It’s been a really good week being back catching up with the team, seeing all of you and getting back into the swing of things. Thank you to everyone who’s been in; it’s always great to hear what you’ve been up to as well.
We had a fantastic family day out at Alice Holt Forest, following the Gruffalo Trail. Kit and Florie have been big fans of the Gruffalo since they were about three, so they were thrilled to finally spot the owl, the snake, and of course the fox hiding along the path. It’s amazing how something so simple can capture their imagination (and keep them walking without complaint for a good couple of hours!).
Back at the clinic, it’s been great to welcome some new team members, and we’re excited to have Tom Hann, a new chiropractor, starting in the West Byfleet clinic on Monday. If you’re booked in there, you’ll be seeing him soon, and I know he’s going to be a brilliant addition to the team.
And outside of clinic life, today is the 1066 Triathlon in Hastings. After a week of non-stop rain, it looks like the weather is finally playing ball, which makes a nice change. Really looking forward to seeing how the day goes should be a great event.
Parents often ask whether Chiropractic care is safe and effective for children. From colic to posture issues, families are curious about whether adjustments could help their kids. But what does the latest research really say?
A lot of parents want to get their kids checked once they understand that Chiropractic is more than just back pain, it is about the nervous system.
But they are nervous, they ask me ‘are you going to adjust my 2 year old like you adjust me?’
The answer is no, the techniques we use on kids are different and very gentle.
- Safety: What Parents Should Know
The techniques with babies are called touch and hold. They are lighter than the pressure you would put on your eyelid when your eye is closed. A lot of the work is cranial to release pressure through the nervous system this way.
Most research indicates that adverse events from chiropractic care in children are mild and temporary, such as irritability, tiredness, or mild soreness. A 2024 study of preschoolers found that 30% experienced minor short-lived side effects like fussiness or fatigue but no serious harms were reported (ChiroMT, 2024).
2. Emerging Areas of Research
- Quality of Life: A 2025 review of school-age children reported improved overall wellbeing and reduced hyperactivity, but as it was not a clinical trial, stronger research is needed (PubMed, 2025).
As most kids don’t have back pain, parents will bring their kids to us for a variety of reasons. Mainly for a check if they have had a bump or fall, for posture or to see if we can help with conditions where nothing has worked. Like bedwetting, sleep issues or concentration. Short answer is that I cannot tell you we can help with those issues, there is no evidence suggesting we can. All we can do is get the body in the best position and let it do the rest.
It is back to school this week and we have lots of kids coming in for posture checks and also making sure their backpacks are set up correctly.
3. What This Means for Parents
If you are considering chiropractic care for your child:
- Talk to A Chiropractor first.
- Choose a Chiropractor experienced in paediatric care. We have Dr Iris and Charlie who have done extensive training in paediatric Chiropractic.
- Ask about gentle, age-appropriate techniques.
- Come and chat to one of our team next time you are in, talk to me, I adjust my kids regularly and have done since they were babies.
At West Chiropractic Clinic, we believe in working hand-in-hand with families and paediatricians to ensure every child receives care that is safe, appropriate, and based on the latest evidence.
References
- Keating L, et al. (2024). Delphi consensus guidelines for pediatric chiropractic care. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies.
- ChiroMT (2024). Adverse events in preschool children following chiropractic care: feasibility study.
- Frontiers in Psychology (2023). Chiropractic care for ADHD: randomized controlled trial.
- PubMed (2025). Case review: chiropractic care and quality of life in school-aged children.
If you are wanting to chat more about the information above then why not book a call with me and we can go into more detail? Click here to book or if you want to get an assessment then Book a consultation with a Chiropractor here
If you do know someone who wants more advice, please send them our details. You can send them this assessment as well to diagnose their back pain. It is a great tool to understand where your back pain is coming from, it is free and takes 60 seconds. Click here for assessment
