Thelife- My daughter always struggled to sleep properly, despite us trying everything to help her.
- After two adenoid surgeries and no improvement, she was put on melatonin to help her sleep.
There was never a time when our daughter slept well. We tried everything from infancy to age 7: sleep training, elaborate bedtime routines, and even homeopathic concoctions. Our child's room is still fitted with a sound machine, blackout curtains, and a humidifier to create the optimal sleep environment.
When we learned that her snoring and, consequently, her inability to fall into REM sleep was caused by enlarged adenoids blocking her airways, we had them surgically removed twice because — surprisingly — adenoid tissues, tonsils for the nose, can grow back.
When all else failed, we put her on melatonin.
Even with melatonin, she was waking up several times a night
But even with nightly doses as prescribed by her pediatrician, our 7-year-old continued to wake up every night, sometimes two or three times. Only after a routine dental checkup did we learn she was at risk for sleep apnea, a condition where the body stops breathing while asleep. Our daughter's constant mouth breathing and snoring — even with adenoids removed — were signs that we needed an intervention.
Our daughter's dentist referred us to a pediatric chiropractor. After X-rays and a thorough examination, our daughter's care team found she had a lopsided sphenoid bone in her skull and a high-arched palate that caused a crossbite so significant that it tilted her body sideways. Her small mouth prevented her from closing it completely around her tongue, which led to snoring and mouth breathing at night.
This was why our daughter could not get into the later stages of non-REM sleep, which is when our bodies sleep most deeply. Her pediatric dentist recommended a mouth appliance to widen her bite, myofunctional physical therapy so our daughter could learn how to breathe properly, and, for her structural misalignment, chiropractic care.
I didn't know pediatric chiropractors existed
I had no idea that children were eligible for chiropractic care. I worked at a chiropractor's office in high school and only ever saw adults.
"Most of the children I see have sleep issues," Rebecca Huang, a chiropractor who treats adults and children in Silicon Valley California, said.
After only three chiropractic adjustments, our daughter's sphenoid descended, her posture straightened, and, to our surprise, she finally began to sleep through the night after three years of constant waking. This all happened without the mouth appliance, which we were still waiting to receive.
When I asked why more parents didn't get their children adjusted, Huang said: "Most parents have a hard time grasping it." She added that she thought that was unfortunate because "kids are very malleable compared to adults, so it's actually better to use chiropractic care for growing bodies, when issues can be more easily corrected."
There are some important considerations to make before getting chiropractic care for your child
Dr. Karina Eastman, a pediatrician working at Pacific Ocean Pediatrics in Santa Monica, California, said, "Not every chiropractor is specifically trained in pediatrics and has the gentle touch in kids we're looking for. It's very important to make sure that you are finding people who have this specific training in children and have the nonforce sort of technique."
Eastman said patients' parents who've come in on self-referral for colic and breastfeeding issues had reported better sleep and less fussiness after a visit with a chiropractor.
"There's a lot more awareness in the medical community now about disordered sleep breathing, sleep apnea, and how mouth breathing can affect our children's energy level and performance," Eastman said.
As part of the conversation, Eastman advises parents to confirm whether their child is a suitable candidate for chiropractic care. There are some genetic conditions, like Down syndrome, where "there's more instability with the way the skull meets the cervical spine, where cervical manipulation may be contraindicated," she said.
Even though our daughter never complained about a lack of sleep — it was mostly my husband and I who were suffering — I observe that her growth and development trajectory has completely changed for the better now that she can stay asleep. She will not need chiropractic care forever; she is down to only one appointment each month until her mouth appliance is removed in 18 months.
Alyssa Lauren Stone is a Bay Area-based Writer, Certified Reiki Master, Yoga Teacher, and Ex-Silicon Valley / NYC Sales Exec. For decades, she has used alternative forms of healing to live a healthier, more magical life. You can find more information about her on www.alyssalaurenstone.com.