Constipation in Kids: A Nervous System Problem?

“My child hasn't gone in days… again.”

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone.

Constipation is one of the most common struggles parents face—and for many families in Franklin, TN, it's also one of the most frustrating.

You've probably tried:

• Water, fiber, and probiotics

• Diet changes

• Magnesium or Miralax

• Potty training incentives

But despite your best efforts, your child is still struggling—in pain, irritable, and constantly uncomfortable.

So what if… constipation isn’t just a gut issue?
What if it’s actually a nervous system problem?

How Pooping Works (and Why the Nervous System Is Key)

While it’s easy to blame food or hydration, healthy bowel movements are actually controlled by your child’s nervous system—specifically, the parasympathetic nervous system, or the “rest and digest” side.

Here’s how it works:

• The brain and spinal cord send messages through the nerves to the intestines and colon.

• These messages signal the muscles to contract and relax, moving stool through the digestive tract.

• The vagus nerve plays a major role in regulating gut motility.

When the nervous system is calm, connected, and balanced—things flow.
But when there’s interference in this communication, everything slows down.
The result? Chronic constipation.

Signs It Could Be Neurological

Does your child:

• Struggle with hard, painful stools or go days without pooping?

• Have frequent tummy aches or bloating?

• Seem stressed, anxious, or sensory sensitive?

• Also experience sleep issues, speech delays, or behavior challenges?

These could all be signs that your child’s nervous system is stuck in sympathetic "fight or flight" mode—and can’t switch into “rest and digest.”

What Causes Nervous System Dysfunction in Kids?

In many cases, it starts at birth—especially with:

• C-sections or inductions

• Forceps or vacuum extraction

• Long or traumatic deliveries

These interventions can lead to subluxation—tiny misalignments in the spine that interfere with vagus nerve communication and disrupt bowel and nervous system function.

As these stress patterns build, your child’s brain-gut connection weakens—and the longer it goes unaddressed, the more chronic the constipation becomes.

How We Help at Three Nails Chiropractic

We take a completely different approach by looking at the root cause of constipation—your child’s nervous system.

At Three Nails Chiropractic in Franklin, TN, we start with advanced INSiGHT Neurological Scans, which allow us to:

• Measure stress on the nervous system

• Assess vagus nerve function

• Identify areas of tension or imbalance

From there, we use gentle, specific adjustments that help:

• Restore communication between the brain and gut

• Activate the parasympathetic system

• Improve bowel movement frequency and ease

🟦 Ready to help your child get things moving—naturally?
👉 Click here to schedule your consultation and INSiGHT Scans

📍 Not in Franklin, TN?
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Constipation shouldn’t be “normal.”
It’s not something your child has to just grow out of or live with.
And it’s certainly not something you have to fight alone.

If you’re ready to stop managing symptoms and start getting real answers, we’d love to help.

At Three Nails Chiropractic, we believe in restoring hope, healing, and function—one adjustment at a time.

Because when the nervous system is clear, the bowels follow. 💩 🙌