What to Know
When you have a child, you’re willing to do whatever it takes to make them healthy and happy. And if it’s something that really works, you want to share it with others so they can experience it too. But sometimes, you have to think about what you’re suggesting. This is especially true for people with big platforms. Influencer Dani Austin recently shared a video of her and her husband taking their five-day-old baby to the chiropractor. Even for adults, going to the chiropractor is something controversial. Personally, I’ve really benefitted from going, but despite my experiences, I do question practicing it on bones that are still developing.
The mom of four knew that people would be split by her decision.
@thedaniaustin This might be controversial, but I’ve taken all of my babies to the chiropractor just a few days after birth. It is NOT like adults getting their backs cracked. Newborn adjustments are super gentle, more like light movements and pressure points than anything else. We’ve personally found it really beneficial for our babies! Most of the time they actually sleep through the entire appointment, so it must be pretty relaxing 🤣 we also loooove Cafe of Life. They are amazing with moms & babies! Smith has been a little extra fussy lately and was born with a tongue tie, lip tie, and cheek tie, so I’m hoping this helps his little body relax and get more comfortable. Newborns go through a lot during birth, so I’m always open to things that might help them feel better. Every baby is different, but this is something that has worked really well for our family! 🤍 #newbornbaby #newbornlife #momtok #momlife #chiropractor ♬ original sound – Dani Austin
In the video, Austin and her husband take their new baby, Smith, for his first adjustment.
“We are gonna do something very controversial today. Taking Smith … to the chiropractor,” she said in the video. She added that the practice is different for babies, saying there’s no cracking, but “little pressure points.”
Austin explained in the caption that she’s taken all of her kids to the chiropractor after birth.
“We’ve personally found it really beneficial for our babies! Most of the time they actually sleep through the entire appointment, so it must be pretty relaxing,” she wrote. “Smith has been a little extra fussy lately and was born with a tongue tie, lip tie, and cheek tie, so I’m hoping this helps his little body relax and get more comfortable. Newborns go through a lot during birth, so I’m always open to things that might help them feel better. Every baby is different, but this is something that has worked really well for our family!”
Some people were vehemently against taking your baby to the chiropractor.
There were a number of commenters who couldn’t believe Austin would take her brand new baby to the chiropractor.
“Taking a baby to a chiropractor is absurd and dangerous,” one person wrote.
Another person asked “Is the evidence based practice in the room with us?”
“Chiropractors are good for no one,” someone else said.
“Ohhhhh let’s not normalize this…someone added.
Others had nothing but love for the chiropractor.
“We took my little girl to the chiropractor every week the first two months of life to help with colic! She never slept better than after the chiropractor lol,” one person wrote.
“Chiropractor appointments were such a blessing for us!!! It helped my son feel so much more comfortable in his body and helped his body tension so much. Our lactation specialist is the one who referred us to one. It helped him nurse so so so much better!” another mom wrote.
“I used a chiro for both babies and saw so much difference and realized how good it is,” another parent wrote.
“Chiro is incredible for babies and moms! I’m so glad you are taking care of yourself and your baby!” another comment read.
Many experts are still skeptical about the practice.
“Based on the quality of the research available, the benefit of manipulative chiropractic care is at best unclear and at worst risky,” pediatrician and spokesperson at the American Academy of Pediatrics, Molly O’Shea, told Parents. “Babies’ bones are much softer than older children and adults, putting babies at greater risk of injury with manipulation.”
While Dr. O’Shea doesn’t doubt anecdotal experiences, she believes improvements are “more likely due to the gentle massage-like technique than the actual manipulation that occurs during chiropractic care.”
Instead of chiropractic adjustments, O’Shea recommends gentle infant massage, which has a lot of the same benefits.
Austin is aware that what works for her may not work for everyone.
@thedaniaustin After the quickest unmedicated labor and delivery, I finally got to meet my baby boy. No one can explain the rush. It’s a true miracle. #birthstory #daniaustin #unmedicatedbirth ♬ original sound – WBsongs
After her video taking her baby to the chiropractor went viral, Austin reiterated that what she does may not be for everyone.
“We know this approach isn’t for everyone, and we’re definitely not saying it’s the right choice for every family. We’re just parents figuring things out as we go and open to trying things that might help our baby feel his best,” she said in a statement to People.
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