How Digestive Discomfort Influences Infant Movement
It’s true! Digestive discomfort can absolutely affect your baby’s movement patterns. As a pediatric physical therapist I constantly see babies stiffening and extending their bodies, arching their backs, keeping their head to one side, not rolling, facial grimacing and tension, and the list goes on… This is why I take such a holistic approach to my PT treatment. We must address feeding mechanics and digestive health while also tackling any body tension. With this under control, we can then introduce feel good movements for your baby.
Oftentimes, parents will take their baby to the pediatrician for gas and digestive issues and are told it’s just a phase, it’s colic or they will outgrow it. Please don’t let providers brush you off if you notice your child seems uncomfortable. Let’s explore more solutions and get your little one comfortable to hit those milestones!
The digestive and musculoskeletal systems might seem unrelated at first glance, but they are deeply interconnected, particularly in infants. Digestive discomfort, whether due to gas, constipation, reflux, or other issues, can cause your baby to be significantly uncomfortable. Just think about how you feel when you have digestive issues going on. This discomfort can lead to changes in their movement patterns as they attempt to alleviate their discomfort or adapt to the sensations they're experiencing.
Reflux can be common in babies and occurs when stomach acid comes back up into the esophagus, causing irritation and discomfort. When this happens, your baby may arch their back to find a more comfortable position. You may see similar behavior with constipation. A little one struggling with gas or constipation may wiggle to certain postures, strain, bear down, grunt or move in specific ways to ease their discomfort. This can disrupt their typical movement patterns, and over time, lead to potentially delaying milestones such as rolling over, crawling, or sitting up.
The discomfort that stems from digestive issues can also affect your little one’s overall mood, nervous system regulation and temperament which can lessen their willingness to engage in the activities (such as tummy time or floor play) that they need to gain strength and hit milestones. Many times parents are given a diagnosis of colic and told their baby will grow out if it. In reality, colic is a diagnosis of exclusion when a baby is extremely fussy and inconsolable and there is no known medical cause. In reality, I often find that infants with “colic” actually DO have an underlying cause such as oral ties, weakness or dysfunction of their oral movements, poor feeding mechanics, gut/food sensitivities, body tension etc. This is why I hate to hear parents being brushed off when they have concerns. Because all of those conditions can be improved with therapies or other interventions.
So, what can parents do to support their baby's digestive health making sure it doesn’t hinder their milestones? Dig deeper! Find professionals who will help you discover the underlying causes of your infant’s discomfort.
As the parent, you know your baby best and should always be mindful of the signs of digestive discomfort, such as excessive fussiness, changes in feeding patterns, or unusual postures during or after feeding. If your baby is struggling with a gassy tummy, click HERE to check out my Gassy Baby Guide and get relief at home!
**Please remember - this is not meant to diagnose, simply to inform. If you feel your baby has any issues regarding digestion or milestones, contact your pediatrician or reach out to a physical therapist or infant feeding specialist near you!
