Latching Problems in Wellington
When Feeding Feels Harder Than It Should
Feeding your baby should be one of the most natural and nurturing experiences — but for many families, it’s a daily struggle.
Your baby may fight to latch, slip off frequently, or cry in frustration. You might hear clicking or gulping sounds, or find yourself in tears after another painful, exhausting session.
You’ve probably been told it’s a “poor latch,” a tongue-tie, or something that will improve with time. But what if the real challenge starts deeper — in the way your baby’s nervous system is functioning?
Feeding Is About Coordination, Not Just Technique
Latching well requires a baby to perform a remarkable sequence of events: suck, swallow, breathe — all while staying relaxed. This delicate rhythm is directed by the brainstem and cranial nerves, which send signals to the tongue, jaw, neck, and diaphragm.
When the nervous system is balanced and adaptable, these messages flow smoothly. Babies can maintain suction, breathe rhythmically, and feed efficiently.
But when the nervous system is stressed or tense, those signals can become distorted. The tongue may not move freely, the jaw may tighten, and feeding becomes inconsistent, tiring, and frustrating.
How Birth Stress Affects Latching
During birth, the head and neck experience significant pressure as the baby passes through the birth canal. Even gentle births can cause small misalignments or tension in the joints and muscles of the neck, skull, and jaw.
These areas are home to vital cranial nerves — including the hypoglossal (controls tongue movement) and vagus (controls swallowing and digestion). When these nerves are under stress, the coordination required for feeding is disrupted.
This can lead to:
Difficulty latching or staying latched
Clicking, gulping, or gasping sounds while feeding
Fussiness or arching during or after feeds
Short, frequent feeds or early fatigue
Soreness for breastfeeding parents
The Fight-or-Flight Factor
If your baby’s nervous system is still in fight-or-flight, their body prioritises alertness and muscle tension, not calm coordination. Imagine trying to eat while your body is braced for danger — it’s nearly impossible to chew, swallow, and breathe smoothly. Babies feel that too.
When we help their nervous system return to a regulated, parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state, feeding naturally becomes easier.
How Chiropractic Care Helps
At Healthy Families Chiropractic, our approach is simple: we assess, don’t assume. Using INSiGHT scans, we can see how your baby’s nervous system is functioning and whether stress or tension is affecting feeding.
Thermal scans highlight spinal or cranial tension that may interfere with swallowing and tongue movement.
Surface EMG measures muscle coordination around the neck and upper spine.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) shows how well your baby’s system is adapting to stress — a direct indicator of feeding readiness.
With this information, we create a personalised care plan to restore calm, balance, and coordination in the nervous system.
When those communication pathways clear, the muscles of the tongue and jaw work in sync again. Feeding becomes smoother, deeper, and far less stressful.
Why Parents Notice Such a Difference
Parents often describe their baby’s feeding after chiropractic care as “finally easy.” Latch feels stronger, feeds last longer, and both baby and parent seem more relaxed. This isn’t magic — it’s the natural result of a nervous system that’s finally regulating the way it’s meant to.
Feeding is one of the earliest expressions of connection and safety for a baby. When we help restore calm and communication within their body, that connection blossoms.
You Don’t Have to Struggle Through It
If latching or feeding has been difficult, please know there’s always a reason — and there’s help available.
By supporting the nervous system, we can help your baby feed more efficiently, digest more comfortably, and settle more easily.
Let’s start with a conversation about your baby’s feeding journey — and take the first step toward calm, comfortable, connected feeding again.
