Is Your Child Having Trouble Pooping?

If the neural pathways between the brain and spinal cord have a disconnect in communication (often from birth trauma or increased stress), or the autonomic nervous system is stuck in “fight or flight mode,” the body has difficulty relaxing to properly digest food.

Keep reading to learn more about:

• The role the nervous system plays in digestion

• If MiraLAX is safe for kids

• Natural lifestyle tips to improve digestion and gut health

• The story of Ada, a 2 year old girl who found healing from constipation through chiropractic care

What Causes Digestive Issues in Babies and Kids?

If your child is not pooping every day (or has loose stools) it can be due to subluxation (nerve interference) within the nervous system - likely in 1 of 2 areas:

1. The Vagus Nerve: This is the longest cranial nerve in the body. It controls the parasympathetic nervous system 🧠 which is in charge of proper digestion. The parasympathetic system keeps our lower digestive tract in check and keeps things moving along properly 💩 . If children have subluxation in any area affecting the vagus nerve they can experience an irritated bowel leading to diarrhea, or a sleepy bowel causing constipation.

2. The Sacrum and Pelvis: Many of the sacral nerves coordinate the muscles of the pelvic floor and overall bowel control. When there is an imbalance of the pelvis and sacrum it creates subluxation near the areas those nerves control, which can result in digestive issues.

The other important factor to consider is how stressed a child’s autonomic nervous system is. If their Heart Rate Variability scan (HRV) plots them in a sympathetic state, aka “fight or flight mode”, the body’s priority is survival and protection, which inhibits other bodily functions like digestion from occurring.

To have daily, healthy bowel movements the autonomic nervous system needs to shift into a parasympathetic, “rest and digest” state where the brain and body feels safe and relaxed so it can properly breakdown food and eliminate waste.

Our goal as pediatric chiropractors is to locate areas of subluxation and autonomic stress through neurological scans, eliminate nerve interference with gentle and specific adjustments, and activate the parasympathetic branch to restore optimal function of the nervous system which improves function of the digestive system.

Get your child scanned and adjusted today to see how removing stress and nerve tension in their nervous system can help improve gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea.

MiraLAX: Is it Safe for Kids?

Did you know, MiraLax (active ingredient PEG 3350) is NOT approved by the FDA for children under 17 years and yet it is the most recommended laxative by pediatric gastroenterologists?

MiraLAX has been a point of controversy for years because thousands of parents have reported severe emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric side effects from the drug, and yet no long-term studies have been completed regarding it’s effect on children’s health.

The most common side effects of MiraLAX include:

• Bloating

• Gas

• Abdominal cramping

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

And those are just the minor ones. Some of the more serious side effects reported by parents include increased anxiety, mood swings, anger, aggression, and depression in their kids, as well as allergic reactions.

Considering the potential side-effects of MiraLAX have the OPPOSITE effect of it’s intended benefit, no long-term safety studies on the drug have been completed, it’s not approved by the FDA, and taking the drug simply covers up symptoms rather than healing the body, we don’t recommend this drug.

7 Natural Ways to Prevent or Improve Constipation

If you or your child tend to get backed up easily or are not fully eliminating their bowels daily, try these lifestyle tips to increase motility, soften stool, and support a healthy digestive track.

Story of Healing: Ada

When Ada first came to Restore she was struggling with constipation and her doctor had her taking MiraLAX daily. 😬 Her neurological scans revealed her nervous system was stuck in “fight or flight” 💥 mode with significant subluxation (nerve interference) near her upper neck and low back. ➡️ After consistent chiropractic adjustments her updated scans showed her nervous system shifted to a more CALM and BALANCED state and subluxation along her spinal cord was gone! 🎉 Today Ada is completely OFF MiraLAX and POOPS DAILY 💩 with ease – all because of chiropractic care! 🙌

If you’ve never tried chiropractic care to help with digestive concerns, now’s the time! Why depend on medication to help your child have a bowel movement when you can get to ROOT of the problem through natural means without unfavorable side effects? Give us a call or schedule online to restore the health of their nervous system so they can properly digest food and feel great once again!