As chiropractors, our mission is to help people move better, feel better, and function at their highest level. We care for patients of all ages, from children to seniors, and understand that every stage of life presents unique healthcare needs. One question we occasionally receive is whether newborns should receive chiropractic care immediately after birth.

The answer may surprise some people: for most healthy newborns, chiropractic care is usually not the first treatment they need.

This isn’t because chiropractic care is inherently unsafe. Rather, it is because the scientific evidence supporting routine chiropractic treatment for newborns remains limited, while many common newborn concerns are better evaluated first by a pediatrician and, when appropriate, a pediatric physical therapist or other healthcare professional.

Newborns Are Not Simply Small Adults

The first few weeks of life are a period of tremendous growth and adaptation. Feeding patterns, sleeping habits, digestion, muscle tone, and reflexes are all rapidly changing. Many issues that concern new parents—such as fussiness, irregular sleep, mild reflux, or temporary head preference—often improve naturally as the baby’s nervous and musculoskeletal systems mature.

Because newborns are still developing, it is important that any significant concerns first be evaluated by a pediatric healthcare provider who can identify medical conditions that may require prompt treatment.

What About Torticollis?

One of the most common reasons parents seek chiropractic care for infants is congenital muscular torticollis, a condition in which a baby develops tightness in one of the neck muscles, causing the head to tilt or rotate to one side.

While this certainly involves the musculoskeletal system, current research consistently shows that physical therapy with stretching, positioning, caregiver education, and supervised exercises remains the gold standard for treatment.

A recent systematic review examining conservative treatments for congenital muscular torticollis found that although several non-surgical approaches—including various forms of manual therapy—may provide benefit, the overall certainty of evidence remains low. The strongest evidence continues to support early identification combined with stretching and physical therapy interventions.

Likewise, a 2022 systematic scoping review evaluating spinal manipulation in infants concluded there is insufficient evidence to support spinal manipulation specifically for torticollis, noting that available studies are limited and of low quality.

This does not necessarily mean chiropractic care has no role. Gentle soft tissue techniques, movement education, and collaboration with physical therapists may benefit some infants. However, spinal manipulation should not replace therapies that have stronger scientific support.

Ear Infections: An Area Where Evidence Is Limited

Another common claim is that chiropractic adjustments can prevent or treat recurrent ear infections.

While this idea has circulated for years, high-quality scientific research has not demonstrated that spinal manipulation reliably improves middle ear infections (otitis media). Comprehensive reviews of pediatric chiropractic literature have consistently found that evidence supporting chiropractic treatment for conditions such as ear infections is either insufficient or based primarily on low-quality case reports rather than well-designed clinical trials.

Ear infections often result from viral illnesses, bacterial infections, immature Eustachian tube anatomy, or other medical factors that require pediatric evaluation. Delaying appropriate medical care in favor of spinal manipulation alone could allow an infection to worsen.

Evidence Matters

Healthcare is continually evolving, and chiropractors should evolve with it. The best providers are willing to change their recommendations as better evidence becomes available.

Several systematic reviews examining pediatric spinal manipulation have reached similar conclusions: although serious adverse events appear uncommon, the overall quality of evidence supporting chiropractic treatment for many newborn conditions remains very low. Researchers consistently call for larger, higher-quality clinical trials before firm recommendations can be made.

Evidence-based practice means combining three important factors:

• The best available research
• Clinical experience
• The values and preferences of the patient (or parents)

When one of those components—particularly strong research—is lacking, healthcare providers should communicate honestly about those limitations.

When Chiropractic Care May Be Appropriate

As babies grow into older infants and toddlers, chiropractic evaluation may become more appropriate for certain musculoskeletal concerns, particularly after injuries, falls, sports participation, or persistent movement restrictions that have already been medically evaluated.

Likewise, older children with back pain, neck pain, headaches, or posture-related complaints may benefit from conservative chiropractic care when performed appropriately and integrated with exercise, education, and collaboration with other healthcare providers.

Putting Babies First

At our office, our priority has always been helping families make informed healthcare decisions.

If a newborn has feeding difficulties, fever, significant neck stiffness, persistent crying, poor weight gain, developmental concerns, or suspected ear infections, we encourage parents to begin with their pediatrician. When conditions such as torticollis are diagnosed, pediatric physical therapy often represents the best-supported first-line treatment.

If chiropractic care becomes appropriate as part of a collaborative healthcare plan, we are happy to work alongside pediatricians, physical therapists, lactation consultants, and other healthcare professionals to provide the safest and most effective care possible.

Good healthcare isn’t about treating every condition ourselves—it’s about making sure every patient receives the right care at the right time from the right provider.

At the end of the day, our goal isn’t simply to provide chiropractic care. Our goal is to help children grow into healthy, active adults by recommending treatments that are supported by the best evidence available.