What Is Colic?
Colic is typically defined by the "Rule of 3s": crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks — in an otherwise healthy baby. It affects an estimated 1 in 5 infants and usually appears in the first few weeks of life.
For parents, colic is exhausting. You've tried everything — feeding changes, swaddling, rocking, driving — and nothing seems to work for long. You're not doing anything wrong. Your baby's body is telling you something.
What Causes Colic — A Nervous System Perspective
Traditional medicine often can't pinpoint a clear cause for colic, which leaves parents without real answers. A neurologically-focused approach looks deeper.
Birth — especially difficult, fast, or interventive delivery — can create stress and misalignment in your baby's upper spine. This can irritate the nervous system and push it into a state of sympathetic overdrive, where your baby's body is stuck in "go" mode and can't shift into the calm, regulated state needed for digestion, sleep, and comfort. Some babies with colic also struggle with infant reflux, since digestion and nervous system regulation are closely connected.
The result is a baby who cries inconsolably — not because of personality or parenting, but because their nervous system is overwhelmed.
How Chiropractic Helps
Dr. Alyssa uses gentle, fingertip-pressure adjustments to identify and correct areas of spinal misalignment that are contributing to nervous system stress. By removing this interference, her goal is to help your baby's nervous system shift from sympathetic overdrive into a calmer, more regulated state.
When the nervous system can function without interference, digestion improves, tension releases, and babies often become noticeably calmer.
What Parents Can Expect
Your baby's first visit includes a gentle assessment of their spine, reflexes, and muscle tone. If Dr. Alyssa finds areas of subluxation, she'll begin adjustments using light pressure that most babies tolerate easily — many fall asleep during their visit.
Timelines vary, but many parents notice changes within the first 2–4 visits. Some babies respond after just one adjustment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a chiropractor help a colicky baby?
Yes. By addressing spinal misalignment and nervous system stress, chiropractic care can help calm the underlying dysfunction that contributes to colic.
How gentle is an adjustment for a baby with colic?
Extremely gentle. Dr. Alyssa uses fingertip pressure — lighter than what you'd use to check a peach. There's no cracking or twisting.
How quickly do babies respond to chiropractic for colic?
Many parents notice improvement within 2–4 visits, though some babies respond after the very first adjustment.
Is colic related to the nervous system?
Growing evidence suggests that colic is connected to nervous system dysregulation — particularly when birth stress creates interference in the upper spine. Chiropractic addresses this directly.