The #1 Choice You Should Make For Your Child’s Health 

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As parents, we all want what’s best for our children’s health. However, in today’s world of endless health information and options, it can feel extremely overwhelming to choose the right path. Should you stick with traditional medications? Try the natural supplement route? Or is there something even more fundamental that needs addressing?

If you’re feeling confused about the different approaches to your child’s healthcare, you’re not alone. The truth is that each approach has its place, but understanding the differences can empower you to make informed decisions about your child’s well-being. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of these three approaches so you can gain the knowledge you need to choose the best path for your family.

The Shifting Landscape of Children’s Healthcare

When I first started practicing, nearly every child I saw was on multiple medications – from antibiotics to steroid inhalers and even serious psychotropic medications for conditions like ADD, ADHD, anxiety, and autism. Not only were these children still struggling with their original conditions, but they were also dealing with many, many side effects from their medications.

Fast forward to today, and there’s been an insanely remarkable shift- in the best way. Parents are consistently turning to natural approaches first, saving medications as a last resort. Instead of medicine cabinets filled with prescriptions, we’re seeing families try different  supplements, homeopathic remedies, essential oils, and various therapies like PT, OT, and speech therapy.

While this shift toward natural health is encouraging, here’s the reality: many children are still struggling with neurological challenges like autism, ADHD, anxiety, sleep issues, and digestive problems. This suggests that even with all these positive changes, we might be missing something deeper.

Understanding Your Options: Three Different Approaches

Let’s break down the three main approaches to children’s healthcare:

1. Conventional Medical Care

This is probably what you’re most familiar with – your regular pediatrician’s office. While this approach is absolutely essential for emergencies and acute conditions, it typically focuses on treating symptoms rather than underlying causes. Medications can provide quick relief, but they often come with unwanted side effects, especially in children. These might include:

  • Sleep disturbances
  • Appetite changes
  • Mood fluctuations
  • Other challenging side effects that can impact your child’s daily life

2. Functional Medicine

This approach digs deeper than conventional medicine, looking at your child as a whole system rather than just treating symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners focus on:

  • Nutrition and diet modifications
  • Gut health and microbiome balance
  • Toxin exposure and detoxification
  • Comprehensive testing to identify underlying imbalances

While this approach gets closer to the root causes, there’s still another layer to consider.

3. Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care

This approach recognizes that your child’s nervous system is the master control center for their entire body. It addresses the often-overlooked factor in children’s health: the impact of early stress on their developing nervous system. By addressing specific neurological stressors or disruptions, this method aims to restore balance to the nervous system, allowing the body to heal naturally from within.

The “Perfect Storm”: What’s Really Going On?

Here’s what many parents don’t realize: your child’s health challenges might stem from stress that occurs during critical developmental periods – during pregnancy, birth, or early childhood. We call this the Perfect Storm. This early stress can manifest as:

  • Difficulty with feeding, latching, or digestion in infancy
  • Frequent ear infections or respiratory issues in toddlerhood
  • Sensory overwhelm leading to tantrums and meltdowns
  • Developmental delays in motor skills or speech
  • Sleep difficulties that seem impossible to solve

How Do You Know If Your Child Needs Neurological Support?

Ask yourself these questions:

  1. Did your child experience any of the early challenges mentioned above?
  2. Does your parental intuition tell you that your child’s nervous system seems overwhelmed or stuck in “fight or flight” mode?
  3. Have you tried multiple approaches without seeing the results you hoped for?

Finding the Right Balance

The truth is, that each of these approaches has its place in supporting your child’s health. The key is understanding when and how to use each one. Think of it like building a house – you need a solid foundation (neurological health) before adding the walls (functional medicine support) and roof (conventional care when needed).

Taking the Next Step

If you’re nodding your head while reading this, knowing something just isn’t quite right with your child’s current healthcare approach, it might be time to explore how neurologically-focused care could help. Please reach out to Highest Health Chiropractic to schedule your child’s consultation. If you are not local to us, please check out our PX Docs directory to find a PX Doc near you. The beautiful thing about this approach is that it’s gentle, non-invasive, and works with your child’s body’s natural healing abilities.

Remember, you know your child better than anyone else. If your instincts are telling you there’s a deeper issue that needs addressing, trust that feeling. Your child’s nervous system might just be the missing piece of their health puzzle.