Pediatric Care
Tiny spines, gentle hands.
From newborns to teens, gentle chiropractic care supports healthy development, better sleep, easier feeding, and recovery from the tumbles of childhood.
Pediatric chiropractic
Gentle & safe care for babies, infants & toddlers
At Sunshine Chiropractic, Dr. Durso provides gentle, specialized chiropractic care for infants, babies, and toddlers. She helps families support their child's early growth, mobility, and overall well-being through light, precise adjustments designed for tiny bodies.
What we address:
- Colic, reflux, feeding or latching difficulties
- Sleep troubles and excessive fussiness
- Digestive issues (gas, constipation)
- Ear infections or fluid drainage problems
- Early-life spinal and nervous system alignment issues
- Toddler developmental movement: crawling, walking, posture
Key benefits
Why parents bring their little ones in
Benefits
How gentle adjustments may support your child
Improved sleep & reduced fussiness: gentle alignment and nervous system support may help babies sleep more soundly and comfortably.
Support for digestive health & colic relief: chiropractic care can relieve tension and ease digestive systems still adapting — helping with gas, colic, and reflux.
Immune system & ear infection support: because the nervous system and immune system are closely connected, ensuring optimal spine and nerve alignment may boost immunity, improve drainage, and reduce repeated ear infections.
Spinal & nervous system development: babies' spines and nervous systems are undergoing rapid change. Gentle alignment supports healthy neuromuscular development and better movement — tummy time, rolling, crawling, walking.
Birth-trauma recovery & early intervention: the birthing process can place stress on the newborn body. Infant chiropractic care can address subtle misalignments and help settle newborns, especially those with feeding problems, torticollis (neck tightness), plagiocephaly (flat head), or difficulties in early movement.
For breech pregnancies and expecting moms, see our prenatal chiropractic care — one practice caring for the whole family journey.
Top 10 reasons
Top 10 reasons to bring your baby to a chiropractor
Many common infant issues can be linked to nervous system stress. Here are the top 10 reasons parents in the West Melbourne, FL area seek out our gentle, pediatric care:
- To soothe colic symptoms: spinal misalignments can irritate nerves that control the digestive system, leading to the discomfort and excessive crying of colic. Gentle adjustments can help release this tension, often providing immediate relief.
- To improve sleep patterns: by relieving spinal stress, chiropractic care can help your baby feel more relaxed, leading to more peaceful and consistent sleep.
- To aid in breastfeeding and latching: a misalignment in a baby's neck or jaw can make it difficult to latch or turn their head comfortably. Chiropractic adjustments can improve mobility and function for better feeding.
- To reduce fussiness and irritability: when spinal pressure is relieved, babies often become more content and comfortable.
- To relieve digestive issues: by improving the function of the nerves that control the stomach and intestines, chiropractic care can help alleviate reflux and constipation.
- To support a healthy immune system: by ensuring the nervous system functions without interference, we can help boost your baby's natural ability to fight off illnesses.
- To address birth trauma: even a seemingly straightforward birth can put significant strain on a baby's neck and spine. A post-birth chiropractic check can identify and correct these issues early on.
- To help with ear infections: subluxations in the neck can restrict fluid drainage from the ears. Gentle adjustments can help restore proper nerve communication and allow the ears to drain, reducing the likelihood of chronic infections.
- To support proper physical development: as your baby learns to hold their head up, roll over, crawl, and walk, a properly aligned spine is essential for healthy growth and reaching developmental milestones with ease.
- For overall wellness: like adults, routine chiropractic care can serve as a form of preventative wellness, ensuring your baby's body is functioning at its absolute best.
Supporting growing children too: for older kids and teens we address birth trauma follow-up, latching and feeding issues, proper spinal development, torticollis, posture (devices and backpacks), growing pains, balance and coordination, sports-related aches and minor sprains, headaches, TMJ, and muscle tension from stress. Always in partnership with your pediatrician — young athletes included.
Safety & questions
Is chiropractic safe for infants?
One of the most common questions new parents ask. Here are reliable answers before you book.
Is chiropractic care safe for infants and toddlers?
Absolutely. Dr. Durso uses extremely gentle techniques — often no more pressure than you'd use to check a ripe tomato. Treatments are safe, calm, and specifically adapted for each baby's size, stage, and needs. Parents are welcome to stay close or hold their baby during every visit for comfort and reassurance.
What does the research say?
Current evidence suggests that serious adverse events from pediatric chiropractic care appear to be uncommon, but high-quality research on effectiveness and long-term outcomes remains limited. Care should always be gentle and age-appropriate, performed by a chiropractor experienced in pediatric care, and coordinated with your child's pediatrician when appropriate.
What happens during an infant chiropractic visit?
A typical first visit starts with a detailed health history — including birth and pregnancy history and developmental milestones — followed by observation while your baby moves naturally, a gentle range-of-motion assessment, evaluation of posture and movement patterns, parent education, home positioning recommendations (tummy time, feeding positions, holding techniques), and gentle manual techniques when appropriate. Parents are often surprised by how gentle a pediatric chiropractic visit is.
Why do parents take their baby to a chiropractor?
Common reasons include torticollis (tight neck muscles), head-turning preference, flattened head positioning, general neck stiffness, difficulty turning the head equally, musculoskeletal tension after birth, and breastfeeding positioning challenges when related to neck mobility.
When should I see a pediatrician instead?
Parents should always seek immediate medical evaluation for fever, poor feeding, breathing difficulties, lethargy, seizures, or other urgent symptoms rather than chiropractic care. It's crucial to consult with your pediatrician for any health concerns and to determine if chiropractic care is a suitable complementary approach for your child.
Give your little one a healthy start.
Dr. Jessica Durso is passionate about helping your baby start life on a healthy, happy foot. Call or text 321-379-1404 to schedule a consultation.
Book your $29 first visit →Sunshine Chiropractic · Dr. Jessica Durso · 2104 W New Haven Ave, West Melbourne, FL 32904 · Call or text 321-379-1404
Mon 8:30 AM–5:30 PM · Tue & Thu 8:30 AM–6:00 PM · Wed 8:30 AM–5:30 PM · Fri 8:30 AM–3:00 PM