Here at Harvest Chiropractic, we believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life. Chiropractic care for kids is becoming more common as parents look for safe, natural ways to support their child’s growth, development, and overall well-being. Research shows that gentle chiropractic adjustments can help enhance spinal health, improve nervous system function, and support developmental milestones such as rolling over, crawling, walking, talking, focusing in a classroom, and much more. Our goal is to help kids grow, sleep, and thrive, which starts with a properly aligned spine and a balanced nervous system.
We see children for many reasons–from birth trauma and feeding difficulties to tumbles on the playground or sports injuries. Even daily activities like learning to walk or carrying a backpack can cause misalignments in the spine and interfere with the nervous system.
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Your health is like an onion. From the moment you are born, you have all of these layers added to your onion that interfere with the nervous system. Our gentle adjustments aim to reduce any stress on the spine and nervous system so that your child can grow up feeling comfortable and strong!
At Harvest, we care for kids of all ages, including newborns. Many parents bring their babies in for a check just a few days or weeks after birth. Adjusting a newborn is extremely gentle; we use light pressure that’s about as soft as checking the ripeness of a peach. It’s a safe and effective way to support your baby’s developing spine and nervous system right from the start.
Chiropractic care is extremely safe for children and very important! We use specialized techniques to ensure each adjustment is gentle and effective. Parents tell us they appreciate that chiropractic is a non-invasive option that supports their child’s health naturally and holistically. Your child’s safety and comfort are our top priorities at every visit.
Chiropractic can help with many childhood challenges, such as:
- Colic
- Reflux
- Ear infections
- Bedwetting
- Growing pains
- Concentration and behavior
Keeping the spine and nervous system balanced supports:
- Immunity
- Better sleep
- Healthy posture
- Proper development
We adjust kids to help them feel their best so they can play, learn, and grow with ease.
When we identify and address minor issues early on, we help prevent them from becoming bigger problems as your child grows. Early chiropractic care supports proper spinal development, better body awareness, and an optimal start to a healthy lifestyle. Our aim is to prepare your child for long-term health so they can grow up strong, active, and resilient.
At Harvest Chiropractic, we take a proactive, gentle approach that supports the body’s natural ability to heal without the need for medications or invasive procedures. Instead of only treating symptoms, we look for and correct the underlying causes of discomfort or health concerns. Our focus is on keeping your child’s spine and nervous system balanced so their whole body can work the way it is designed to.
How Our Pediatric Care Plan For Kids Works
1. Prepare The Soil
Think of our health as a seed that needs to be nurtured. Our health outcomes are entirely dependent on the environment that we create for it. Quality food, nutrition, exercise, and Chiropractic care are the main pillars for positive or negative health outcomes. Just like sunlight, nutritious soil, and water create the best environment for a seed to grow and flourish, so are these pillars for our health.
2. Plant The Seed
Planting and harvesting are both verbs. Taking action to make healthy choices and to make Chiropractic a part of your healthcare routine is vital to making sure the seeds of health are planted in fertile soil.
3. Constantly Nurture
Consistently nurturing our health is vital to success. Sadly, we can’t just workout or eat healthy just once and expect great health results. True health and healing takes time and repetition for great results. Many people who come to see us have had issues that built up over the course of years. It will take time and repetition to correct these issues.
4. Reap What You Sow & Enjoy A Rewarding Harvest
If we make the right decisions, consistently over time, we will reap the rewards of good health. By creating the right environment for our body to heal and be healthy, we will be able to live free of pain, disease, and dysfunction.
How We Treat Kids At Each Stage In Their Development Sun Prairie, WI
Newborn Chiropractic (Birth to First Month)
While pregnancy, labor, and delivery are challenging and strenuous on the mother, it may be even more so for the child. Without a developed musculoskeletal system to help protect the nervous system, it is more prone to injury, especially during the birthing process. C-section, vacuum, and forceps births can create even more damage to the nervous system and spine because of the high amount of force used in these instances.
Subluxations develop from imbalances – imagine the child in the womb in all sorts of contorted positions, or even during the birth process, with the rotation and force that happens. Even after birth, without them having strong enough muscles to hold their head up, bad posture can be created in some situations that can lead to these imbalances/subluxations. Subluxations negatively affect the nervous system, which is the master controller for the entire body, not just for functioning, but also for growth.
If the nervous system is irritated and unhealthy in any way, there will be a limit to how healthy the baby will be and how much it will be able to thrive. This is a classic example of “Failure to Thrive.” Typically, colic symptoms, digestive issues, etc., will lead doctors to label children with the “Failure to Thrive” tag, which is directly tied to how well (or not well) their nervous system is functioning.
Adjustments for kids are entirely different from those for adults. We use extremely light techniques—on babies, we use the same amount of force as you would when checking the ripeness of a fruit or vegetable.
Infant Chiropractic (First Month to 1 Year)
The nervous system controls and coordinates every cell, tissue, organ, and function in the body. A healthy nervous system is the key to health. If a child’s nervous system is functioning properly, they will be able to function and develop properly. If not, then they will suffer from all sorts of issues, i.e., digestive, neurological, colic, etc. Just like in other areas, like maintenance on your car, the earlier that we are able to diagnose and help an issue, the easier and more favorable the results.
Chiropractic for Teenagers (12-18 Years)
Many teenagers these days are using technology ALL DAY. Whether it is computers, phones, tablets, etc., this technology can lead to unfavorable posture that leads to accelerated wear and tear in the spine. We see many kids who come in with headaches, migraines, neck, shoulder, and mid-back pain because of this bad posture. Helping correct subluxations and fixing spinal curvatures helps our teenage patients get great results and prevent issues further down the road.
As the master controller, the nervous system controls the release of neurotransmitters (which kind and amount) that can have a beneficial or devastating effect on the body, especially throughout puberty. As the body changes through this process, it is vital that the nervous system is healthy so that the body can properly grow and develop, even during the craziest time of development for teenagers.
Recognizing signs that your child may benefit from pediatric chiropractic treatment is crucial for their well-being. At Harvest Chiropractic, we understand children’s unique needs and offer specialized care to address potential issues early on.
If you notice irregularities in your child’s posture or signs of discomfort, chiropractic evaluation can identify and address potential musculoskeletal issues. Poor sleep quality or disturbances, difficulty concentrating, or unexplained behavioral changes may also be indicators.
Chiropractic adjustments aim to support proper development and growth, address spinal misalignments, and contribute to a healthier and more comfortable childhood. Consult with the experienced chiropractors at Harvest Chiropractic right away if you observe any of these symptoms. This proactive step is essential to safeguard your child’s long-term health and prevent the possibility of additional complications.
Common Childhood Conditions That We Have Helped in Sun Prairie, WI
Colic
Colic is episodes of intense crying in an otherwise healthy baby. These crying episodes typically happen in the first few months of life and can last for hours at a time, often in the late afternoon or evening.
When a baby is inconsolable for long periods, it can take an emotional and physical toll on both the baby and the parents. Parents often feel helpless and exhausted as they struggle to soothe their baby.
While colic often improves as the baby grows, we encourage parents to have their baby checked by a chiropractor rather than simply “waiting it out”. Gentle chiropractic adjustments help relieve tension in the spine and improve communication in the nervous system, which can support digestion, decrease irritability, and help soothe crying.
Bedwetting
Bedwetting can happen for many different reasons. Some kids sleep so deeply they don’t wake up when their bladder is full. Others may have underdeveloped communication between their brain and the muscles that control the bladder. Stress, nervous system imbalance, or tension in the lower spine can also play a role.
At Harvest Chiropractic, we look for areas of tension or misalignment in the spine, especially in the lower back and pelvis, that could interfere with the nerves that control the bladder. Gentle, child-friendly adjustments to help improve these nerve pathways, allowing the brain and body to “talk” to each other more clearly. Many parents report that with regular chiropractic care, their child’s sleep improves and bedwetting episodes decrease as their nervous system becomes more balanced and better coordinated.
Issues with Crawling, Standing, or Other Movements
Tummy time plays a crucial role in helping babies develop strong neck, back, and shoulder muscles–all of which are essential for future milestones like rolling, crawling, sitting up, and walking. It also encourages healthy spinal curves and helps babies build the motor control and coordination their nervous system needs to grow properly.
Physical milestones–crawling, standing, and walking–are signs that your child’s brain and body are communicating the way they should. Each milestone builds on the one before it and reflects how well the nervous system is developing. If a child skips or struggles with specific movements, it could be a sign that something in their spine, muscles, or nervous system needs support.
Misalignments or tension in the spine or joints can restrict movement, affect balance, and cause discomfort, all of which can make it harder for a child to move freely or confidently. For example, if a baby always turns their head to one side or avoids using one arm or leg, it could indicate an imbalance that’s affecting their ability to crawl or stand. If a musculoskeletal or neurological issue is left unaddressed, it can lead to delays in development, long-term movement patterns that are uneven or compensatory, and future challenges with posture, coordination, or learning. These patterns may follow a child into school-age years and beyond if not corrected early.
At Harvest Chiropractic, we gently check your child’s spine and nervous system to ensure proper development. If we detect tension, misalignments, or imbalances, we use light, safe adjustments to help restore healthy function. Paired with at-home movement tips or exercises, chiropractic care is a natural way to support your child in reaching milestones with confidence and ease.
Scoliosis
Your spine is made up of 24 small bones called vertebrae, stacked on top of one another, along with a sacrum and coccyx at the base. When you look at a healthy spine from the side, it has gentle, natural curves–an inward curve in the neck, an outward curve in the mid-back, and another inward curve in the low back. These curves help absorb stress, support your head, and allow you to move easily. From the front or back, the spine should appear straight, not leaning or curving to one side.
Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine develops an abnormal curve when viewed from the front or back, often creating an “S” or “C” shape. Even a mild curve can put uneven stress on the muscles, joints, and nerves around the spine. This can lead to poor posture, discomfort, and tight muscles and, in some cases, affect how the ribs and chest cavity move, making it harder to breathe properly.
Scoliosis most often appears during rapid growth spurts in childhood and early adolescence, especially between the ages of 10 and 15. Girls tend to be at higher risk than boys. Parents might notice one shoulder higher than the other, an uneven waist, one hip sticking out more, or that clothes fit unevenly. In some cases, kids may mention feeling that one side of their back muscles is tighter or more fatigued than the other.
Early detection of scoliosis is key. Regular posture checks at home and screenings at school or by a chiropractor can catch scoliosis before it progresses. While we can’t necessarily prevent every single case of scoliosis, gentle chiropractic care at Harvest can help support the spine as it grows. Adjustments may improve spinal mobility, encourage better posture, and reduce muscle tension around the curve. In some cases, corrective exercises and home stretches are also helpful. Our goal is to support your child’s spine so they grow up with the most balanced, stable foundation possible, helping them move, play, and thrive comfortably.
Constipation
Kids can become constipated for many reasons. Changes in diet, like eating less fiber or drinking less water, can slow digestion. Stress, dehydration, holding in stools (often during potty-training or school hours), and even misalignment in the spine that interferes with nerve signals to the digestive tract all play a role. When constipation isn’t addressed, stools can become stiff and painful to pass, which can cause fear and anxiety about going to the bathroom. Over time, the child may start avoiding going altogether, leading to worsening constipation, tummy discomfort, bloating, irritability, and even urinary tract infections. Chronic digestive problems can also impact a child’s appetite and energy.
Conventional treatments often involve increasing fiber and fluids and using over-the-counter laxatives or stool softeners. In some cases, doctors may recommend suppositories or enemas. While these can help manage symptoms in the short term, they do not always address the underlying cause and can create dependency if relied on too often.
At Harvest Chiropractic, we look for areas of tension or misalignment in your child’s spine that may be interfering with the nerves that control digestion and elimination. Gentle adjustments help improve nerve communication between the brain and the gut, allowing the digestive system to work more smoothly and efficiently. Parents often report that after a few adjustments, their child has more regular, comfortable bowel movements, less tummy pain, and feels much happier overall. Chiropractic is a safe, natural option to support your child’s digestive health without relying solely on medications.
Asthma
Asthma is a condition in which the airways become inflamed and narrow, making breathing difficult. In children, this often manifests as persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or wheezing.
Children’s airways are naturally smaller and more reactive as they grow, making them more sensitive to allergens, irritants, and infections. Early-life exposures, genetics, and overall immune health all play a role. Plus, many children who have had difficult births or early stress on their spine and nervous system can experience increased inflammation and hypersensitivity in their respiratory system.
During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten, the lining of the airways swells, and excess mucus is produced–all of which restrict airflow into and out of the lungs. This leads to the classic symptoms of cough, wheezing, and labored breathing.
At Harvest Chiropractic, we look for stress or misalignment in the spine – especially the upper neck, mid back, and ribcage – which can affect the nerves that help regulate the lungs and diaphragm. Gentle chiropractic adjustments help improve spinal and ribcage mobility, allowing the nervous system to better coordinate the muscles involved in breathing. Many parents report their children breathe more easily and recover faster when they receive regular chiropractic care as part of a holistic wellness plan. We aim to support your child’s natural ability to breathe comfortably and to help them thrive.
Ear Infections
An ear infection occurs when the middle ear, the small space behind the eardrum, becomes inflamed and filled with fluid. This can cause pain, pressure, and even temporary hearing loss. In babies and young children, ear infections often manifest as tugging at the ear, irritability, crying more than usual, trouble sleeping, fever, or fluid draining from the ear. Older kids may complain of ear pain, a sense of fullness, or difficulty hearing.
Kids’ Eustachian tubes, which drain fluid from the middle ear into the back of the throat, are shorter, more horizontal, and more easily blocked than in adults. This means fluid can build up and bacteria or viruses can grow there, leading to infections. Birth trauma, allergies, congestion, and tension in the upper neck can all contribute to poor drainage as well.
At Harvest Chiropractic, we focus on gentle, precise adjustments to the upper spine–especially the neck–to help reduce the tension around the nerves and muscles that affect the Eustachian tubes. When the spine and surrounding structures are correctly aligned, fluid can drain more easily, and inflammation can decrease. Many parents report that regular chiropractic care improves their child’s ear drainage and reduces the frequency and severity of ear infections, often allowing them to avoid antibiotics or surgery. Our goal is to support your child’s natural ability to heal so they can stay comfortably and healthy as they grow.
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110 N Grand Ave #104, Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chiropractic safe for kids?
Yes, chiropractic care is safe for kids when performed by a trained chiropractor using gentle, age-appropriate techniques. At Harvest Chiropractic, we use light, specific adjustments to support healthy development safely and naturally.
When should you take children to a chiropractor in Sun Prairie, WI?
You should bring your child to Harvest Chiropractic as early as the newborn stage–especially after birth, during growth milestones, or following falls or injuries. We also recommend care if your child is experiencing issues like colic, ear infections, constipation, trouble sleeping, or posture concerns to help support healthy development from the very beginning.
What age can a child start seeing a chiropractor?
Kids can start seeing a chiropractor as early as the newborn stage, even just days after birth. At Harvest Chiropractic, we use gentle, safe techniques specifically designed for infants and children to support healthy development right from the start.
How do I know if my baby needs a chiropractor?
You might consider bringing your baby to Harvest Chiropractic if you notice signs like difficulty nursing (especially turning their head to one side), colic, reflux, constipation, trouble sleeping, or persistent fussiness. These can be indicators of tension or misalignment in their spine or nervous system, which gentle chiropractic care can help address.
How does chiropractic help with colic?
Chiropractic helps with colic by gently relieving tension in your baby’s spine and improving nervous system function, especially in areas that affect digestion and comfort. At Harvest Chiropractic, we use light, safe adjustments to help reduce irritation in the nervous system, which can calm fussiness, improve digestion, and help your baby feel more settled and comfortable.
Can chiropractic help with bed wetting?
Yes, chiropractic can help with bedwetting by improving communication between the brain and the bladder through gentle adjustments to the spine, especially in the lower back and pelvis. At Harvest Chiropractic, we focus on removing nerve interference that may be affecting bladder control, helping your child sleep better and stay dry through the night.
Is pediatric chiropractic the same as chiropractic for adults?
Pediatric chiropractic is similar in purpose to adult chiropractic, supporting a healthy spine and nervous system, but the techniques are much gentler and specifically tailored to a child’s age, size, and stage of development. At Harvest Chiropractic, we use light, safe, and precise adjustments for babies and kids to ensure comfort and effectiveness at every stage of growth.
What are the signs my child should see a chiropractor?
Signs your child may benefit from seeing a chiropractor include frequent ear infections, colic, reflux, constipation, trouble sleeping, poor posture, delayed milestones, or even difficulty concentrating. You might also notice they favor one side when turning their head, have uneven shoulders or hips, or complain of growing pains or headaches–all of which could indicate spinal misalignments affecting their nervous system.
What are the benefits of chiropractic for kids?
Chiropractic care for kids supports healthy spinal and nervous system development, which can lead to improved sleep, better digestion, stronger immunity, fewer ear infections, and better focus and behavior. At Harvest Chiropractic, we help kids move, grow, and thrive by gently removing stress from the spine and allowing their bodies to function at their best.
Should a child see a chiropractor for ear infections before putting tubes in their ears?
Yes, it is a great idea to have your child evaluated by a chiropractor before considering ear tubes. At Harvest Chiropractic, we use gentle adjustments to help improve drainage of the ears and reduce inflammation, which can often resolve recurring ear infections naturally, without the need for medication or surgery.
Start Feeling Better Today
$97 Chiropractic New Patient Special
Take the first step toward lasting relief and better health. Includes consultation, spinal exam, motion study digital x-rays, and your first adjustment.
