Colic, Reflux & Chiropractic in Memphis, TN
When your baby won't stop crying, won't eat comfortably, and won't sleep — and nothing you've tried is working — it's exhausting, heartbreaking, and isolating. Colic and infant reflux are more common than most parents realize, and in many cases, the root issue isn't the stomach. It's the nervous system. Gentle chiropractic care can help calm what's driving the discomfort — safely and without medication.
What Is Colic / Reflux
Understanding Colic and Infant Reflux
Colic is defined as excessive, inconsolable crying for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks — in an otherwise healthy baby. It typically peaks around 6 weeks and resolves by 3–4 months, but that timeline feels like an eternity when you're living it.
Infant reflux (GERD) occurs when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, causing spitting up, discomfort during and after feeding, arching of the back, and irritability. Mild reflux is common in newborns, but persistent or painful reflux signals that something deeper may be going on.
A Nervous System Perspective
The vagus nerve — which runs from the brainstem through the upper cervical spine and down to the digestive organs — controls digestion, gut motility, and the body's ability to rest and regulate. In infants, birth stress (especially from difficult, prolonged, or assisted deliveries) can create misalignment in the upper cervical spine that irritates the vagus nerve and disrupts normal digestive function.
This isn't a structural "injury" in the traditional sense — it's subtle nervous system interference that prevents the baby's body from regulating the way it should. And it's exactly what gentle chiropractic care is designed to address.
Symptoms
Colic signs include excessive, inconsolable crying for 3+ hours/day, more than 3 days/week, for 3+ weeks — often in the evening. Reflux signs include frequent spitting up, arching of the back during or after feedings, discomfort during feeding, refusal to eat, and persistent irritability.
Both conditions may also present with difficulty settling, poor sleep, and visible abdominal discomfort. If your baby shows any of these signs — especially after a difficult delivery — a nervous system evaluation is worthwhile.
How We Treat It
How Gentle Chiropractic Helps
Dr. Hayden uses light fingertip pressure — no more than the weight of a nickel — to gently correct upper cervical misalignment in infants. This removes the nervous system interference affecting the vagus nerve and allows the baby's digestive and regulatory systems to function more normally.
Parents often notice their baby becomes calmer, feeds more comfortably, spits up less, and sleeps better — sometimes within the first few visits.
What Parents Can Expect
The first visit includes a gentle examination of your baby's spine, nervous system, and movement patterns. Dr. Hayden will explain exactly what he's looking for and what he finds. The adjustment itself takes just minutes and most babies tolerate it beautifully — many sleep through it.
Follow-up visits are quick and focused. Most parents see meaningful improvement within 3–6 visits, though every baby responds at their own pace.
Why Choose Us
Dr. Hayden has been providing gentle infant chiropractic care in downtown Memphis since 2006. His approach to colic and reflux is rooted in nervous system science — correcting the upper cervical interference that disrupts vagus nerve function.
The adjustments are extraordinarily gentle, the examination is thorough, and parents consistently report meaningful improvements in their baby's comfort and behavior within just a few visits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a chiropractor help a colicky baby?
Yes. When colic is driven by nervous system irritation — particularly in the upper cervical spine — gentle chiropractic care can reduce crying, improve comfort, and help the baby regulate more effectively.
How gentle is an infant adjustment?
Extremely. Dr. Hayden uses fingertip pressure only — lighter than what you'd use to check if a peach is ripe. There's no cracking, no twisting, and no discomfort.
Can chiropractic help baby reflux?
In many cases, yes. Reflux driven by vagus nerve irritation responds well to gentle upper cervical correction, which restores normal nerve function to the digestive system.
How quickly do babies respond?
Every baby is different. Some parents notice changes after the first visit. Most see meaningful improvement within 3–6 sessions.