Gentle Care for Growing Bodies
Pediatric Chiropractic
Safe, gentle chiropractic care for infants, children, and teenagers — supporting healthy development at every stage of growing up.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Chitra Rajendran, DC
Starting Healthy from Day One
Why Children Benefit from Chiropractic Care
Many parents are surprised to learn that children — even newborns — can benefit from chiropractic care. The birth process, regardless of whether it is natural or cesarean, places significant physical stress on a baby's delicate spine and nervous system. As children grow, falls, tumbles, heavy backpacks, sports, and prolonged sitting add further stress to developing spines.
At Path to Wellness Clinic of Chiropractic, Dr. Chitra Rajendran uses extremely gentle, age-appropriate techniques tailored specifically to children's unique needs. Pediatric chiropractic adjustments are nothing like adult treatments — they use very light, precise pressure to restore proper alignment and nervous system function without any forceful manipulation.
When your child's spine is properly aligned, their nervous system functions optimally — supporting better sleep, immune function, development, and overall well-being.
Parents Ask
Is Chiropractic Safe for My Child?
This is the number one question parents ask — and the answer is yes. Pediatric chiropractic care is widely recognized as safe and effective when performed by a trained doctor. The techniques used on children are completely different from adult adjustments.
For infants, the amount of pressure used is comparable to what you would use to gently test the ripeness of a tomato — light enough that most babies sleep through the whole visit. For older children and teens, adjustments are gentle, specific, and always tailored to the child's size and comfort level.
Dr. Chitra takes time to explain what she is doing, involves the parent throughout the visit, and makes sure your child feels comfortable and at ease before any care begins.
What We Help With
Common Pediatric Concerns We Treat
From newborns to teenagers, Dr. Chitra addresses a wide range of childhood health concerns through gentle, natural chiropractic care.
Birth Trauma
The forces involved in birth — even uncomplicated deliveries — can create spinal misalignments in newborns. Early evaluation can help identify and gently correct these issues before they affect development.
Colic & Fussiness
Nerve irritation in the upper cervical spine can contribute to colic, excessive crying, and feeding difficulties. Gentle adjustments have helped many infants find relief when other approaches have failed.
Ear Infections
Recurrent ear infections are often linked to drainage issues and nerve dysfunction. Chiropractic adjustments to the upper neck can improve drainage and immune response, reducing the frequency of infections.
Scoliosis Monitoring
Early detection and conservative management of scoliosis can help slow progression during growth spurts. Dr. Chitra works alongside your pediatrician to monitor spinal curvature and provide supportive care.
Growing Pains & Falls
Children fall — a lot. Many take significant spinal impacts from sports, playgrounds, and everyday tumbles. Regular chiropractic check-ups catch and correct misalignments before they become chronic problems.
Posture & Backpack Pain
Heavy backpacks, prolonged screen time, and poor sitting habits are causing spinal issues in kids younger than ever. Correcting poor posture early builds a healthier foundation for adulthood.
Family-Friendly Care
Why Families Choose Path to Wellness
Warm, Child-Friendly Environment
Dr. Chitra has a natural ability to connect with children, making them feel comfortable and at ease from the very first visit.
Trained in Pediatric Technique
Pediatric chiropractic requires specialized training and technique. Dr. Chitra uses gentle, age-appropriate methods that are completely different from adult adjustments.
We Treat the Whole Family
From newborns to grandparents, Path to Wellness is truly a family clinic. Many of our patients bring multiple family members — making wellness a whole-family commitment.
Parents Stay Involved
Dr. Chitra explains everything she's doing, answers all your questions, and ensures both parent and child fully understand and are comfortable with the care being provided.
"Dr. Chitra is great with kids and just generally a kind person. I highly recommend Path to Wellness chiropractic care!"
Ernie L.
Path to Wellness Patient
From Dr. Chitra
On Caring for Clay County's Children
"Pediatric chiropractic is one of my greatest joys in practice. I understand why parents have questions — and I welcome every single one. I was trained specifically in pediatric technique, and over the years I have helped families from throughout Clay County, from newborns whose parents noticed feeding difficulties and torticollis, to teenagers dealing with scoliosis progression and sports injuries from school athletic programs."
"Your child's comfort and trust are my absolute first priority. I move at their pace, explain every step to both parent and child, and never — not once — proceed without your full understanding and consent. Many of my pediatric patients have been coming since they were infants. Watching them grow healthy and strong, and knowing I played a small role in that foundation, is one of the most meaningful parts of this work."
Sees patients from newborn through teen
Infant adjustments: ~5 grams of pressure
Parents present for every visit
Webster Certified — prenatal & pediatric
5.0 Google rating from Clay County families
Your Child's First Visit
What to Expect at Your Child's Pediatric Chiropractic Visit
Every child's visit is structured for comfort, transparency, and trust — from the very first moment you walk in.
Before You Arrive
Simple Preparation
No special preparation is needed. Complete the intake forms online if possible. Note any specific health concerns — sleep patterns, feeding difficulties, postural observations, sports injuries. Dress your child in comfortable clothing. For infants, bring their usual items (pacifier, favorite toy). For older children, it helps to talk to them beforehand: let them know Dr. Chitra will check their back and neck, it won't hurt, and they can ask questions about everything.
Health History
Understanding Your Child
Dr. Chitra begins every pediatric visit with a thorough conversation — not a rushed questionnaire. She asks about birth history (delivery type, any complications, forceps or vacuum used), developmental milestones, sleep patterns, feeding, activity level, any falls or impacts, school posture habits, and sports participation. Parents guide this entirely. For teen patients, Dr. Chitra also speaks directly with the child about their own experience of their symptoms.
Gentle Assessment
Age-Appropriate Exam
For infants, Dr. Chitra gently palpates the spine while the parent holds or feeds the baby — many infants stay calm or even sleep through the exam. For toddlers and young children, a standing posture assessment, gentle range of motion check, and light spinal palpation are performed. For teens, a more complete postural and orthopedic assessment similar to adult care is conducted. Nothing forceful or surprising ever happens without full explanation.
First Treatment
Gentle Care Begins
Many children receive gentle care at their first visit; others benefit from a second visit once both parent and child are fully comfortable. For infants, the entire adjustment is seconds of gentle fingertip pressure — most babies show no reaction at all. For older children, adjustments feel like a gentle "press and release." Treatment frequency and plan are discussed before any care begins. Dr. Chitra serves families from Fleming Island, Oakleaf, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, and throughout Clay County.
Parents Ask
Pediatric Chiropractic FAQ
The most common questions from parents in Fleming Island, Oakleaf, Orange Park, and throughout Clay County.
Give Your Child a Healthy Foundation
Gentle Care That Grows with Your Child
Dr. Chitra Rajendran provides safe, gentle pediatric chiropractic care in Fleming Island, FL for infants through teens. Schedule your child's first visit today.