Stressed Babies?
Even healthy babies can carry hidden stress in their nervous systems. This post explores how common issues like gas, constipation, colic, and trouble sleeping may be signs of nervous system stress — and how gentle chiropractic care at Three Nails can help calm and support your baby’s development, naturally.
When we think of stress, we often picture adults with too much on their plates or kids struggling in school. But what if we told you that even babies — including those who seem “perfectly healthy” — can carry stress in their tiny nervous systems?
At Three Nails Chiropractic, we care for little ones every day whose bodies are telling a deeper story. These babies might be hitting all their milestones, have great weight gain, and look fine on paper — yet they struggle with things like:
Constant gas or bloating
Trouble pooping (or going days without)
Colic and excessive crying
Difficulty sleeping or settling
Arching their back when feeding or lying down
Preferring to be held all the time
To many parents, these issues feel like “just part of having a baby.” But they’re actually signs that your baby’s nervous system may be holding onto stress — often from pregnancy, birth, or early development.
How Do Babies Get Stressed?
Even the most natural pregnancy or birth places a tremendous amount of pressure on your baby’s spine and nervous system. Whether it was a long labor, fast delivery, C-section, forceps or vacuum use, or even a beautiful home birth — that process can still create tension in the upper neck, jaw, and spine.
That tension can irritate the delicate nerves that control digestion, sleep, and immune function — especially the vagus nerve, which is key for calming and regulating the body.
And while babies can’t tell us they’re stressed, they absolutely show us — with their bodies, their bellies, and their behavior.
Colic, Constipation & Gas: A Nervous System Issue?
Let’s break down a few common baby issues and how they relate to stress in the nervous system:
🍼 Constipation & Gas:
If your baby is going days without a bowel movement, strains to poop, or is constantly gassy, it may be a sign that their gut isn’t getting the proper nerve signals. The parasympathetic system (aka “rest and digest”) is responsible for moving things along — and when it’s stuck, digestion slows way down.
😫 Colic & Inconsolable Crying:
Colic is often described as “crying for no reason,” but there is a reason — we just need to look deeper. If your baby is constantly uncomfortable, arches their back, or seems impossible to soothe, their nervous system may be stuck in a fight-or-flight state, unable to calm itself.
😴 Trouble Sleeping or Settling:
Your baby wants to sleep — but a stressed-out brain has a hard time shutting down. If your little one wakes frequently, startles easily, or can’t settle unless being held or rocked constantly, their nervous system might be working overtime.
What Can Help? A Gentle, Natural Approach
Here at Three Nails, we use state-of-the-art scans and incredibly gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments to help calm your baby’s nervous system and release stored tension.
These adjustments are so soft they often look like just holding a finger on a spot — no cracking or popping. Most babies relax during care, and many parents notice changes in sleep, digestion, and demeanor within the first few visits.
We're not here to fix your baby — they're already wonderfully made. We're here to help remove the stress that's keeping their system from functioning the way God designed it to.
You Don’t Have to Wait for Things to Get Worse
If you’re a parent who feels like something’s “off” — trust that instinct. You don’t need a diagnosis or a crisis to take a step toward wellness.
Whether your baby is colicky, constipated, or just seems a little unsettled, we’re here to listen, support, and help bring peace back to your home — starting with your baby’s nervous system.