Ep. 27 The Role of the Nervous System in Your Child’s Sleep

mental health parental support podcast

The Surprising Impact of Birth Trauma on Baby Sleep

As parents, we often worry about our baby’s sleep. We read all the books, try different bedtime routines, and still, our little one struggles to sleep soundly. But did you know that birth trauma —something many babies experience even during what seems like a “normal” delivery—can significantly impact your baby’s ability to sleep?

Take Dr. Renee Schneeman’s experience, for example. When she was a baby, her mother faced an incredibly stressful pregnancy, marked by significant family loss and challenges. As a result, Dr. Renee was born in a state of distress—she had colic, constant ear infections, and cried endlessly. Her nervous system was stuck in what we call sympathetic overdrive, the body’s fight-or-flight mode, which made it nearly impossible for her to sleep well.

It wasn’t until her mother took her to a chiropractor that things began to change. Through gentle adjustments, Dr. Renee’s nervous system began to calm, allowing her to sleep better and become, as her mother called her, "the perfect baby".
What Are the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems?

Let’s break this down a bit more. The nervous system is like the body’s command center, and it has two main modes: sympathetic and parasympathetic.

The sympathetic nervous system is what kicks in when we’re stressed—it’s the system responsible for the fight-or-flight response. This was crucial for our ancestors when they needed to escape predators, but in today’s world, this response can get triggered by things like the stress of birth or everyday anxieties.

On the flip side, we have the parasympathetic nervous system, often called the "rest and digest" system. This is the mode our bodies should be in when we’re calm, relaxed, and safe—like when we’re trying to sleep. For your child to sleep well, they need to be in this parasympathetic state where they feel safe and secure, satiated, settled and comfortable and have sufficient sleep pressure. But if their nervous system is stuck in sympathetic overdrive, sleep becomes a struggle.

Dr. Renee shared how she often sees babies who are "in a cortisol bath," stuck in this stressed-out state, unable to rest, heal, or sleep properly. Through chiropractic adjustments, she helps these babies tap into their parasympathetic nervous system, allowing them to relax, sleep deeply, and even experience other benefits like improved digestion. Often as parents we find ourselves trying to do more when in reality Dr. Renee says, “It's usually about doing less than doing more.”

How Chiropractic Care Can Make a Difference

So, how does chiropractic care fit into all of this? Chiropractors who specialize in working with infants use gentle, non-invasive techniques to help regulate the nervous system. When your baby receives an adjustment, it helps reduce the tension and stress in their body, encouraging a shift from sympathetic (stressed) to parasympathetic (calm) mode.

Dr. Renee’s story is a perfect example of how chiropractic care can turn things around. She described how after her adjustments, she went from being a colicky, sleepless baby to sleeping soundly through the night. This wasn’t just a game-changer for her, but for her mother as well, who finally found some peace and rest after months of exhaustion.

This episode highlights the critical connection between a regulated nervous system and better sleep, particularly for infants and young children. By addressing birth trauma and chronic stress through chiropractic care, families can improve their sleep routines, leading to a more peaceful home environment. When a child's nervous system is balanced, they are more likely to sleep soundly, which in turn supports their overall development and the well-being of the entire family.

In my personal journey of looking for holistic medical solutions, I was reminded by Dr. Renee when she shared, “I no longer believe things happen randomly or by coincidence, I believe they happen divinely on purpose and in perfect time.” I’m always grateful for the new learnings and conversations I have and the perfect timing of things. Working with practitioners that are passionate about what they do and sharing education to help families thrive is how we make changes to live in a world where everyone sleeps!

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode:

🟣 Birth trauma, even in routine deliveries, can affect an infant's nervous system and disrupt sleep.

🟣 Dr. Renee’s personal story about chiropractic care and how it changed her perspective on taking care of your body and overall wellness.

🟣 The sympathetic nervous system keeps children in a fight-or-flight state, hindering relaxation and sleep.

🟣 Chiropractic care helps regulate the nervous system, promoting a shift to the parasympathetic state necessary for rest.

🟣 Gentle chiropractic adjustments can alleviate physical tension, improving sleep and overall well-being.

🟣 Understanding and addressing the nervous system's role can lead to significant improvements in a child's mood, behavior, and sleep patterns.

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing:

⭐ Dr. Renee Schneman with Verve Holistic
⭐ Magnesium Citrate (sleep/muscle tension/constipation) - Magnesium CitraMate & Reviews | Thorne
⭐ Nervous System Chiropractor Directory - Home (nervoussystemchiro.com)

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