Is chiropractic care safe for babies and children?

Children’s care uses techniques adapted to their age, physical maturity, and individual needs. For infants, certain approaches involve only gentle, sustained pressure rather than traditional joint adjustments. Dr. Donnelly can explain the proposed technique, its potential benefits, and its risks before proceeding. As with any healthcare service, safety depends on an appropriate assessment and technique.

Why would a newborn need chiropractic care?

Some parents seek an assessment when their baby has persistent discomfort, difficulty sleeping, or other concerns. Birth can place physical demands on an infant, but that doesn’t mean every newborn needs an adjustment. An evaluation helps determine whether care is appropriate or whether another type of assessment is needed.

Can chiropractic care help with sleep, bedwetting, or sensory sensitivities?

These concerns can have different underlying causes. Dr. Donnelly can assess whether there may be a musculoskeletal or neurological component that his approach could address. Chiropractic care is not a guaranteed treatment for these concerns, and appropriate medical evaluation may also be necessary.

Can you help children with autism or learning difficulties?

Dr. Donnelly works with children who have a range of sensory and developmental concerns. An assessment may identify specific functional issues worth addressing, but chiropractic care has not been established as a treatment for autism itself or as a cure for learning disabilities. Care should complement, not replace, appropriate developmental, educational, and medical support.

How many visits will my child need?

That depends on the concern, your child’s individual needs, and how they respond to care. Children’s treatment plans are often shorter than adults’ because they have had less time to develop longstanding patterns of dysfunction. Dr. Donnelly will explain his recommendations and monitor progress rather than assume every child needs ongoing treatment.

Kids Chiropractor in Gallup, NM | Red Canyon Chiropractic

Gentle, Whole-Body Chiropractic Care for Kids & Babies

From newborns to teens, help your child move, sleep, and feel their best with care tailored to their age, development, and individual needs.

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How it works

Children’s chiropractic care takes a whole-body approach to supporting healthy movement and nervous system function as your child grows. At Red Canyon Chiropractic, Dr. Lawrence Donnelly customizes care to each child’s age, stage of development, and specific needs, using gentle techniques that may look quite different from the adjustments adults receive.

Dr. Donnelly’s goal is not simply to address a symptom. It is to identify and address underlying factors that may be impacting how your child’s body functions.

Dr. Donnelly’s goal is not simply to address a symptom. It is to identify and address underlying factors that may be impacting how your child’s body functions.

A person in a maroon sweater using their hands to adjust or manipulate the back of another person lying face down on a black padded surface, with the person lying down wearing blue jeans and a black and gray checkered shirt.

Who it’s for / What it helps:

Your child doesn’t have to be in pain to benefit from evaluation.

Dr. Donnelly works with children from birth through age 17 and can assess whether chiropractic care or other approaches offered at Red Canyon may help with concerns including:

Parents know that every child is different.

The concerns listed here have many causes, and chiropractic care isn’t appropriate for every condition. An examination helps Dr. Donnelly determine whether a neurological or musculoskeletal component may be involved and whether his approach is suited for your child.

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Sleep difficulties

Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking rested.

Colic and unsettled babies

Exploring possible contributing factors when an infant is persistently uncomfortable.

Bedwetting

Assessing whether there may be a neurological or functional component involved.

Food reactions and skin irritation

Evaluating whether nervous system function may be contributing to symptoms that resemble food sensitivities or allergies.

Sensory sensitivities

Challenges with certain textures, lights or sounds, or repetitive sensory-seeking behaviors.

Learning and coordination concerns

Assessing primitive reflexes, eye-tracking difficulties, and other neurological factors that may affect function.

Behavioral and emotional regulation

Exploring whether underlying nervous system factors may be contributing to difficulties with regulation.

What to Expect

Care that meets your child where they are.

Children have unique needs that deserve care tailored specifically to them.

Individual assessment

Gentle, age-appropriate techniques

Address contributing factors

Monitor & adjust the plan

Step 1

Start with an individual assessment.

Dr. Donnelly considers your child’s age, development, symptoms, and health history to better understand what may be contributing to areas of concern. He will assess whether chiropractic care or another approach may be appropriate.

Step 2

Use gentle, age-appropriate techniques.

Adjustments for children can involve substantially less force than those used for adults. For infants, certain techniques may use only gentle, sustained pressure without the joint movement associated with traditional adjustment. The approach depends on the child’s age, physical maturity, and individual needs.

Step 3

Address the factors contributing to the problem(s).

Depending on the findings, care may include gentle chiropractic techniques, neurological assessment and stimulation, or other methods deemed appropriate. Dr. Donnelly may also recommend additional medical evaluation when needed.

Step 4

Monitor progress and adjust the plan.

Children often respond differently from adults, and their care plans may be shorter. The goal is to make meaningful progress on your concern(s).

Benefits / Outcomes

Support for the way your child grows and develops.

When an underlying issue is contributing to a child’s symptoms, addressing it may help improve everyday function.

Depending on your child’s individual needs, care may help support:

More comfortable movement by addressing joint restrictions and musculoskeletal concerns.

Better sleep and daily comfort when contributing factors can be identified and addressed.

Improved sensory and motor function when an assessment identifies relevant neurological factors.

A clearer understanding of what’s going on so you can make informed decisions about your child’s care and next steps.

Every child is different

Results depend on the child and the underlying cause of the symptoms. No particular outcome is guaranteed, and some concerns may require care from other health professionals.

Close-up of an open red-lined black case containing various test or medical instruments, with a small brown vial and a black clip device on a dark surface nearby.

Why Red Canyon?

A thoughtful approach to the whole child.

At Red Canyon Chiropractic, Dr. Donnelly looks beyond the symptom(s) to understand how your child’s body is functioning as a whole. His approach draws on chiropractic care and an interest in functional neurology, including the assessment of primitive reflexes and cranial nerve function.
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Rather than applying the same technique to every child, he considers each child’s development and individual needs when determining an appropriate course of care.

Just as importantly, the goal is always clear:

helping your child make progress.

Dr. Donnelly will explain what the care involves and give you an honest assessment of whether Red Canyon is the right fit for your family and child.

Chiropractic Care for Kids