If you’ve scrolled through parenting TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen videos of tiny babies getting very gentle chiropractic adjustments. But as these videos go viral, so does debate around whether newborn chiropractic care is actually helpful or even safe.
Across social media, you’ll find two very different messages about this new trend. Some parents swear by infant adjustments for issues like constipation or trouble turning their head, while others warn the practice is “predatory.” The disagreement isn’t new, but the conversation is definitely louder among both sides of the coin now.
Part of that comes from the fact that research hasn’t clearly proven chiropractic care helps babies. A large 2022 review found “no evidence to explicitly support the effectiveness of spinal manipulation or mobilisation [EU spelling] for any condition in paediatric [EU spelling] populations.” And in Australia, the Chiropractic Board recently banned spinal manipulation for children under age 2, noting, “… the board’s role is first and foremost to protect the public.”
So what actually happens at these appointments? Chiropractors say infant treatments look nothing like adult spinal adjustments. One chiropractor explained that babies respond to very light pressure, “… about the same amount of pressure you’d use to check the ripeness of a tomato.” Others say sessions are more like massage and stretching, and many babies actually fall asleep while being treated.
There are studies that parents point to as well, one survey reported that 82% of mothers noticed “… definite improvement of their infants” after chiropractic care. But pediatric experts remain cautious. A spokesperson. Dr. Molly O’Shea, for the American Academy of Pediatrics warned that “… the benefit of manipulative chiropractic care is at best unclear and at worst risky,” explaining that babies’ bones are still soft and more vulnerable to injury.
Some chiropractors insist there is research supporting their work, especially around nervous-system function and infant comfort. They also argue that birth itself can cause tension that gentle adjustments may relieve.
Still, medical experts say families should talk to a pediatrician first and remember that chiropractic shouldn’t be treated as a replacement for medical care.
