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Your baby sleeps longer than 45 minutes at a time. Feedings don’t end in screaming fits or painful gas. You’re not constantly doing laundry from spit-up, and you’re not second-guessing every feeding position or formula change.
That’s what parents in West Side, NJ tell us happens after their babies receive gentle chiropractic care for reflux. The constant arching, the refusal to lie flat, the obvious discomfort—it starts to fade.
Here’s why: infant reflux often stems from nervous system stress and misalignments in the upper spine that affect how your baby’s digestive system functions. When we address those root issues through precise, gentle adjustments, the body can finally do what it’s designed to do. Digestion improves. The vagus nerve—which controls stomach function—works better. Your baby gets comfortable.
You’re not just managing symptoms anymore. You’re watching your baby actually heal.
Dr. Anthony Pellegrino is the only pediatric chiropractic Diplomate in Monmouth and Ocean County and one of the few chiropractors in New Jersey certified in pediatric craniopathy. That’s not a title you earn from a weekend course—it’s years of specialized training in treating infants and children.
Pediatricians and lactation consultants in West Side, NJ refer families to us because they know we understand infant anatomy, nervous system development, and the delicate care babies require. We’ve helped countless families in the area go from exhausted and desperate to finally getting sleep and seeing their babies thrive.
You’re not experimenting with your baby’s health here. You’re working with someone who’s done this hundreds of times and knows exactly what to look for.
First, we talk. You’ll tell us about your baby’s birth, feeding patterns, sleep struggles, and when the reflux started. We listen because those details matter—they tell us where to look.
Then we do a thorough but gentle exam. We’re checking spinal alignment, cranial positioning, and nervous system function. We’re looking for the subtle misalignments that happened during birth or in those early weeks that are now affecting digestion and comfort.
The adjustment itself uses about as much pressure as you’d use to check if a tomato is ripe. Most babies don’t cry—many actually fall asleep during treatment. We’re not cracking or popping anything. We’re making precise corrections to remove interference so your baby’s nervous system can communicate properly with their digestive system.
Most families in West Side, NJ see us 2-3 times a week initially, then we reassess. Many babies show improvement after the first visit. We’re not interested in dragging this out—we want your baby feeling better as quickly as possible.
Ready to get started?
You’ve probably tried elevating the crib, changing formulas, feeding smaller amounts more frequently, and holding your baby upright for 30 minutes after every feeding. Maybe your pediatrician prescribed medication that either didn’t work or came with side effects you weren’t comfortable with.
Here’s what’s different about chiropractic care for infant reflux in West Side, NJ: we’re addressing the mechanical and neurological issues causing the reflux, not just treating the symptoms. Birth—even uncomplicated vaginal births—puts significant pressure on an infant’s spine and cranial bones. Those early misalignments can affect the vagus nerve, which controls stomach function, and the muscles of the esophagus.
Our approach combines neurologically-focused spinal adjustments with craniopathy (gentle cranial adjusting) to restore proper function. When your baby’s nervous system isn’t stressed and their spine is properly aligned, their digestive system works the way it should. The lower esophageal sphincter tightens appropriately. Stomach emptying improves. The painful gas in newborns decreases because digestion is actually working.
Research backs this up: studies show 9 out of 10 infants experience significant improvement in reflux symptoms with chiropractic care, with no serious adverse effects. Parents in West Side, NJ are choosing this because it’s safe, it’s gentle, and it actually addresses why the reflux is happening in the first place.
Most babies show some improvement within the first 1-3 visits, but complete resolution typically takes 2-3 weeks of consistent care. We usually recommend seeing your baby 2-3 times per week initially to make sure the adjustments hold and integrate properly.
Every baby is different. Some respond quickly—parents report less spitting up and better sleep after a single adjustment. Others need more time, especially if the reflux is severe or if there was significant birth trauma. We reassess regularly and adjust the care plan based on what we’re seeing.
The goal isn’t to keep you coming forever. We want to resolve the issue as quickly as possible so your baby is comfortable and your family can get back to normal life. Once symptoms improve, we space visits out and eventually move to wellness care to support ongoing development.
The pressure we use is incredibly light—about the same amount you’d use to check if an avocado is ripe. We’re not doing the type of adjustments you might picture for adults. There’s no twisting, cracking, or popping.
For cranial work, we’re using fingertip pressure to gently release tension in the skull bones and restore proper positioning. For spinal adjustments, we’re making small, precise corrections to remove nerve interference. Most babies don’t cry during treatment. Many actually relax and fall asleep because the adjustment relieves discomfort they’ve been feeling.
You’ll be right there the entire time, and we’ll show you exactly what we’re doing before we do it. If at any point your baby seems distressed, we stop. But honestly, the most common reaction we see is relief—babies visibly relax once that nervous system stress is released.
Beyond the obvious reflux symptoms—spitting up after every feeding, arching during feeds, crying when lying flat—there are other signs that point to nervous system stress. You might notice your baby strongly prefers turning their head to one side, has difficulty latching on one side during breastfeeding, or seems uncomfortable in certain positions.
Some babies with nervous system imbalance also struggle with painful gas that doesn’t resolve with typical remedies, have inconsistent or difficult bowel movements, or show signs of colic with excessive crying that peaks in the evening. Sleep is often disrupted—they might only sleep in 30-45 minute stretches or need to be held upright constantly.
If your baby seems generally uncomfortable in their own body—stiff, tense, unable to relax—that’s often a sign that their nervous system is in a stressed state. The birth process, even when uncomplicated, can create misalignments that put pressure on nerves and affect how the body functions. When we correct those misalignments, babies typically become more comfortable overall, not just with reflux symptoms.
Yes, when performed by a chiropractor with specialized pediatric training. Research shows no serious adverse effects from chiropractic treatment in infants—only minor, temporary effects like brief fussiness after adjustment, which is rare.
Dr. Pellegrino has extensive training specifically in pediatric chiropractic care and infant craniopathy. This isn’t something every chiropractor knows how to do properly. Infant anatomy is completely different from adult anatomy, and the techniques must be modified accordingly. The amount of force used on a newborn is minimal—again, about the pressure you’d use on a ripe tomato.
Most babies can safely begin chiropractic care in the first few weeks of life, which is actually ideal because we can address birth trauma before it causes bigger issues. Many pediatricians in West Side, NJ refer patients to us because they know we have the expertise to help infants safely. If you’re concerned, bring your questions to the consultation. We’ll walk you through exactly what we do and why it’s safe for your baby.
When typical remedies aren’t working—smaller feedings, keeping baby upright, formula changes, reflux medication—it usually means the issue isn’t just what’s going into your baby’s stomach. It’s how their digestive system is functioning mechanically and neurologically.
The vagus nerve controls stomach emptying, the lower esophageal sphincter (which keeps food down), and overall digestive function. If that nerve is compressed or irritated due to spinal misalignment in the upper neck, your baby’s stomach simply can’t work properly. Food sits there longer than it should, pressure builds, and everything comes back up.
Similarly, if cranial bones are misaligned from birth, it can affect swallowing mechanics and esophageal function. Your baby might be swallowing air during feeds, which increases pressure and reflux. When we address these underlying structural and neurological issues through gentle adjustments, the body can finally do its job. Parents often see dramatic improvement in spitting up within just a few visits because we’re fixing the actual problem, not just managing symptoms.
Regular reflux is when stomach contents come all the way up and your baby spits up or vomits—you see it happening. Silent reflux (also called laryngopharyngeal reflux) is when stomach acid comes up into the esophagus and throat but doesn’t come out of the mouth. Your baby swallows it back down, so you don’t see the spit-up.
Silent reflux is often more painful because that acid is burning the esophagus repeatedly without the relief of actually getting it out. Babies with silent reflux typically show signs like constant throat clearing, hoarse crying, refusal to eat or frequent feeding interruptions, arching and extreme fussiness during and after feeds, and chronic congestion or coughing. They might also have more difficulty sleeping flat because lying down makes the acid reflux worse.
Both types of reflux respond well to chiropractic care in West Side, NJ because we’re addressing the nerve function and mechanical issues causing stomach contents to come up in the first place. Whether it’s visible or silent, the root cause is often the same—nervous system stress and spinal misalignment affecting digestive function. When we correct that, both types improve.
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