discomfort that we recommend in our office is ProbioMed™ Infant—a high-quality probiotic blend designed specifically for babies.
Key Benefits of ProbioMed™ Infant for Digestive Health
- Contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG – The most-researched probiotic strain for digestive and immune support.
- Includes Bifidobacterium infantis – This strain plays a critical role in breaking down human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and supports healthy gut function.
- Supports gut flora diversity – The blend contains seven well-researched probiotic strains to help balance the gut microbiome.
- Includes HMOs and prebiotic fiber – These nutrients act as food for beneficial bacteria, promoting their growth and effectiveness.
- Contains digestive enzymes – These enzymes mimic those found in breast milk, helping to break down carbohydrates and proteins for smoother digestion.
How to Use ProbioMed™ Infant
This probiotic powder is shelf-stable and unflavored, making it easy to mix into infant formula, breast milk, or water. It’s ideal for infants from birth to 3 years of age who may need extra digestive support.
You can purchase the infant probiotics here: https://www.designsforhealth.com/u/kirstenfoullong/checkout?v=2023-04-11&products=(PBMINF)&ec=bldr_unlabeled
The Perfect Combination for a Happy, Healthy Tummy
For parents seeking natural relief for their baby’s constipation, combining pediatric chiropractic care with high-quality probiotics like ProbioMed™ Infant can be a game-changer. Chiropractic care addresses nervous system imbalances that affect digestion, while probiotics nourish the gut with beneficial bacteria to support smoother digestion and regular bowel movements.
When to Seek Help for Constipation
If your baby is experiencing constipation along with any of the following, it may be time to consult a pediatric chiropractor and consider incorporating probiotics:
Straining or discomfort when passing stools, fewer than three bowel movements per week, hard, pellet-like stools, fussiness or bloating, discomfort during feedings
At Pinnacle Chiropractic, we specialize in gentle nervous system-based chiropractic care for infants, helping parents find root-cause and gentle solutions to their child’s digestive challenges. If your baby is struggling with constipation, schedule a consultation to see how chiropractic care can help!
