Your Child Doesn't Have to Just Grow Out Of It.
When something feels off with your child, the instinct is to wait and see. Maybe the torticollis will resolve on its own. Maybe the ear infections will slow down. Maybe the constipation is just a phase.
Sometimes things do resolve. But often there is a structural reason those symptoms keep recurring, and that is exactly what pediatric chiropractic care is designed to address. Children's bodies respond quickly to gentle, specific care. The nervous system is adaptable, development is rapid, and the earlier small imbalances are caught, the less they compound over time.
Whether your child is days old or heading into their teenage years, chiropractic care can play a meaningful role in supporting their health and development.
What Is Pediatric Chiropractic Care?
Pediatric chiropractic is not a scaled-down version of adult care. The techniques are entirely different: lighter pressure, different contact points, and an approach adapted to the size, sensitivity, and developmental stage of the child.
For newborns and infants, the pressure used is often no more than you would use to check a ripe tomato. For older children and teens, adjustments are more similar to adult care but still modified for their developing spine. Therapeutic exercises and gentle soft tissue work are incorporated into visits when needed.
The goal in every case is the same: reduce nervous system interference, support proper alignment, and help your child's body function the way it is designed to.
Research supports chiropractic care as a helpful approach for a range of childhood conditions, including colic, ear infections, acid reflux, allergies, sleep challenges, and more. It is always easier to address a problem early than after it has been present for months or years.
Fargo's CACCP-Certified Pediatric Chiropractor
Dr. Melanie Dockter DC, CACCP holds the Certified in Advanced Chiropractic Pediatrics designation through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), the most rigorous pediatric credential available in chiropractic. It requires extensive post-doctoral coursework and clinical examination beyond the standard DC degree.
Dr. Melanie is an active ICPA member and has spent over a decade specializing in the care of infants, children, and pregnant and postpartum women. In addition to her CACCP, she holds Webster Technique certification, a BirthFit Leader designation, and her Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (PCES) certification, making her one of the most comprehensively trained maternal and pediatric chiropractors in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
When you bring your child to Venture Chiropractic, you are not seeing a general chiropractor who also works with kids. You are seeing a specialist. Meet Dr. Melanie on our about page.
Conditions We Commonly See in Pediatric Patients
Infants and newborns: torticollis, latching difficulties and tongue or lip tie, colic and excessive fussiness, constipation, reflux, plagiocephaly, primitive reflex integration
Toddlers and school-age children: ear infections, constipation, developmental movement concerns, posture and gait irregularities, sports and activity injuries
Teens: sports injuries, postural issues from screen time and backpack use, headaches, growing pains, general spinal maintenance
If you are unsure whether chiropractic care is appropriate for your child's specific concern, contact us and we will let you know honestly.
What to Expect at Your Child's First Visit
A Thorough, Unhurried Assessment
Gentle, Age-Appropriate Care
Guidance You Can Use at Home
Tethered Oral Tissue (TOTs): Tongue Tie, Lip Tie, and Latching Support
Are you experiencing difficulty with breastfeeding or have a fussy newborn who seems to have a difficult time latching? It is important to rule out a tongue or lip tie.
When working with children with tethered oral tissue, the primary goal is to ensure proper movement of joints and the function of the surrounding soft tissues. A tethered cord can lead to muscular tension and misalignment of the spinal segments, disrupting the flow of latching, sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Using light pressure, specific contact points, and gentle adjusting techniques, Dr. Melanie addresses tension in the cranial bones, spinal joints, and jaw. Stretching of the muscles within the mouth and cervical musculature may also be incorporated into visits.
Dr. Melanie is passionate about educating parents on how to assist their baby with exercises and muscle work between visits, keeping care as active as possible so families can maintain their progress.
Check out the symptoms below to determine if an evaluation may be beneficial:
Mom's Symptoms:
- Cracked, blistered, or bleeding nipples
- Plugged ducts
- Discomfort while nursing
- Sleep deprivation (when a baby cannot nurse efficiently, they may compensate by nursing more often, including at night)
- Thrush or mastitis
- Compromised milk supply
Baby's Symptoms:
- Reflux or colic
- Difficulty latching
- Gumming or chewing nipples
- Gassy
- Poor weight gain
- Makes clicking noises while feeding
- Choking on milk or popping off the breast to gasp for air
- Milk leaking from the corner of mouth when feeding
Dr. Melanie works with a network of local professionals to help you determine if a tie is present and what type of care may be needed. Feeding does not have to be a challenging, frustrating experience. Reach out for help.
Chiropractic
At Venture goal is to help you move better and feel better. We can help achieve this through spinal adjustments, extremity adjustments, corrective exercise, and manual muscle work. We will do our best to get you results and educate you on how you can stay out of pain. We help you accomplish this by diagnosing your problem, educating you on why this may occurred, using a wide variety of techniques to help take care of your problem and then equipping you to stay pain free. We love seeing our patients in-office, but we would love to see you outside the clinic, thriving even more! We look forward to serving you!
Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Chiropractic in Fargo
Yes. Pediatric chiropractic uses techniques specifically adapted for infants and children, with pressure that is a fraction of what is used in adult care. Dr. Melanie's CACCP certification reflects extensive specialized training in the safe and effective treatment of pediatric patients.
Dr. Melanie works with newborns, including babies who are just days old. Birth is a significant physical event for both mother and baby, and many parents choose to have their newborn assessed within the first few weeks, particularly when there are concerns about latching, neck tension, or head position preference.
No referral is needed. You can book directly through our new patients page or call our Fargo office at (701) 730-3867.
Ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents bring young children to see Dr. Melanie. Adjustments that address tension in the upper cervical spine and surrounding soft tissue can support improved drainage and may reduce the frequency of recurrence in some children. We are always transparent about what chiropractic can and cannot do.
That depends entirely on what brings them in. Some children are seen for a specific concern and discharged after a short course of care. Others benefit from periodic maintenance as they grow. Dr. Melanie will give you an honest assessment and a clear timeline at the first visit.
Trusted Pediatric Chiropractic Care in Fargo, ND
Venture Chiropractic has been caring for families in Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, and the surrounding area since 2009.
Dr. Melanie Dockter DC, CACCP brings rare specialized credentials and over a decade of pediatric experience to every visit.
