WHY CHILDREN’S POSTURE MATTERS

As we begin a new year, I want to thank you for trusting us with your health and your families’ health. A new year always feels like a fresh chance to reset, refocus and support our kids as they grow especially with school around the corner. Over the past months I have been working on a project that matters deeply to me. Children’s posture and development. WHY CHILDREN’S POSTURE MATTERS Posture is much more than “standing up straight.” For children, posture reflects how well the nervous system, muscles, joints and brain coordinate. Modern life places heavy strain on growing bodies. Screens, long periods of sitting, broken sleep, highly processed foods and stress all play a part. While reviewing the latest research on posture, one topic stood out and felt highly relevant for many families.

Premature verticalisation.

This term describes babies placed upright before their bodies are ready. For example, in walkers, jumpers, upright seats and similar devices that hold a baby in a sitting or standing position.

WHAT A KEY STUDY FOUND

A 2024 paper by Maciak and colleagues, titled “The Assessment of Postural–Motor, Coordination, and Reflex Functions in Children and Adolescents with a History of Premature Verticalization and Ontogeny Disorders in Their First Year of Life, ” looked at children and adolescents who spent a lot of time in these upright devices in the first year of life. They were compared with children who spent more time on the floor and moved through milestones at their own pace.

The findings were striking.

Children with a history of early upright support showed:

• Weaker postural control and body awareness • Poorer coordination • Ongoing primitive reflex activity • Higher rates of attention and behaviour challenges, including more ADHD type symptoms

For many chiropractors this matches long term clinical observation. When key movement stages are rushed or skipped, things often look different later on.

WHY EARLY MILESTONES MATTER

Healthy development follows a clear movement sequence.

Tummy time.

Rolling.

Crawling. Pulling to stand. Cruising along furniture. Independent steps.

Each stage sends rich information into the brain. This shapes the balance system, body awareness, muscle control, reflex integration and higher brain function.

When a device holds a baby upright before the body has earned that position, the body still adapts. Only the pattern is often less efficient. Some children grow with “shortcuts” in their movement. They brace with stiff muscles instead of using balance. They tire faster. Posture and coordination often suffer, especially once school starts and sitting demands increase. THE HOPEFUL PART

The authors of the study made an important point. These patterns do not have to stay fixed.

With the right input, children and even teenagers improve postural control and coordination. Targeted movement, reflex play, sensory rich activities and chiropractic care help them revisit stages they rushed through. Over time the nervous system builds stronger, more efficient pathways. In practice we see this often, and it is encouraging to see research line up with real life.

HOW PARENTS SUPPORT HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT

Parents want happy, settled babies. In a busy household it is easy to reach for equipment that promises entertainment or a few quiet minutes.

This message is not about blame. It is about awareness and simple, practical steps.

Some guides that help:

• Prioritise floor time over equipment whenever it is safe to do so

• Use play mats, rugs and safe spaces on the ground

• Keep walkers, jumpers and upright seats for short periods, or avoid them altogether

• Give your baby time to work for each milestone through movement and effort

• Encourage rich sensory play. Rolling, crawling, reaching, climbing over cushions, gentle spinning and rocking games, rhythm and music

• Watch posture in older children. Notice slumping, constant leaning, frequent tripping, or difficulty sitting upright in class

If you feel unsure about your child’s posture, coordination or milestones, we are here to help.

A gentle assessment provides useful information about movement patterns, balance, strength and spinal function.

FREE POSTURE CHECKS FOR CHILDREN IN JANUARY

To support families at the start of this year, we are offering free posture checks for children throughout January. This gives your child a chance to begin the school year with better alignment, better comfort and better readiness to learn.

If you would like to book a posture check for your child, contact our reception team and we will find a time that suits your family.

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Dr Mark has a special interest in helping recreational athletes of all ages perform better and prevent injury. Correct breathing and postural alignment are critical for top performance and injury prevention and is an integral part of “The Over 40 Athlete System” that Mark has developed.

Dr Julie has a special interest in helping mothers and “mothers to be”. Her Post Graduate qualifications in Paediatric Chiropractic and as an ex-midwife give her a unique ability to help pregnant women, new mums and their young children.

Yours in Health,

Dr's Mark & Julie