Happy boy infant in the car seat about to be carried with his parent
Because the heaviest thing you carry all day might be the one you love most. 💗
Car seat in one hand. Diaper bag on one shoulder. Toddler on your hip. Sound familiar?
Holiday-shopping season brings fuller carts, bigger bags and more trips in and out of the car. If you've ever stood in a Fort Worth parking lot wondering how to get all of this inside in one trip, you are in very good company.
Here's the short answer: all that carrying can leave your back, shoulders and neck feeling it, and a few small changes to how you carry, load and take breaks can make the day feel more manageable. You are not doing it wrong, Mama (or Dad, or Grandma!).
At The Chiropractic Place for Mommy & Me in Aledo, Texas, we care for the whole family, including the people doing all the carrying.
Why Does Carrying Kids Feel So Hard on My Body?
Because parenting is rarely balanced. The car seat hangs on one arm, the diaper bag slides down one shoulder and a toddler asks for "up." You lean one way to make up for the load going the other, and you may not even notice.
Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, and they like balance, so repeating the same lopsided position adds up!
How Can I Carry a Car Seat Without Dreading It?
Start with the easiest change, then work down the list.
1. Let the Wheels Do the Work
If your car seat clicks into a stroller, a cart or a travel system, use it any chance you get. Each minute the seat is rolling is a minute it isn't hanging off your arm.
2. When You Do Have to Carry It, Keep It Close
No wheels today? Here's how to carry it:
Keep the seat close to your body. The farther it hangs away from you, the harder your back and shoulder have to work.
Bend your elbow. Let the seat rest in the crook of your arm instead of dangling from a straight arm.
Alternate arms. Switch from one side to the other so the same shoulder and back aren't doing all of the work each time.
Avoid twisting while you hold it. Turn your whole body and feet instead.
Carrying on the same side over and over can create strain, and sharing the job between both sides keeps one side from carrying it all.
3. Make the Car Door Your Friend
Buckling a little one in and out of the car is a surprisingly big moment for your back, because we tend to lean in and twist. A few small changes:
Open the door wide.
Step in close instead of reaching across.
Bring your body toward the seat rather than stretching your arms out to it.
Closer can mean less work for your back.
4. Make Fewer Trips Without Making Heavier Ones
We've all tried the "I can carry everything in one trip!" move. Instead:
Load the stroller basket or cart.
Hand an older sibling their own jacket and water bottle. A little job can make a big kid feel helpful.
Ask for help. Dads, grandparents and friends may be glad to be asked!
A lighter load per trip beats a heroic one.
How Can I Carry My Toddler More Comfortably?
With a plan. When your two-year-old declares that her legs are broken and the car is a long walk away, these can help:
Let them walk when it's safe. Little legs can use a chance to move.
Bring wheels for the rest: a wagon or stroller for the park or the Christmas lights.
When you do need to carry, try a carrier that spreads the weight across both of your shoulders and hips.
Sharing the load over a bigger part of your body can feel better than letting one hip and one arm do all of it.
And when it's time to lift them, our favorite reminder is the one we shared in our postpartum guide: keep them close and let your legs do the work.
How Can I Make Bag Season Easier for Bigger Kids?
School-aged kids and teens come home with backpacks, instruments and sports bags that end up on you.
Try creating a "drop zone" by the door:
A row of hooks at kid height for backpacks.
A basket for shoes.
A bin for sports gear and instruments.
When kids can unload their own bags at the door, the stuff stops riding on your shoulder through the house, and it builds a habit that makes mornings easier.
What Are Easy Posture and Calm-Down Resets for a Busy Day?
You don't need to add anything to your day. Tie a reset to something you already do.
Posture resets
At the cart or stroller: do a standing hip flexor stretch. Hold the cart for balance, stand tall, grab your ankle and gently pull it back until you feel a stretch in the front of your hip, then switch sides.
When you're holding a toddler on your hip: notice if you're tipping to one side, and bring your weight back evenly onto both feet.
When you wear the diaper bag: alternate shoulders so one side isn't carrying it each time.
Calm-down resets
The vagus nerve is the body's main "calm-down" pathway; it helps the body settle after stress and plays an important role in how the body handles pain. These small resets are simple ways to give yourself a moment to settle.
When the car door clicks shut: unclench your hands and take one slow breath in, with the breath out a little longer.
At red lights: loosen your grip on the steering wheel and unclench your jaw.
Before you walk back into the house: take a deep breath in, then a quick extra breath in, and a slow exhale before you walk in.
A cue you already have is easier to remember than a brand-new routine. Progress over perfection, Mama! 💗
When Is It Time to Get Some Extra Support?
You don't need to wait until you're in a lot of pain, and you don't have to have it all figured out before walking through our doors.
Some parents come in with a sore low back, tight shoulders or neck tension from carrying little ones. Others want to feel their best for the busy days ahead.
At your first visit:
We listen to your story.
We do a gentle evaluation and explain what we find.
If your doctor feels chiropractic care is a good fit, it's tailored to you.
Our adjustments can be a combination of drop table, manual, Activator or Diversified techniques, depending on your needs. Our doctors may also talk with you about Shockwave + Adjustment or Vagus Nerve Support, an adjustment paired with support for the vagus nerve (both with any of our TCP doctors), or Dry Needling + Adjustment (with Dr. Parker or Dr. Leslie).
And the whole family can often be seen back-to-back in one trip. Bring the kiddos! Many dads see Dr. Leslie or Dr. Jessica.
Can Massage or Craniosacral Therapy Help Too?
Many parents love pairing chiropractic care with massage, especially in the busy holiday season. Rachel, our licensed massage therapist (LMT) since 2002, offers postpartum massage designed to ease tension from feeding, carrying baby and early motherhood, plus medical and therapeutic massage for teens and adults. She also offers craniosacral therapy (CST), a light-touch approach for infants, children and mothers. Massage can be coordinated with your chiropractic care when appropriate.
What Does a Visit Cost?
A new patient visit is $150 (about 30 minutes), and a chiropractic adjustment is $60 (about 10 minutes). Our Start Here page lists all of our fees, including massage, craniosacral therapy and our other services.
We don't bill insurance directly, but we can provide a superbill upon request for you to submit to your insurance company yourself. See our Start Here: New Patient Guide or our services for details, and meet our doctors.
Frequently Asked Questions About Back Pain and Carrying Kids
Why does my back hurt from carrying my toddler?
Carrying a toddler on one hip, along with bags and car seats, can load one side of your body again and again. Alternating sides, spreading the load with wheels, a carrier or a helping hand, and taking regular breaks may help.
What is the best way to carry a car seat?
Hold it close to your body with your elbow bent, alternate arms so one side isn't doing all the work, and avoid twisting while you hold it. A stroller or cart that clicks the seat in can save your back, too.
Can I bring my kids to my chiropractic appointment?
Yes! We have toys in each treatment room, a feeding room and diaper-changing areas. Families can often be seen back-to-back in one trip.
Do you see adults, teens and school-aged kids, or only babies?
We care for the whole family, from newborns to grandparents, including school-aged kids and teens. Adults receive gentle, tailored chiropractic care too.
Do you take insurance?
We don't bill insurance directly, but we can provide a superbill upon request that you can submit to your insurance company yourself.
We See You, Mama
Being a parent is a beautiful, physical, wonderful job, and children are such a blessing. And the body carrying all of it deserves some care, too.
We're here when you're ready. At The Chiropractic Place for Mommy & Me in Aledo, Texas, we welcome families from Weatherford, Walsh Ranch, Hudson Oaks, Brock and across Parker County, whether you're hauling a car seat, a toddler or a trombone.
Or call or text us at 817-441-1921. We'd love to hear from you!
Blessings, The Team at The Chiropractic Place for Mommy & Me 💗
