# "Adjustments" for babies? WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010 "2015-06-20T14:33:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/1 "2015-06-20T14:33:08Z")
Some friend of a friend posted photos of “baby’s first adjustment”, which appeared to be some sort of amateur manipulation of their child’s neck while it lay on top of a beer cooler. When did this become a ‘thing’? What sort of complete moron would attempt such a thing on a child (or on anyone, for that matter)? I am aghast at the disregard exhibited by these parents. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/2 "2015-06-20T15:32:00Z")
I have no idea if this is what was going on with your friend’s friends’ kid, but the baby of friends of mine was born with torticollis (wry neck), so the hospital physio showed them exercises to do with him several times a day, to stretch out the muscles. Some of them looked bizarre - lifting him by his feet in a specific way to a specific angle, that kind of thing - but they worked. It may have been something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/3 "2015-06-20T15:39:16Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I am aghast at the disregard exhibited by these parents. After the discussion of ‘blanket training,’ my ghast meter has been thoroughly recalibrated. I’m with **ew** - there may be a valid reason for this process that isn’t being communicated very well. Then again, communicating it at all with the social media world is questionable. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/4 "2015-06-20T15:53:56Z")
welladjustedbabies (I am not linking to it) > [@](#): > > 10 reasons parents take their children to see a chiropractor: > > ``` > To encourage good neural plasticity (brain and nerve development). > To support “first-class” nerve communication throughout the body to promoting health and wellbeing. > To help strengthen their child’s immunity – encouraging fewer colds, ear-aches and general illness. > To help resolve breastfeeding issues and colic. > To reduce the detrimental impact our modern world has on our children’s health. > Encourages children to thrive by supporting digestive strength. > To diminish nerve interference which may impact their child’s capacity to learn and concentrate. > To promote body balance – helping to resolve poor posture, asthma, allergies and bed-wetting.. > To help kids stay fun and light hearted. > To help kids stay in tip-top shape. > > ``` Holee _shit_! ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/5 "2015-06-20T16:13:04Z")
:eek: > [@](#): > > To help kids stay fun and light hearted. See, I do this by sticking my face on my kid’s tummy and going OMNOMNOMNOMNOM. Maybe if I really cared I’d pay some guy a hundred bucks to mess with her neck. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/6 "2015-06-20T16:15:55Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > See, I do this by sticking my face on my kid’s tummy and going OMNOMNOMNOMNOM. No, no, no. It’s RUGGAHRUGGAHRUGGAH. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/7 "2015-06-20T16:52:26Z")
You just don’t do that shit around here. What if somebody needed to get to a beer? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/8 "2015-06-20T18:19:46Z")
I live in a city that has a chiropractic school, and there’s one on every street corner (or so it seems). There are some people who do VETERINARY chiropractic. I don’t get it either. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/9 "2015-06-20T18:21:19Z")
This quote makes me want to first call the medical board, then child services: > [@](#): > > Scott and Sean had adjustments all the time as infants - Dr. Beddoe would “muscle test” them through me and that’s how he knew what was out. It’s an interesting procedure. Babies go through a lot being born! I’m guessing that these idiots are also part of the anti-vax woo-woo crowd. I don’t trust myself to respond, as I don’t want to start a shitstorm with my family, but what in the fuck, people?! ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/10 "2015-06-20T18:31:30Z")
Our son was a premie so he had a really weak neck, and the way we were told to hold him to support his neck or to burp him well it looks bad in pics. So we have a bunch of baby pics where it looks like we’re choking him lol. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/11 "2015-06-20T18:36:18Z")
I’d be curious what chiropractors think about such things. From what little I know of such, in most cases I would think the risk of harm far outweighs the potential benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/12 "2015-06-20T18:42:33Z")
Babies are no longer content to sit around and burp: today’s baby demands to be fit and active, ready to take on any challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/13 "2015-06-21T07:57:49Z")
Ok. I’m hillbilly mama if there ever was one. y’all are all right. If the babies are nummin’ on it, and it’s not too dirty, it’s ok. Just teach 'em the right words and you’ll be all right. Give 'em their milk and some meat or red beans, and they’ll go ok. ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/14 "2015-06-21T10:43:51Z")
A friend of mine describes the process on his website: "The most frequent reasons parents bring their babies to us are: Sleep issues – Feeding problems – Crying – Traumatic birth – Irritability – Tummy pain – Recovery from illness and injury Mr X has a particular interest in treating babies and has been doing so for over 20 years. He received his advanced training at the Osteopathic Centre for Children in London. Paediatric Osteopathy is exceptionally gentle and safe. We recommend all babies are assessed as soon as possible after birth to ensure that any strains associated with birth and pregnancy can be released. Many babies simply retain tension within their tissues which is uncomfortable for them. We can help! Before we ever treat a baby we discuss our findings, objectives and treatment plan with the parents and will only ever progress with your full approval. Mr X does NOT crack, manipulate, use toggle boards or activator instruments as part of his osteopathic approach with babies. Usually the baby will lay, face up on a pillow or cradled in the parents hands whilst the osteopath will gently seeks a position in which they relax and the accumulated tension or stress in their tissues releases. Treatment is usually very relaxing for a baby and in many cases they sleep through. In some cases a very irritable baby may continue to cry but this usually subsides quickly as they relax. " ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/15 "2015-06-21T13:57:15Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > No, no, no. It’s RUGGAHRUGGAHRUGGAH. Clinical trials show that both OMNOMNOMNOMNOM and RUGGAHRUGGAHRUGGAH have a significant effect at the 99% confidence level in preventing subluxations from subluxating. You may proceed with either or both at normal dosage. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/16 "2015-06-21T14:19:26Z")
> [@lel](#): > > I’d be curious what chiropractors think about such things. From what little I know of such, in most cases I would think the risk of harm far outweighs the potential benefit. There are plenty of chiros who promote “adjusting” babies to relieve the dreaded trauma of birth. Evidence that vaginal delivery causes trauma requiring manipulation of the spine after birth or that such manipulation does anything useful is, of course, south of nil. It’s a nice income generator for the chiropractor though. [Serious injuries to infants](https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/chiropractor-breaks-babys-neck-a-risk-vs-benefit-analysis/) due to chiropractic manipulation seem to be uncommon, though given the lack of evidence that it does anything beneficial, any significant injuries due to this practice are intolerable. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/17 "2015-06-21T14:28:23Z")
**eclectic wench** , I seem to have something wrong with my neck and would like to make an OMNOMNOMNOMNOM appointment at your earliest convenience. I promise to keep my pants on. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjustments-for-babies-wtf/723010/18 "2015-06-22T04:05:00Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > Clinical trials show that both OMNOMNOMNOMNOM and RUGGAHRUGGAHRUGGAH have a significant effect at the 99% confidence level in preventing subluxations from subluxating. You may proceed with either or both at normal dosage. My meta-analysis shows the tummy raspberry to be superior at a p of .01 while OMNOMNOMNOMNOM and RUGGAHRUGGAHRUGGAH vary from .04-.15.