“My Baby Was So Strong from Day One” A Red Flag We Hear All the Time
“My Baby Was So Strong from Day One”
A Red Flag We Hear All the Time
One of the most common things parents tell me in practice is this:
“My baby was so strong right out of the gate.”
They’ll describe their newborn lifting their head immediately after birth or seeming unusually stiff and alert.
And while that sounds like a good thing, it often gives me an important clue.
Strength vs. Tension in Newborns
True muscle strength takes time, repetition, and development.
Tension, on the other hand, can show up immediately after birth.
When a baby is holding their head up very early, arching often, or feeling stiff, it may not be strength at all it may be excess tension in the nervous system.
Where Does This Tension Come From?
Birth is hard work for a baby’s body. Even when everything looks “normal,” extra stress can occur, especially with:
long or very fast labors
induction or Pitocin
c‑sections
forceps or vacuum
cord wrapped around the neck
That stress can settle into the baby’s head, neck, and nervous system.
How This Can Show Up
Babies holding onto tension may also experience:
difficulty latching or feeding
reflux, gas, or colic
trouble sleeping or settling
arching, stiffness, or head preference
seeming uncomfortable in their own body
These are not parenting failures, they’re signals.
How Pediatric Chiropractic Can Help
A pediatric‑trained chiropractor looks specifically at how a baby’s nervous system is functioning. With very gentle, nervous‑system‑based care, we help release tension so baby’s body can shift out of stress mode and into calm, rest, and regulation.
Babies are incredibly adaptable and when their nervous system feels supported, feeding, sleep, and comfort often improve.
Trust Your Instincts
If something feels off, or if your baby seems stiff, uncomfortable, or “too strong” too early, it’s worth having them checked.
You don’t have to wait and wonder.
Give us a call or schedule a free 15‑minute phone consult.
Call 515-386-2976.
