Clarice's Journey: Gentle Colic Care for an Infant in Maple Grove
Clarice's parents arrived at our Maple Grove office exhausted. Their baby daughter screamed for hours every single day, and they could tell by her arching, straining, and stiffness that she was uncomfortable.
Families like this one come to us often, usually after weeks of trying soothing routines, feeding changes, and long nights with very little sleep. Clarice was a newborn, so everything about her chiropractic assessment and care plan had to be personalized to her infant body.
Our team sees a large number of babies at our Maple Grove practice, and colic is one of the most common reasons parents call us for pediatric chiropractic care. Here's how we helped Clarice overcome her colic symptoms through gentle, precise pediatric chiropractic care.
Key Takeaways
- THE CHALLENGE: Clarice cried for hours daily, felt stiff rather than relaxed, and showed arching, straining, and gas-related discomfort.
- THE CARE PLAN: We used gentle, hands-on sustained contact at the upper neck, with no twisting, cracking, or popping, over roughly three months of care.
- THE RESULT: Her parents reported little to no colic, more comfort, better sleep, and normal bowel movements.
Colic has more than one possible contributing factor, and parents should always keep their pediatrician in the loop when a baby is this uncomfortable. What we can assess is how a baby's spine moves and how relaxed or guarded that little body feels during a hands-on exam.
For Clarice, our Pediatric Chiropractic Care approach focused on areas of tension in the upper neck, which is where we work to support parasympathetic, or "rest and digest," function.
Project Summary
| Client Profile: |
A family with a colicky newborn daughter, Clarice |
| Project Location: |
Maple Grove, Minnesota |
| Primary Objective: |
Support Clarice's comfort, sleep, and digestion through an age-appropriate Initial Chiropractic Assessment and individualized care plan |
| Technique Used: |
Gentle hands-on sustained contact at the upper neck, the approach we use for babies under one year in Infant Colic Chiropractic care |
| Key Outcome: |
Parents reported little to no colic, less arching and straining, normal bowel movements, and better sleep after about three months |
Assessing What Clarice's Parents Were Noticing
Clarice's parents described hours of screaming every day, and they felt certain she was in pain rather than simply fussy. They could hear the difference between her cries and the ordinary hunger or tired cries other babies make.
During our hands-on chiropractic assessment, Clarice felt stiff. We often explain to parents that a comfortable baby should feel loose and relaxed in your hands, almost like a wet noodle, and Clarice came in feeling more like a board. Along with that guarding, her parents noted arching, straining, and the gassy, uncomfortable belly that frequently accompanies colic.
Providing Gentle Infant Adjustments, One Step at a Time
Babies at our office are cared for with sustained, light contact rather than any twisting, cracking, or popping. For an infant Clarice's age, we use a hands-on approach where we focus on the areas of spinal and neurological tension found during the exam. Most of our attention stayed at the upper neck, which is one of the areas associated with the vagus nerve and the parasympathetic side of the nervous system that helps govern digestion and bowel movement.
Our care plan for Clarice ran about three months, which is a typical range for infants with colic in our practice, though every baby is different and some need longer. Her parents stayed involved all throughout the care plan, and we continuously checked her comfort, feeding, and bowel patterns at each visit.
Clarice's mom reported improved progress and alleviated symptoms after only a few months of chiropractic care!
Once children reach walking age, we transition them to Torque Release Technique, the instrument-assisted method our doctors use with all older kids and adults who become a new patient at Restore Chiropractic.
Enhanced Care & Comfort Makes for a Happier Baby
It didn't take long for her parents to report that the colic eased quickly once care began, and by the end of the plan they described little to no colic at all. They also noted that she was noticeably more comfortable, was having normal bowel movements, and was sleeping better.
What stood out most to her family was the change in the sound of her crying. Now when Clarice cried, it sounded like an ordinary hunger or tired cry instead of pain, and she had started smiling and laughing more often. This is one family's individual experience and not a promise of the same outcome for every baby, but it changed how that household experienced its first months together.
Be sure to read more families' chiropractic stories and see how we've been able to help plenty of families across the Twin Cities get the chiropractic care they need to live their best lives!
Restore Chiropractic: Your Source for Pediatric Chiropractic Care in Maple Grove
At Restore Chiropractic, we care for a lot of newborns and infants at our Maple Grove office, and colic is one of the most common reasons parents reach out to us. Our doctors only use gentle, age-appropriate techniques, and we walk parents through every step we plan to take, so nothing about the visit feels unfamiliar.
Wondering whether gentle pediatric chiropractic care could be one option for your colicky baby in Maple Grove? We would be glad to talk with you and answer your questions first!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is infant chiropractic care in Maple Grove gentle enough for a newborn?
Yes. For babies under about one year old, our doctors use light, sustained contact with no twisting, cracking, or popping. The pressure is far lighter than what you would picture from an adult adjustment, and we explain exactly what we are doing before we begin. The earliest baby we have cared for was one day old.
How long does a colic care plan usually last?
For infants with colic, our care plans typically run about two to three months, and more involved cases can extend to roughly four and a half to six months. Clarice was under care for about three months. Every baby is different, so we build an individualized plan after the initial assessment rather than applying a set schedule.
Why do you focus on the upper neck for colicky babies?
The upper neck is where we find areas of tension connected to the vagus nerve, part of the parasympathetic or "rest and digest" side of the nervous system. Our gentle adjustments there are intended to support normal digestive and bowel function rather than to treat a medical condition. Colic can have several contributing factors, so we encourage parents to keep their pediatrician involved as well.