Why Newborns Need Their Spine Checked

"The birth process is one of the most physically intense events a body goes through — and it's the first event a new body goes through. A spine check should be one of the first things that follows." — Dr. Romar Rochet

Where newborn subluxations come from

Birth trauma. The forces involved in delivery — even in uncomplicated births — apply significant stress to the infant's upper cervical spine. The C1 and C2 vertebrae are particularly vulnerable. A subluxation at those levels creates interference in the upper cervical nerve pathways during the period when the nervous system is developing most rapidly.

Why it matters in infants

A developing body depends on a clear nerve system connection to function and grow properly. The Innate Intelligence that directs development needs uninterrupted communication pathways. A subluxation in the upper cervical spine doesn't produce the same complaints in an infant as it does in an adult — but the interference is there, and it affects everything the nervous system is trying to do.

How pediatric adjustment works

Pediatric subluxation correction is not the same as adult adjustment. The force used is finger-tip gentle — appropriate for an infant's developing tissue and joint structures. Dr. Rochet assesses the upper cervical spine structurally and makes the specific correction required. The adjustment clears the nerve interference. The body handles the rest.

What parents need to know

The video answers the question every parent asks — is this safe? Dr. Rochet explains the procedure, the force levels, and why the upper cervical spine is the priority. Every parent in the practice has their children checked. That's the standard.

Why the atlas is the priority in newborns

The atlas — the first cervical vertebra, C1 — sits directly at the base of the skull and is the most commonly subluxated bone in newborns. Its position affects brainstem function, cranial nerve exits, and the quality of every signal moving between brain and body during the most developmentally critical period of a person's life. During delivery, whether vaginal or cesarean, the forces applied to the baby's head and neck can displace the atlas from its proper position. Instrument-assisted deliveries, prolonged labor, and positioning during birth compound that stress. The subluxation doesn't have to be severe to create interference. Even a minor displacement at C1 during the first days and weeks of life means the nervous system is developing against a background of nerve interference. That is why a subluxation check in the first weeks — not months — matters.

Is chiropractic safe for newborns?

The force used to correct a subluxation in a newborn is nothing like an adult adjustment. Two fingers. The weight of a light touch. The infant's joint structures are cartilaginous and highly responsive, and the correction required to restore proper atlas alignment is proportionally gentle. What matters is specificity — knowing exactly where the subluxation is and making the right correction, not a general manipulation.

I've checked newborns as young as a day old. The procedure takes seconds. The baby rarely cries. And what follows is that the nervous system — which the body's Innate Intelligence was already working through — now has a clear pathway to do so. Parents sometimes ask what the adjustment will "fix." The honest answer: we corrected the subluxation. Innate Intelligence handles the rest. That's always been the answer.