As a parent, it’s natural to be concerned when your baby seems unsettled, has trouble sleeping, or struggles with digestion or breathing. One important—but often overlooked—piece of the puzzle is how well your baby’s diaphragm and chest are working.

In my practice, I regularly assess infants and young children who show signs of impaired diaphragm function. One of the most common causes I see is how the baby was born.

How Birth Affects Breathing and Body Function

During a natural vaginal birth, the baby passes through the birth canal and experiences important compressions in four key areas:

1. The head– triggers development and awareness
2. The neck– helps connect the brain and body through the nervous system
3. The chest– stimulates the diaphragm and lungs to start breathing air
4. The pelvis– activates the digestive and excretory systems

When birth happens very quickly, or via caesarean section (sometimes playfully called the "sunroof" method), these important compressions might not happen properly. Without them, the baby’s systems—especially breathing and digestion—may not fully “switch on” the way nature intended.
 

Signs of Diaphragm Dysfunction in Babies

Many of the babies I see with issues such as:

• Colic
• General discomfort
• Trouble sleeping
• Digestive concerns
• Recurrent chest or sinus congestion

...often have diaphragm dysfunctional the root of their problems. If left unaddressed, this can also contribute to breathing difficulties later in childhood, including asthma.
 

How We Help

Through gentle and specific chiropractic care, we can help engage the diaphragm and lungs by supporting the nervous system. In addition to hands-on care, we often teach parents simple at-home exercises to help their baby’s chest and diaphragm move better.

These exercises are easy to do and should always be performed gently and with close attention to your baby’s comfort.
 

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At-Home Movements to Support Your Baby's Breathing

💡Watch your baby carefully during each exercise. They should be able to breathe normally throughout, with no signs of distress.
 

1. Chest Compressions (Front to Back and Side to Side)

• Lay your baby on their back on a firm surface.
• Place your palms gently on their chest, over the sternum.
• Gently press and release, this is NOT CPR!
• You might notice them holding their breath or making noises—this is okay at first but eventually they should breathe with each push.
• Then repeat with hands on the sides of the ribcage.
• You can also lay them on their tummy and gently press on the back of their ribs.

2. Seated Forward Flexion

• Sit with your legs crossed and place your baby between your legs, facing away from you.
• Gently tuck their chin and slowly bend them forward.
• The goal isn’t to touch their head to their lap, but to stretch the spine and activate the diaphragm
• Watch closely for any signs of discomfort.

3. Seated Side Flexion

• With your baby still seated upright between your legs, place one hand on their ribcage.
• Use your other hand to gently bend them gently sideways toward the hip (ear toward hip).
• Don’t let them lean forward—this is about sideways movement only.
• Go slowly and stop before they show distress.

4. Body Rotations

• Lay your baby on their back on a firm surface.
• Bend both knees and bring them toward their chest.
• With one hand, gently guide their knees toward one shoulder.
• Place your other hand on the opposite side of the chest to keep it steady.
• Rotate gently and check for comfort as you move.
   

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A Word to the Wise

Always follow your baby’s cues. These movements are designed to help—not harm. They should never cause pain or distress. And while these tips can support healthy breathing and development, they are not a substitute for medical care; always consult a qualified Chiropractor if you have concerns about your baby’s health, breathing or development.
Also read Why do children need chiropractic care?