Let’s talk about the absolute BEST hack when it comes to a colicky baby.
What if I told you that this same hack could also help bring down a fever faster… and even boost your milk supply?
Sounds wild, right? But stick with me — it’s all connected.
Have you ever noticed how a baby is perfectly content in their mother’s arms, only to start wailing the moment someone else holds them? Or how babies seem to cry more when you’re feeling overwhelmed, even if you’re doing all the “right” things?
That’s not a coincidence. It’s not just about being tired or hungry — it’s about your nervous system, and how deeply connected it is to theirs.
You’ve probably heard about skin-to-skin contact right after birth, or maybe you’ve noticed how co-sleeping can help your baby finally get some rest. All of this leads back to one incredible, science-backed concept: co-regulation.
This Is for You, Mama
This post is especially for the exhausted moms who feel like they’ve tried everything to soothe their fussy baby.
For the moms who know there’s a deeper connection with their child but feel like something’s missing.
And for the moms who want to deeply support their baby’s development during those crucial early months.
The Secret Hack Is… Co-Regulation
Let me let you in on something that’s truly life-changing:
The nervous system controls everything.
And your baby’s nervous system? It’s underdeveloped at birth — on purpose.
Your baby needs you to help regulate, calm, and guide it. This is what we call co-regulation, and it’s hands-down the best parenting “hack” you’ll ever use.
Let’s take a look at the science.
Fact: The first three years of life are critical for brain development, with over 1 million neural connections formed every second.
Studies show that babies who receive regular skin-to-skin contact cry less, regulate their temperature better, and initiate breastfeeding more successfully.
When a mother holds her baby close, their heart rates, breathing, and even stress hormone levels begin to sync. It’s like a biological dance — one that literally lays the foundation for your baby’s lifelong health.
What Is Co-Regulation, Really?
Definition: Co-regulation is the biological process by which your nervous system helps your baby’s developing nervous system learn how to self-regulate.
In simpler terms?
Your calm presence teaches your baby how to be calm.
When you’re stressed, they feel it — even if you’re smiling on the outside. Babies don’t read your words or even your facial expressions as much as they read your nervous system state.
And that’s where things get really fascinating.
The Autonomic Nervous System: The Real MVP
Let’s dive into a bit of science — stay with me, because this is the key to unlocking so many mysteries of early motherhood.
Your Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) controls all the things your body does automatically — like breathing, digestion, and heart rate.
It has two key parts:
- Sympathetic (“fight or flight”) – like a gas pedal, revving you up in stressful situations.
- Parasympathetic (“rest, digest, and regulate”) – like a brake pedal, helping you slow down and calm.
The vagus nerve, a major part of the parasympathetic system, is the body’s secret weapon for rest, bonding, and healing.
Babies are incredibly sensitive to their mother’s nervous system cues — things like your voice tone, heart rate, breathing, and touch. So, when your ANS is regulated, you’re providing your baby with the exact cues they need to feel safe and settled.
The “Perfect Storm” That Disrupts Co-Regulation
Unfortunately, many of us (and our babies) enter parenthood already under stress. It’s what we call the Perfect Storm:
- Fertility struggles and the stress they cause flood the maternal nervous system — and through the placenta, the baby’s as well.
- Stress during pregnancy primes the baby’s nervous system to be on “high alert.”
- Birth interventions (like C-sections, vacuum extractions, or long labors) can create neurological tension in both mom and baby.
- This often leads to subluxation — areas of neurological interference in the spine that disrupt communication between brain and body.
When these issues go unaddressed, babies don’t “grow out of” their struggles. Instead, they may grow into bigger issues — digestive problems, emotional regulation difficulties, sensory issues, and more.
Measuring Co-Regulation — Yes, We Can Actually See It!
One of the most exciting developments in pediatric neurology is our ability to measure the state of the nervous system using Heart Rate Variability (HRV).
This allows us to objectively assess how well the autonomic nervous system is functioning in both mother and baby.
We’ve seen it firsthand: when a mom and baby are both well-regulated, their HRV readings are often very similar, like two hearts beating in harmony.
This can be visualized on Neurological INSiGHT scans, where both mother and child show synchronized patterns of balance and regulation.
It’s incredible. It’s measurable. And it’s real.
How Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care Can Help
Here’s where we come in.
At Lighthouse Family Chiropractic, we start with Neurological INSiGHT Scans that give us a clear picture of how your and your baby’s nervous systems are functioning.
From there, we create personalized care plans with gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments aimed at correcting subluxations and restoring optimal nervous system function.
As the nervous system comes back into balance, we often see improvements in:
- Sleep
- Breastfeeding/latching
- Digestion
- Emotional regulation
- General happiness and calm
We see it time and time again — moms and babies THRIVING when their nervous systems are in sync.
Motherhood is a beautiful journey. But let’s be honest — it’s also really hard sometimes.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
Understanding how your nervous system affects your baby’s well-being is a total game-changer.
Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care isn’t just about pain relief — it’s about unlocking your body’s (and your baby’s) ability to self-regulate, heal, and thrive together.
We see the best results when the whole family is under care — because even though we only see you for a few minutes, you’re with your family all the time. That means their nervous systems affect yours… and vice versa.
So, how’s everyone functioning?
Let’s find out.
👉 Head to our social media pages to learn more about co-regulation and use the link below to schedule your family’s scans today.
Your Family’s Path to Wellness Starts Here!
Let’s reconnect the dots between your nervous system and your baby’s health — and bring the peace, sleep, and joy you both deserve.
You’ve got this, mama. 💛