Colic, Reflux, and the Nervous System

Looking Beyond the Digestive System

Colic and reflux are among the most common concerns during the first few months of a baby’s life. While these conditions are often viewed as digestive issues, they may actually involve much more than the stomach alone.

A baby’s ability to feed, digest, settle, and sleep is largely controlled by the nervous system. When the nervous system is functioning well, it helps coordinate these processes efficiently. When it is under stress, babies may have greater difficulty regulating digestion, remaining comfortable after feeds, and settling into restful sleep.

Understanding the relationship between the nervous system and digestion offers another perspective for families searching for answers, alongside the guidance of your baby’s pediatrician.

Understanding Colic and Reflux

Colic is generally defined as frequent, prolonged periods of inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy infant. It commonly appears during the first few weeks of life, often peaks around six weeks of age, and typically improves by three to four months [1,2].

Reflux occurs when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, leading to frequent spitting up, discomfort, arching, irritability, or fussiness after feeding. Some degree of reflux is very common in infancy, and in most healthy babies it resolves on its own during the first year [3].

Both conditions are common during infancy because a baby’s digestive system is still developing. However, digestion depends on more than the stomach alone. It relies on healthy communication between the brain, spinal cord, and digestive tract.

Birth Stress and the Developing Nervous System

Birth is one of the most physically demanding events a baby will experience.

Whether delivery is long or rapid, or involves interventions such as forceps, vacuum assistance, or a Cesarean birth, significant forces can be placed on a baby’s head, neck, and upper spine.

This area is especially important because it surrounds the brainstem, where the vagus nerve begins.

While birth interventions are often necessary and lifesaving, they may also contribute to stress within the developing nervous system. For some infants, this additional stress may influence how efficiently the nervous system regulates feeding, digestion, sleep, and overall comfort.

Signs of Nervous System Stress

Every baby is unique, but nervous system stress may contribute to several common challenges, including:

• Frequent crying or difficulty being consoled
• Reflux or frequent spitting up
• Arching during or after feeding
• Difficulty latching or feeding comfortably
• Poor sleep or difficulty settling
• Body tension or stiffness
• A preference for turning the head to one side

These symptoms do not necessarily mean something is wrong with your baby’s digestive system alone. They may also indicate that the nervous system is having difficulty regulating and adapting.

Because several of these signs can also point to conditions that benefit from medical evaluation, we always encourage families to review new or concerning symptoms with their pediatrician [3]. Signs such as poor weight gain, fever, forceful or persistent vomiting, blood in the stool, or feeding difficulties should always be evaluated by your baby’s doctor. Our role is to work alongside your child’s healthcare team, never in place of it.

The Nervous System and Subluxation

The spine protects the spinal cord, which serves as the primary communication pathway between the brain and the rest of the body.

When joints of the spine become restricted or stressed, chiropractors refer to this as subluxation. These areas of dysfunction may interfere with healthy communication throughout the nervous system, including the pathways that help regulate digestion and the body’s ability to relax [5].

Supporting healthy nervous system communication may allow the body to better coordinate many of the automatic functions that are so important during infancy.

How We Assess Nervous System Function at Activate Chiropractic

At Activate Chiropractic, we use advanced INSiGHT Scanning Technology to evaluate how the nervous system is functioning.

One of the primary assessments we utilize is Heart Rate Variability (HRV), which measures how well the nervous system shifts between stress and recovery [6]. HRV provides valuable insight into how efficiently a baby’s nervous system is regulating.

Combined with our neurological examination, these objective assessments help us better understand how your baby’s nervous system is adapting and whether areas of neurological stress may be present.

Supporting Healthy Nervous System Function

Dr. Derek Libby provides gentle, neurologically focused chiropractic adjustments specifically designed for infants.

These adjustments use no more pressure than you would use to check the ripeness of a tomato and are intended to reduce interference within the nervous system while supporting healthy communication between the brain and body.

As nervous system function improves, many parents report positive changes such as:

• More comfortable feedings
• Less spitting up
• Better sleep
• Easier transitions between feeding and resting
• Less tension
• A calmer, more content baby

Every baby is unique, and chiropractic care is not intended to diagnose or treat colic or reflux. Rather, our goal is to support healthy nervous system function so your baby’s body can regulate, adapt, and develop as efficiently as possible.

Supporting Healthy Nervous System Function

The early months of life are a time of tremendous growth and neurological development. Supporting healthy nervous system function during this important stage may help babies feed more comfortably, regulate more efficiently, and better adapt to the world around them.

At Activate Chiropractic, our goal is to help every baby’s nervous system function the way it was designed to. Through comprehensive neurological assessments and gentle, neurologically focused chiropractic care, we work to support healthy development and give families another option as they search for answers to their baby’s discomfort.

Interested in learning more? Explore our pediatric chiropractic care, prenatal chiropractic services, or schedule an appointment.