Colic & Chiropractic in Pasadena, CA
There's nothing that tests a new parent like colic. The crying that starts for no apparent reason. The hours of inconsolable screaming. The feeling that you've tried everything — swaddling, rocking, white noise, gas drops — and nothing works. It's exhausting, isolating, and heartbreaking.
If this is your experience right now, please know two things: this is not your fault, and you're not out of options.
At Innate Family Chiropractic, Dr. Chris and Dr. Adana provide gentle, neurologically-focused chiropractic care for colicky infants. Their approach focuses on the underlying nervous system stress that often drives colic — not just managing the symptoms.
What Is Colic?
Colic is generally defined by the "Rule of 3s" — crying for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks. It typically appears in the first few weeks of life and peaks around six weeks.
Despite being common — estimates suggest it affects up to 25% of newborns — the medical community doesn't have a single agreed-upon cause. Conventional advice often boils down to "wait it out," which offers little comfort to a family in the middle of it.
What Causes Colic — A Nervous System Perspective
From a neurologically-focused chiropractic perspective, colic often looks like a nervous system that's stuck in overdrive.
The birth process — particularly when it involves long labor, vacuum or forceps assistance, C-section, or rapid delivery — places physical stress on the infant's spine and cranium. This stress can create subluxations in the upper cervical and thoracic spine that interfere with how the nervous system regulates.
When a baby's nervous system is locked in a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state, it struggles to shift into the parasympathetic mode needed for calm, digestion, and rest. The result can be uncontrollable crying, rigid or arched body posture, digestive distress, gassiness, and difficulty settling or sleeping.
The baby isn't crying to be difficult. Their nervous system is overwhelmed, and their body is responding the only way it knows how.
Gentle chiropractic adjustments help shift the infant's nervous system out of that stressed, sympathetic-dominant state and toward parasympathetic regulation. By correcting the subluxations that are creating interference, we give the nervous system the opportunity to calm down, organize, and function the way it should.
The adjustments are incredibly gentle — using only fingertip pressure lighter than what you'd use to press a doorbell. There's no cracking, no twisting, and no discomfort. Most babies relax during the adjustment, and many parents notice a calmer, more settled baby within the first few sessions.
How Chiropractic Helps
Your baby's first visit includes a consultation, detailed birth and health history, and a gentle examination. If appropriate, we'll perform an INSiGHT neurological scan to objectively assess how your baby's nervous system is functioning.
Dr. Chris or Dr. Adana will explain their findings, walk you through a recommended care plan, and answer every question you have. Initial care for colicky babies typically involves frequent visits — often two to three times per week — with spacing that adjusts as your baby improves.
Many parents report significant improvement within the first one to two weeks of care. Some notice changes after the very first adjustment — a longer nap, a calmer feeding session, or a stretch of time without inconsolable crying.
What Parents Can Expect
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. By addressing the spinal subluxations that contribute to nervous system dysregulation, gentle chiropractic care can help calm a colicky baby's overwhelmed system and support healthier digestion, sleep, and regulation.
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Extremely gentle. Infant adjustments use light fingertip pressure — similar to the pressure you'd use to check a tomato's ripeness. There is no cracking or forceful manipulation.
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Many families see improvement within the first few visits. Some notice changes after the very first adjustment. The timeline depends on the severity of the subluxation and how long the nervous system has been under stress.
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In many cases, yes. Colic often correlates with nervous system stress from the birth process. When the nervous system can't properly regulate, it affects digestion, calm, and the baby's ability to self-soothe. Chiropractic care addresses this root cause.