Pediatric Chiropractic Care: How Frequently Should Your Kid Get Adjustments?

The team at Restore Chiropractic believes in the benefits of whole-family chiropractic care. We strive to help families live healthier lives through optimally functioning nervous systems through pediatric chiropractic care for children and teenagers. We’ve witnessed firsthand how chiropractic care in the early years of life can help with child development and building resilience to the stresses of growth and physical activities.

So, just how often should you bring your child to the chiropractor? 

The frequency of adjustments for children will depend on their age, health concerns, and individual needs. A pediatric chiropractor, like the ones at Restore Chiropractic, will assess your child’s spine and nervous system to determine the best care plan. Each child is unique, which means each child deserves an individualized care plan. 

Let’s take a look at the general guidelines for how often a child should receive chiropractic care. 

General Guidelines for Pediatric Chiropractic Care

While your child may have different needs, some general guidelines for childhood chiropractic care exist. With help from a specialized chiropractor, your child can receive the benefits of chiropractic care throughout their life. 

Newborns & Infants

Newborns and infants (0 to 12 months) can receive an initial checkup right after birth, often within the first week of life. This can help address neurological interference from delivery, which is one of the first major physical traumas a newborn experiences.

Depending on the child, adjustments may be suggested 1 to 2 times per week, which can help address concerns like colic, ear infections, reflux, or breastfeeding difficulties, by reducing nervous system interference. A healthy newborn may only need a check-up with a chiropractor bi-weekly or monthly to ensure proper development.

Toddlers & Young Children

From the ages of 1 to 5, children go through growth spurts, frequent falls, and posture changes. These can all create interference in the nervous system and affect how well their bodies communicate and function.

Kids with ear infections, sleep issues, or immune challenges may benefit from care at a frequency of 2 to 3 times per week. Otherwise, weekly or bi-weekly adjustments can help maintain their nervous system health and build resilience to everyday stressors.

School-Age Kids & Athletes

Kids ages 6 to 12 are usually very active and may participate in sports. They can benefit from weekly or biweekly adjustments to prevent injuries and enhance their ability to adapt to physical,

mental, and chemical stressors. If your child has posture issues due to screen time, backpacks, or similar problems, more specialized care can be helpful. Otherwise, a visit every week or two would be good for routine check-ups to support ongoing neurological development.

Teenagers

Teenagers ages 13 to 18 are experiencing rapid growth, stress from school, and sports-related injuries. Biweekly or weekly adjustments may help with anxiety, concentration problems, headaches, and sleep disturbances by supporting their bodies’ ability to handle multiple stressors.

Healthy teens may only need adjustments every 1 to 2 6 to 8 weeks for maintenance, so long as they do not get injured or experience significant new stressors. 

When to Consider More Frequent Nervous System Check-ups

Your child may need more regular visits if they experience: 

• Frequent colds or ear infections (suggesting compromised immune function)

• Postural problems from prolonged screen time or heavy backpacks

• Sleep disturbances or behavioral changes

• Sports injuries or growing pains

After your child’s symptoms improve, chiropractic visits can be spaced out to once every few months for maintenance of optimal adaption. 

Schedule Your Child’s First Appointment at Restore Chiropractic

As your child grows, their bodies change and fluctuate, which can cause challenges adapting to the three T’s: Thoughts (mental stress), Traumas (physical stress), and Toxins (chemical stress). Scheduling their first chiropractic appointment in the Twin Cities with Restore Chiropractic can help set your child on a path of holistic, non-invasive care for childhood ailments and a properly functioning nervous system using our gentle TRT approach - with no twisting, cracking, or popping.

With our team of expert pediatric chiropractors, your child is in the best hands possible. Schedule an appointment online to call us at 612-516-3090 for more information.