Your Baby's Colic May Start in the Upper Neck
The crying that won't stop, the arching, the gas drops that worked for one night and then didn't. Colic often traces back to a nervous system still settling in, not anything you did wrong.
Few things are more distressing for parents than a baby who won't stop crying. Colic affects up to 25% of infants, leaving families exhausted and searching for answers. At Van Every Family Chiropractic Center, we offer gentle, effective care that addresses the underlying nervous system factors contributing to colic and infant digestive distress.
The exact cause of colic isn't fully understood, but several factors may contribute: an immature digestive system, nervous system overwhelm, trapped gas, birth trauma, and spinal tension affecting nerve function to digestive organs. Our gentle, neurologically focused approach addresses the root cause rather than masking symptoms.
How Colic Shows Up
Colic rarely looks the same from one baby to the next, but certain patterns tend to repeat. Crying that fits the rule of threes, more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks, is the classic marker in an otherwise healthy baby, and it usually returns around the same time each day, often the evening hours.
Along with the crying often comes legs drawn up as if in pain, a distended or gassy belly, arching or stiffening during feeding, and frequent spit up or reflux. Bowel movements may be infrequent or strained. The crying itself is different from a baby communicating a normal need: it does not resolve with feeding, rocking, or a diaper change, and it keeps coming back.
The vagus nerve runs from the brain stem through the neck and governs most of digestion, which is why upper neck tension so often shows up as a gassy, unsettled baby.
What Is Actually Causing It
In a randomized trial published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics in October 1999, 50 infants with colic were split into two groups, one receiving the drug dimethicone, the other spinal manipulation. After two weeks, the adjusted infants showed a 67% reduction in crying, compared to 38% in the drug group.
The vagus nerve runs from the brain stem through the neck and controls most digestive function. When tension in the upper neck interferes with it, digestion slows and cramping follows. A stressed nervous system also tends to stay in fight or flight mode, which itself slows digestion, while nerves from the mid back and lower spine control the stomach, intestines, and elimination. Adjustments target this full pathway, not just one segment.
Our Approach
We start with your baby's birth story, feeding pattern, symptom timeline, and what you've already tried, then a gentle examination of the spine and nervous system, including INSiGHT neurological scanning when age appropriate to see where stress patterns are held. Using Koren Specific Technique (KST) and Talsky Tonal Chiropractic (TTC), our doctors adjust the upper cervical spine (where the vagus nerve begins its path to the digestive organs), the mid-back nerves that reach the stomach, and the lower back and sacrum for elimination, with pressure about what you would use to check a ripe tomato. Many babies sleep through the adjustment.
Between visits we walk you through simple comfort measures that make the days between appointments easier, and we keep a close eye on how your baby is responding so the plan can shift if something is not working.
What Parents Often Report
Reduced crying episodes, often dramatically, along with easier feeding and a better latch. Less gas, less bloating, and less spitting up or reflux.
More regular bowel movements and better sleep for the whole family. Many parents notice a difference within the first one to three visits, and describe a calmer, happier baby overall.
Take the First Step If your baby won't settle, come talk with our doctors in Royal Oak. You're not alone, and there is real hope.
Contact UsCommon questions
Yes. Our doctors use incredibly gentle techniques designed specifically for infants, with pressure about what you would use to check a ripe tomato. There is no cracking or popping. Babies often sleep through their adjustments, and many visibly relax during care.
Your baby's care plan is determined after a detailed history, consultation, and gentle examination, including INSiGHT neurological scanning when age appropriate. Every baby is unique. Some respond within the first one to three visits, occasionally with a dramatic drop in crying after the very first adjustment, while others need more time, and we monitor progress closely along the way.
Beyond colic, our doctors help with reflux, constipation, excessive gas and cramping, and feeding difficulties. The nervous system controls digestive function throughout the body, so supporting it can ease a wide range of symptoms.
We recommend an evaluation if your baby has been diagnosed with colic, cries inconsolably for extended periods, shows signs of digestive distress, had a difficult or interventional birth, has feeding difficulties, or has been treated for reflux without much improvement.
Yes. Chiropractic care works well alongside your pediatrician's care, and we encourage you to keep working with your child's medical team. We are happy to communicate with your pediatrician about your baby's progress.
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