The Best Mom Hack For Colic And More

Have you ever noticed how your baby seems perfectly calm in your arms, but the moment someone else holds them, the crying starts? Or how your little one can sense your stress and respond in kind? Or why healthcare providers emphasize skin-to-skin contact right after birth?

It’s no coincidence—it’s co-regulation, and it’s one of the most powerful tools in your parenting toolkit.

I want to share with you the best hack for soothing a colicky baby, naturally reducing a fever, and even boosting your milk supply. The best part? It’s all the same holistic approach. By understanding and supporting your baby’s nervous system through co-regulation, you can create lasting relief and promote their overall well-being.

What Is Co-Regulation (And Why It's Your Parenting Superpower)

Let me let you in on a little secret: your nervous system controls everything, and your baby's nervous system is deliberately underdeveloped at birth. This isn't a design flaw—it's by design! Babies need their parents to help regulate, calm, and nurture them.

Your calm presence isn't just emotionally comforting—it actually provides the neurological pattern your baby's developing brain needs to learn regulation. When you hold your baby close, their heart rate, breathing patterns, and stress hormone levels literally synchronize with yours. It's a beautiful biological dance that sets the foundation for lifelong health and emotional well-being.

The first three years of life represent a critical period for brain development, with more than 1 million new neural connections formed every second. Studies clearly show that babies receiving regular skin-to-skin contact have better temperature regulation, improved breastfeeding success, and significantly less crying.

This is all called co-regulation, and it truly is the best "hack" when it comes to anything baby-related!

Understanding the Nervous System Connection

Think of your nervous system like a car:

• Your sympathetic system is the gas pedal—revving up your heart rate and stress hormones when you perceive danger or stress.
• Your parasympathetic system (primarily activated by the vagus nerve) is the brake pedal—slowing things down and promoting relaxation.

Your baby is remarkably aware of your nervous system state. They're not reading your words or even your intentions—they're picking up on subtle cues through your facial expressions, voice tone, heart rate, breathing pattern, and the quality of your touch.

When you're stressed, your baby often becomes stressed too. When you're calm, your baby can borrow your calmness until they develop their own regulation skills.

Why Co-Regulation Doesn't Always Come Naturally

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, co-regulation doesn't seem to work. Your baby remains fussy despite your cuddles, or you find yourself struggling to maintain the calm your baby needs.

This isn't your fault! Several factors can create a "perfect storm" that affects co-regulation:

• Fertility struggles and the stress they bring
• High maternal stress during pregnancy (which floods the developing baby with stress hormones through the umbilical cord)
• Birth interventions like C-sections, forceps, and vacuum extraction that can create physical tension in the delicate neurospinal structures of both mother and baby

This physical tension can cause subluxation—areas of neurological dysfunction that interfere with proper nerve communication, particularly affecting the vagus nerve and autonomic balance.

Without addressing these root neurological issues, babies don't simply "grow out" of regulation challenges—they often "grow into" other health challenges like sensory issues, digestive problems, and emotional regulation difficulties.

How Neurologically-Focused Care Can Help

When co-regulation isn't happening naturally, Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care can help restore balance to both your nervous systems:

• Comprehensive neurological scans (INSiGHT Scans) can objectively measure nervous system function in both mother and baby
• Gentle adjustments address areas of subluxation and restore proper neurological function
• As neurological function improves and vagus nerve function is restored, dramatic improvements often follow in sleep patterns, feeding behaviors, emotional regulation, and overall contentment

The Journey Forward

The journey of motherhood is absolutely amazing and such a blessing... but that doesn't mean it isn't hard sometimes! You're not meant to do this alone, and seeking support isn't a sign of weakness—it's a sign of wisdom.

Co-regulation isn't just a parenting technique; it's a biological necessity for your baby's developing nervous system. By understanding and nurturing this connection, you're giving your child the neurological foundation for lifelong health and emotional well-being.

At Live Better Chiropractic, we understand that your ability to co-regulate improves when your whole family's nervous systems are functioning optimally. When everyone is regulated, the ripple effect creates a harmonious environment where your baby can thrive.

If you’re ready to take the first step and schedule a consultation, please don't wait and reach out to Live Better Chiropractic today! If you are not local to us, check out the PX Docs directory to find an office near you.

You already have everything you need to be the calming force in your baby's life. Trust your instincts, honor the power of your connection, and remember that in those moments when your baby finds peace in your arms, you're not just soothing them—you're literally shaping their developing brain in the most beautiful way possible.

Now that's a superpower worth celebrating!